Requesting Help - Soft Stool

[mbschrim]

My family has been caring for two male gray squirrels since they were about a week old. They have been thriving and are not almost 5 weeks old. They weight about 130g. They have only been fed Esbilac puppy formula. They seem well hydrated and act normal. For the last 3 days their poop has gone from a solid yellowish pellet to a darker yellow/brownish soft stool. I have been very diligent in the amount of food they are getting feeding them 6.5cc every 4 hours sticking to the 5% body weight rule. I have called around to several vets in our area but none are helpful with squirrels. Tonight instead of Esbilac I gave each of them 4cc of Pedialyte 2 hours apart but their stool is still very soft. Any suggestions on what I should do and should I give them a feeding of formula to get them through the night?

[Spanky]

Are you using the powdered version of the Esbilac?

How runny is their poop... a picture might help.

[mbschrim]

Are you using the powdered version of the Esbilac?

How runny is their poop... a picture might help.

Yes, I am using the powder Esbilac. Last night for their last two feedings I only gave Pedialyte, this morning their poop seems even more soft that yesterday (picture attached). They still seem active and were hungry this morning. I fed them each 6cc this morning (1/2 formula mixed with another 1/2 of water).

[island rehabber]

Two rounds of Pedialyte will give them soft poop. However, the 1/2 & 1/2 water to powder mixture is incorrect -- too thick. You need to do ONE part powder to TWO parts water...that's the correct ratio for full strength. If the mushy poops continue you can give a drop of Kaopectate. It will firm them up enough so they don't become dehydrated. The mushy poop could very well be from overfeeding formula. You may want to order an excellent product from Henryspets.com: Fox Valley Dia-stat. You mix and feed it like a regular formula for one or two meals, and it straightens their poops right out.

[Javarat]

I can tell you have done your research, and know the 5% rule and such.
After they open their eyes.. they will gradually increase as their tummies get bigger.
In the 5th week (after opening their eyes) you can let them have up to 6%.. and the next week 7%... and then a week later up to 8%.
For instance I have a 300 gram squirrel right now who is eating 24 ml (8%) every 6 hours, plus blocks and vegetables.
Mainly you just don't want their tummies to get too full. Most of the time they will cut off before they get too full.

Another thing that can cause brown poop is repeatedly reheating the formula, or keeping it mixed too long.
I mix up one days worth in a bottle, pour out and heat up just enough for one feeding, and toss away the leftovers.

[Spanky]

They still seem active and were hungry this morning. I fed them each 6cc this morning (1/2 formula mixed with another 1/2 of water).

Are you saying to took already mixed formula (2 parts water, 1 part formula powder per the directions) and then diluted it with more water; effectively feeding them 1/2 strength formula?

With 6 week old babies I would move to feeding every 5 hours or so instead of every 4 hours. And full strength formula (after the couple feedings of hydration as IR suggested).

As IR also suggested, the Diastat works miracles in these situations... I love that stuff!

[Javarat]

I think they said the babies are 'now almost 5 weeks old'... I guess they mean the eyes are closed, but are close to opening.

[Spanky]

I think they said the babies are 'now almost 5 weeks old'... I guess they mean the eyes are closed, but are close to opening.

Good catch... I thought I read they had them since they were 1 week... and have been caring for them 5 weeks! They are not as old as I thought...

[mbschrim]

Are you saying to took already mixed formula (2 parts water, 1 part formula powder per the directions) and then diluted it with more water; effectively feeding them 1/2 strength formula?

With 6 week old babies I would move to feeding every 5 hours or so instead of every 4 hours. And full strength formula (after the couple feedings of hydration as IR suggested).

As IR also suggested, the Diastat works miracles in these situations... I love that stuff!

Yes, I originally mixed it 2 parts water to 1 part formula which is what I normally feed them but since their poop was runny I diluted my mixture again 1/2 water to 1/2 mixed formula.

[mbschrim]

Two rounds of Pedialyte will give them soft poop. However, the 1/2 & 1/2 water to powder mixture is incorrect -- too thick. You need to do ONE part powder to TWO parts water...that's the correct ratio for full strength. If the mushy poops continue you can give a drop of Kaopectate. It will firm them up enough so they don't become dehydrated. The mushy poop could very well be from overfeeding formula. You may want to order an excellent product from Henryspets.com: Fox Valley Dia-stat. You mix and feed it like a regular formula for one or two meals, and it straightens their poops right out.

The 1/2 and 1/2 mixture was 1/2 water and 1/2 of the formula which was mixed using 1 part powder to 2 parts water. I will order the Die-Stat and see if that helps.

[mbschrim]

Good catch... I thought I read they had them since they were 1 week... and have been caring for them 5 weeks! They are not as old as I thought...

Correct - we have had them since they were a week old and are NOW 5 weeks old.

[mbschrim]

I can tell you have done your research, and know the 5% rule and such.
After they open their eyes.. they will gradually increase as their tummies get bigger.
In the 5th week (after opening their eyes) you can let them have up to 6%.. and the next week 7%... and then a week later up to 8%.
For instance I have a 300 gram squirrel right now who is eating 24 ml (8%) every 6 hours, plus blocks and vegetables.
Mainly you just don't want their tummies to get too full. Most of the time they will cut off before they get too full.

Another thing that can cause brown poop is repeatedly reheating the formula, or keeping it mixed too long.
I mix up one days worth in a bottle, pour out and heat up just enough for one feeding, and toss away the leftovers.

Their eyes are open and they seem to be moving around more and in overall excellent health. Up till this point their poop has been normal, this caught me off guard because nothing in my routine has changed. I only mix up the amount of formula I need in a 24 hour period, I let it set for a minimum of 4 hours but usually longer before using and I never reheat the formula. I only pour out a small amount each to time in a separate container to heat what is needed.

[Javarat]

Okay. Sounds like you are pretty much on the ball.

But, when they have diarrhea: adding water to the formula is going to make the poop even more watery.
Less solids and more water in... more water out. They need the solids to firm up the poop, and diluting it reduces the solids to work with.
They often need more fluids when they have diarrhea, but you want to offer it separately in between feedings.

You seem to be following all of the recommended steps... did you offer them blocks (or other solid food) when they opened their eyes?
That would cause the change in poop color and may have upset their tummies.

[mbschrim]

Okay. Sounds like you are pretty much on the ball.

But, when they have diarrhea: adding water to the formula is going to make the poop even more watery.
Less solids and more water in... more water out. They need the solids to firm up the poop, and diluting it reduces the solids to work with.
They often need more fluids when they have diarrhea, but you want to offer it separately in between feedings.

You seem to be following all of the recommended steps... did you offer them blocks (or other solid food) when they opened their eyes?
That would cause the change in poop color and may have upset their tummies.

Just in the last two days have I put in some rodent block.
Since this morning one of the squirrels seems to be getting a little thicker with more form to it. The other one still has runny, soft stool. They are both now back on full formula routing. (1 part powder to 2 parts water).