Baby Oatmeal for soft stool 3-4 week old red squirrel

[awsouthlake]

HELP- I found an orphaned squirrel nearly 2 weeks ago he appeared to be 2 weeks old (48 grams). Tried to reunite with Mom with no success. He currently weighs 76 grams his eyes are closed and he acts like he is starving and I feed him every 3.5 hours aprox except at night he sleeps for 6 hours. In the last 24 hours he started having soft yellow stool. Below is the steps that I did over the course of 24-48 hours.


1. I increased his food to 7% of his body weight because he was starving about 48 hours ago. He is eating fox valley 32/40.

2. He started having soft stools about 12-18 hours later.

3. I took him off formula and gave him pedialyte for a meal.

4. I mixed pedialyte 50/50 with formula for 2 meals. Poop cleared up.

5. Started him on formula again based on conversation with Henry's 75% Fox Valley 32/40 with 25% 20/50 fox valley formula.

6. 2 meals of that now really really soft poop almost watery.

I was told that I should give him formula and baby oatmeal that he is just not getting enough food. His belly is not big and round and his pee is very clear and has been about 2 days after I got him. He was dehydrated when I got him and I rehydrated him before I started formula.

Can I feed him baby oatmeal with formula?





I plan to turn him over to a rehabber on Friday that has other baby squirrels.

[Spanky]

1. I increased his food to 7% of his body weight because he was starving about 48 hours ago. He is eating fox valley 32/40.

2. He started having soft stools about 12-18 hours later.

3. I took him off formula and gave him pedialyte for a meal.

Overfeeding is a primary cause of diarrhea.. I would back off the amount you are feeding a bit. They act like they are starving but it takes a while (10 - 15 minutes) for their brains to register that their bellies are full... most of them would overeat every feeding if allowed.

4. I mixed pedialyte 50/50 with formula for 2 meals. Poop cleared up.

Never, ever mix formula with pedialyte... I believe it says this on the FV package label? They should be given separately hours apart.

Use baby rice cereal... here is a tried and true BRAT diett:

3 tablespoons (already) mixed formula 2-1 (w/ nothing else added)
1/2 tsp baby rice powered cereal
1/2 tsp banana baby food.

[awsouthlake]

Thank you so even though he is young the BRAT diet you provided will help with his soft stool? I am feeding every 3.5 hours should I go to feeding every 4 hours? Also I give him 4cc of formula or 5% of his weight. Should I give him a total of 4cc of the BRAT meal ?

[Spanky]

Can you post a picture of your baby?

I am not sure who advised oatmeal, but if you are feeding him by weight he should not be starving by any means unless it is going to far between feedings. Feeding oatmeal to a baby squirrel is not a good idea.

We have had folks feeding babies only 1/10 of an ml and thought that was 1ml and so they were way underfeeding and starving them. He should not be starving if you are feeding him 5% - 7%. What size syringe are you using to feed him?

The BRAT diet is what we recommend for treating persistent cases of diarrhea that do not respond to other options. And yes, I would feed 4ml of the brat formula.

[awsouthlake]

Can you post a picture of your baby?

I am not sure who advised oatmeal, but if you are feeding him by weight he should not be starving by any means unless it is going to far between feedings. Feeding oatmeal to a baby squirrel is not a good idea.

We have had folks feeding babies only 1/10 of an ml and thought that was 1ml and so they were way underfeeding and starving them. He should not be starving if you are feeding him 5% - 7%. What size syringe are you using to feed him?

The BRAT diet is what we recommend for treating persistent cases of diarrhea that do not respond to other options. And yes, I would feed 4ml of the brat formula.

Ok.... he eats every 3.5-4 hours and I fed him at 7:30 so I feed him again at 11:00. He weighs 77 grams tonight and I am attaching a picture of him that I just took in his bed. A wildlife rehabber told me oatmeal that is why I came here to ask the question. I fed him the BRAT diet you gave me and he loved it. He ate about 3.5 cc just under his 5%. I use a 3cc Miracle "o"ring syringe.

[Spanky]

Keep us updated on his progress...

[awsouthlake]

Keep us updated on his progress...

He weighed 82 grams (+6 grams from yesterday) this morning and loves the cereal. Feeding him every 4 hours now.

[Spanky]

That is great news

has the diarrhea resolved?

[awsouthlake]

That is great news

has the diarrhea resolved?

He had 1 normal poo after his last meal at 1pm which was a formula meal. He had 4 meals with rice cereal and had not had poo in the last 2 so I went back to formula. Pee is good clear and a normal amount. He is not dehydrated and seems to be really satisfied now. Feeding 4cc every 4 hours and all good for now.

[Mel1959]

If he no longer has loose stool eliminate the rice cereal. You don’t want to end up the other direction and him being constipated.

[awsouthlake]

If he no longer has loose stool eliminate the rice cereal. You don’t want to end up the other direction and him being constipated.

He had 4 meals with rice cereal and had not had poo in the last 2 so I went back to formula

Right that is what I did. I took him back to formula after he had no more soft stool. His 5pm feeding he had a lot of poo and it was not soft but dark greenish. He is not dehydrated. I am assuming the change in color is from the rice cereal and not a parasite.

[Mel1959]

Yes, no doubt the solids of the rice cereal. Typical poo color is golden yellow with formula fed babies.

[awsouthlake]

Yes, no doubt the solids of the rice cereal. Typical poo color is golden yellow with formula fed babies.

Yes that is what I have noticed before the loose stool. His 5am feeding stool was normal and back to the golden yellow color. He weighed 86 grams gained another 4 grams from yesterday so he is back on track. Thank you both for all the help.

[awsouthlake]

Yes that is what I have noticed before the loose stool. His 5am feeding stool was normal and back to the golden yellow color. He weighed 86 grams gained another 4 grams from yesterday so he is back on track. Thank you both for all the help.

Update - I took him to a rehabber yesterday and it was the hardest thing to do. I had transitioned feeding him to 5 times a day. I was surprised to learn the rehabber only feeds 3 times a day. Each time I feed him he was very ready to eat. He would be sucking on his blankets when I would pick him up. Is this normal for rehabbers to feed them only 3 times a day?

I know that it is best for him to be around other squirrels and for him to be released into the wild. I want to make sure he is getting a fighting chance for survival. He weighed 90 grams when he left.