4 week old grey squirrel constipated

[Isaiah_span]

I have a 4 week old western grey squirrel that hasn’t pooped in 4 days. We have been hydrating with rehydration fluid, giving her Apple juice and warm water, giving her warm baths, and stomach massages but nothing is working. We are feeding her 7% of her weight of fox Valley formula. I’m not sure what else I can do. Please help.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Are you using FoxValley 32:40? If so, that is the problem. At one time FV32:40 was the recommended formula. It is no longer recommended for baby squirrels because they have difficulty digesting it. It stays in the GI tract and won’t move. The milk line doesn’t go away.

If that’s what you’re using I would stop using it. Flush them with Pedialyte to get that out of their system. Are they bloating? Is the tummy swollen? Bloat can be deadly. If bloated you can give warm water and gentle tummy massages to try to move the FV. The warm bath should also help but I would definitely switch formulas.

You should buy powdered puppy Esbilac with probiotics and prebiotics.

Are you sure the baby isn’t pooping in the bin? You don’t need hydration fluid if you had the baby 4 days but I would flush the system to get the FV out of the GI tract.

[Isaiah_span]

Are you using FoxValley 32:40? If so, that is the problem. At one time FV32:40 was the recommended formula. It is no longer recommended for baby squirrels because they have difficulty digesting it. It stays in the GI tract and won’t move. The milk line doesn’t go away.

If that’s what you’re using I would stop using it. Flush them with Pedialyte to get that out of their system. Are they bloating? Is the tummy swollen? Bloat can be deadly. If bloated you can give warm water and gentle tummy massages to try to move the FV. The warm bath should also help but I would definitely switch formulas.

You should buy powdered puppy Esbilac with probiotics and prebiotics.

Are you sure the baby isn’t pooping in the bin? You don’t need hydration fluid if you had the baby 4 days but I would flush the system to get the FV out of the GI tract.

I have the fox valley 20:50. Would that be a better option? She isn’t really bloating but I have been giving her tummy massages to prevent it.

[Javarat]

As HRT4Sqrls said... try going to Esbilac powdered puppy formula (cardboard can with white dog, blue label, and blue banner that says 'probiotics')
I normally keep them on just Esbilac until they open their eyes, and then use a 50/50 mix of Esbilac and Fox Valley 20/50.

Secondly, 7% of their body weight is too much food at 4 weeks. They should be limited to 5%.

Thirdly, how often you are feeding is important. At 4 weeks they should be fed every three hours. Less than that can cause diarrhea, and longer than that can cause constipation.

Very importantly, pictures can answer more questions than anything. Posting pictures of the squirrel, especially of it's tummy, are VERY useful for diagnosing and helping you.

You said this is a 4 week old squirrel, that has not pooped for 4 days... I assume you mean her eyes are closed, her tummy has fur on it, and you got her 4 days ago?

[Isaiah_span]

As HRT4Sqrls said... try going to Esbilac powdered puppy formula (cardboard can with white dog, blue label, and blue banner that says 'probiotics')
I normally keep them on just Esbilac until they open their eyes, and then use a 50/50 mix of Esbilac and Fox Valley 20/50.

Secondly, 7% of their body weight is too much food at 4 weeks. They should be limited to 5%.

Thirdly, how often you are feeding is important. At 4 weeks they should be fed every three hours. Less than that can cause diarrhea, and longer than that can cause constipation.

Very importantly, pictures can answer more questions than anything. Posting pictures of the squirrel, especially of it's tummy, are VERY useful for diagnosing and helping you.

I will switch her to the esbilac and slightly lower the amount she is eating. I’m currently feeding her every 4 hours but I’ll cut that down to 3 as well. Do I need to feed her every 3 hours through the night as well, or is she fine to skip a feeding till morning?

[Javarat]

You can do two slightly longer feedings at night. Like 3 hour feedings during the day, and 4 or 4 1/2 at night.
I certainly know how exhausted you are feeling after 4 days of interrupted sleep.
I never recommend 'skipping a feeding'... the more regular you are : the more regular they will be.
(I myself am up right now because I have two on 4 hour feedings)

Once they open their eyes I declare them '5 weeks old' and go to 4 hour feedings.
After that, I basically do 1 hour less than their age in weeks.
(Example: at 7 weeks I do 6 hour feedings)

If you found her 4 days ago, and have been feeding every 4 hours.. it may be that she simply has not filled up her intestines yet.
The critical things are:
- that she is hydrated (neck skin just behind the skull springs back quickly after being pinched)
- her tummy is not over extended, feels like a water balloon, with no hard points
- her tummy has no red rash look, or red streaks on it
- she pees a RIVER when stimulated after feeding

If all of the above are okay, she probably is just not ready to poop yet, but it should happen any minute now.
Shake out all of the bedding at each feeding to make sure she is not pooping and hiding it.

[Isaiah_span]

You can do two slightly longer feedings at night. Like 3 hour feedings during the day, and 4 or 4 1/2 at night.
I certainly know how exhausted you are feeling after 4 days of interrupted sleep.
I never recommend 'skipping a feeding'... the more regular you are : the more regular they will be.
(I myself am up right now because I have two on 4 hour feedings)

Once they open their eyes I declare them '5 weeks old' and go to 4 hour feedings.
After that, I basically do 1 hour less than their age in weeks.
(Example: at 7 weeks I do 6 hour feedings)

If you found her 4 days ago, and have been feeding every 4 hours.. it may be that she simply has not filled up her intestines yet.
The critical things are:
- that she is hydrated (neck skin just behind the skull springs back quickly after being pinched)
- her tummy is not over extended, feels like a water balloon, with no hard points
- her tummy has no red rash look, or red streaks on it
- she pees a RIVER when stimulated after feeding

If all of the above are okay, she probably is just not ready to poop yet, but it should happen any minute now.
Shake out all of the bedding at each feeding to make sure she is not pooping and hiding it.

I have 3 of them and have had them for a little over 2 weeks getting up every 4 hours and I’m definitely feeling it. Lol. Definitely worth it though.

[Javarat]

Let's step back to basic info for a moment, so I fully understand the situation.
Is this squirrel part of the set of three that you got two weeks ago?.. Or did you get her four days ago?
Was she pooping when stimulated up until four days ago?
How is her appetite? How hungry does she act? Is she eating the same amount as her siblings, or cutting off early?

[Isaiah_span]

Lets step to the beginning for a moment, so I understand the situation.
Is this squirrel part of the set of three that you got two weeks ago?.. Or did you get her four days ago?
Was she pooping regular up until four days ago?

I got her a little over 2 weeks ago and she was pooping regularly until about 4 days ago. I switched them from esbilac to fox valley thinking that it would be better for them and that was around the last time she pooped so I believe it is the food.

[Javarat]

Yes, I would also think it is probably the food.
The Fox Valley was probably a little too rich for them at this age.
This sounds like early stage bloat. Mid stage they start to lose appetite or refuse to eat.
I would suggest dropping her completely off formula, and try hourly small feedings of water for about 4 to 6 hours, tummy massages, and warm water bottom baths.
I would do slightly sweetened water.. not electrolyte. (The reason being that electrolyte encourages the body to pull fluid from the intestines... but we want to encourage the fluids to stay in them to break the blockage)
Then I would move her to a diluted Esbilac feedings for a while. (One part Esbilac powder and three parts water).
The water only diet should help her to break up the blockage, and get things moving again.
Hopefully we should see some poop in 4 to 6 hours.

[Isaiah_span]

Yes, I would also think it is probably the food.
The Fox Valley was probably a little too rich for them at this age.
This sounds like early stage bloat. Mid stage they start to lose appetite or refuse to eat.
I would suggest dropping her completely off formula, and try hourly small feedings of water for about 4 hours, tummy massages, and warm water bottom baths.
Then move her to a diluted Esbilac feedings for a while. (One part Esbilac powder and three parts water).
The water only diet should help her to break up the blockage, and get things moving again.
Hopefully we should see some poop in 4 to 6 hours.

That’s exactly what I’ve started doing. Thank you for your help I’ll keep you updated!

[Javarat]

Note to use sweetened water for the hourly feedings... not electrolyte.
Electrolyte encourages the body to pull water from the intestines... and we want to do the opposite, and encourage it to stay in them to break the blockage.

I will check up on the thread through the day.

[Spanky]

Here is a protocol developed by Duckman, one of our most dedicated, knowledgeable and greatly respected members. I have edited this a bit from his original post for readability but will include the link below to the original thread that contains the post.

This is used on pinkies, which is where the 32/40 issue gets encountered most frequently. Since your guy is 4 weeks, you may need to tweak this protocol... but in essence it is all about breaking up the sludge / cement of the 32/40 in the babies stomach. The solution is dilution.
We do not recommend 32/40 for squirrels. Period!

The trick seems 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 Pedialyte, but plain water.

Do this every hour (giving about 0.2ml-0.3 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, bump up the ration to 50% Esbilac, 50% water 50/50.

Third day move to 75% Esbilac, 25% water.
Fourth day go to full strength formula; the blockage should be gone!

So far, Duckman has had tremendous success with this protocol and others that have followed are getting great results as well. One note of caution: Check my pinkies after every feeding, so see if their bellies are hard or squishy. It is suggested 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).

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...53#post1169753

[Isaiah_span]

Here is a protocol developed by Duckman, one of our most dedicated, knowledgeable and greatly respected members. I have edited this a bit from his original post for readability but will include the link below to the original thread that contains the post.

This is used on pinkies, which is where the 32/40 issue gets encountered most frequently. Since your guy is 4 weeks, you may need to tweak this protocol... but in essence it is all about breaking up the sludge / cement of the 32/40 in the babies stomach. The solution is dilution.
We do not recommend 32/40 for squirrels. Period!

The trick seems 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 Pedialyte, but plain water.

Do this every hour (giving about 0.2ml-0.3 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, bump up the ration to 50% Esbilac, 50% water 50/50.

Third day move to 75% Esbilac, 25% water.
Fourth day go to full strength formula; the blockage should be gone!

So far, Duckman has had tremendous success with this protocol and others that have followed are getting great results as well. One note of caution: Check my pinkies after every feeding, so see if their bellies are hard or squishy. It is suggested 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).

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...53#post1169753

Thank you so much for your help!