WARNING DO NOT FEED Fox Valley 32/40

[Nancy in New York]

3 years ago, a discussion was started about pinkies not digesting Fox Valley 32/40 formula.
Seasoned rehabbers were losing babies, from undigested formula that sat in the babies tummies
like cement, with the milk line never disappearing.

I won't rehash the nightmares this caused.

Most people have since switched over to Powdered Puppy Esbilac for babies under 4 weeks
and some have continued with just the Esbilac until the squirrel is weaned.

This is just a reminder that Fox Valley 32/40 kills many/most pinkies, they cannot digest it.

We've been complacent about alerting members of this, thinking that most already knew.
I believe that after 3 years some felt the problem was rectified, (AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN!!!!)
because we don't bring it up.

However, in the past 3 years we have NOT recommended it to ANY new member, and this needs to be
mentioned again as a reminder.

This just happened again to a seasoned rehabber. She fed Fox Valley 32/40 and it sat like cement.
Three of the babies have died.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ks-please-read

Discussion from 8/2013

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ght=Fox+Valley

[Radagast]

Esbilac is safe now? My pinkie got terrible diarrhea 3 years ago... I switched to fox valley and she was better almost immediately. I boiled the fox valley after mixing it with water. I don't expect to ever rehab another squirrel as I'll hand it over to a licensed now that I know how to reach one, but if that ever fell through I want to know what to do. Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry you lost those poor babies!

[CritterMom]

Yup. Esbilac addressed what was wrong with their formula and it is a good thing they did, because that was the point where the FV 32/40 turned into something better used to mud over drywall joints than feed to little fragile babies...

The 20/50 can be used in a 50/50 mixture - half 20/50 and half esbilac for older babies but the 32/40 should only be used to fill your garbage can...

[Radagast]

Good to know. Oh my gosh!

[DaSquirrelMom]

Fox Valley 32/40 and 20/50 doesn't completely dissolve until after it has been mixed with water for over 4 hours. It is better when it has been mixed for over 8 hours.

It must be added to water that is over 180 F (hot not warm as the instructions state) to completely dissolve it.

[stepnstone]

Fox Valley 32/40 and 20/50 doesn't completely dissolve until after it has been mixed with water for over 4 hours. It is better when it has been mixed for over 8 hours.

It must be added to water that is over 180 F (hot not warm as the instructions state) to completely dissolve it.

Moot point with 32/40, TSB still does not recommend the use of FV32/40 for obvious reasons as stated below.

3 years ago, a discussion was started about pinkies not digesting Fox Valley 32/40 formula.
Seasoned rehabbers were losing babies, from undigested formula that sat in the babies tummies
like cement, with the milk line never disappearing.

I won't rehash the nightmares this caused.

Most people have since switched over to Powdered Puppy Esbilac for babies under 4 weeks
and some have continued with just the Esbilac until the squirrel is weaned.

This is just a reminder that Fox Valley 32/40 kills many/most pinkies, they cannot digest it.

We've been complacent about alerting members of this, thinking that most already knew.
I believe that after 3 years some felt the problem was rectified, (AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN!!!!)
because we don't bring it up.

However, in the past 3 years we have NOT recommended it to ANY new member, and this needs to be
mentioned again as a reminder.

This just happened again to a seasoned rehabber. She fed Fox Valley 32/40 and it sat like cement.
Three of the babies have died.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ks-please-read

Discussion from 8/2013

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ght=Fox+Valley

[Duckman]

I had been using 32/40 with my pinkies until last year, when I had 2 bloat up very quickly. This year I am using nothing but Esbilac until after they are 10 days old and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever!

[Duckman]

One note. I did save both of mine, when they plugged up and I would be happy to discuss how to save them when they do bloat.

[island rehabber]

I'd love to hear what you did, Duckman -- I tried everything and lost them all.

[pixiepoo]

I had a lot of problems with Esbilac last year. They have now fixed the issue? Last year I ended up using FV 20/50 but it was an older bag I had stored in my freezer (made before the issues with FV arose).

[Mommaluvy]

I had a lot of problems with Esbilac last year. They have now fixed the issue? Last year I ended up using FV 20/50 but it was an older bag I had stored in my freezer (made before the issues with FV arose).

I also used 20:50 last year .. I thought this had been address and thought I would do it right this year .

Duck : would love to know how you did this ? However mine did not bloat until about an hour before their death. May have been from "death gasping" .

[Duckman]

The trick for me seemed to be getting in as much water, as quickly as possible, once you see and feel the hardness in the belly. Not sugar water or Pedilyte, but plain water. I did this every hour (giving about .2-.3 ml) and ensure you stimulate after each, for 2 reasons. 1. You have to get that water out of the bladder, and it will burst if you don't. 2. You want that water to start working on the crud in the belly. After 8-10 hours, you should start seeing some movement out of the bowel (they will continue to poop, but you will start to see it more watery, which is what you want). At that time, start introducing diluted formula at the ratio of 25% Esbilac, 75% water. Feed this for the first half day. The second half day, I bumped up the ration to 50/50. I fed this for a day and then went to 75% Esbilac, 25% water and introduced full food the next day (and the blockage was gone!). So far, I am at 100% success rate. One note though. I check my pinkies after every feeding, so see if their bellies are hard or squishy. I would suggest everyone get in the habit of checking them after every feeding as habit and you can't go wrong in catching them before they bloat up. Once they take on that angry red color on their bellies (this is when their system goes septic), they are gone and can't be saved, so the trick is to catch them before this happens (hence, getting in the habit to see if their tummies are hard or not).

[DarkLies212]

Once they take on that angry red color on their bellies (this is when their system goes septic), they are gone and can't be saved, so the trick is to catch them before this happens (hence, getting in the habit to see if their tummies are hard or not).

Do you happen to have some pictures of this? While I haven't had a pinkie in years, this is a wonderful learning experience and it's always best to be on the lookout - even if it's years more before I get a pinkie.

[Duckman]

Do you happen to have some pictures of this? While I haven't had a pinkie in years, this is a wonderful learning experience and it's always best to be on the lookout - even if it's years more before I get a pinkie.

I will look and see, but I don't think I do. You can't miss it though. You will see the bright white line from the crud, and it looks like an infection line (bright red) about a half inch to each side of the white belly line, then it lightens up to the pinkie color (if this makes sense).

[DarkLies212]

I will look and see, but I don't think I do. You can't miss it though. You will see the bright white line from the crud, and it looks like an infection line (bright red) about a half inch to each side of the white belly line, then it lightens up to the pinkie color (if this makes sense).

It makes sense! Thank you for describing it!

[Nancy in New York]

DarkLies, I know this isn't what you asked for,
but here is one of my little reds that was fed FV 32/40
This was 7 hours after he ate his last feeding. I could not
get the line to disappear, and was frantic.
He passed an hour after this photo was taken.
It was like SLUDGE in his poor tummy.
AND the line appeared to get larger and larger
even without being fed!!!!!!!!!!!

[DarkLies212]

All I see is a photo icon thing, not a picture...looks like a little square Polaroid

Any pictures will help. The more I can learn now, the better I feel

[Duckman]

It was like SLUDGE in his poor tummy.
AND the line appeared to get larger and larger
even without being fed!!!!!!!!!!!

We did necropsies on several of ours that bloated and died, and found that the sludge is almost like packed sand in their bellies. That was the reason I decided to use the water the way I did. The best way to remove a sand bar is to use water to loosen it so it can wash away. That is exactly what happens too!

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you SO much Duckman for letting us know your method.
Hopefully nobody will ever buy this crap again.
But if they do, at least we may have a way of helping now.

[Radagast]

I am so sorry Nancy. That must have been so awful. I want to write the company. Poor little babies