Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have another squirrel from the same nest female who is emaciated. She was fine to begin with but had just gone down hill. She is still pooping and peeing and eating (less than her siblings) and is on TMS antibiotics. But her body doesn't seem to be grabbing the nutrients. Is there anything I can add to her food? Baby food, or other nutrient? I appreciate any help, this is all so touch and go.

Similar response to post below, try changing the ratio you are using for esbilac, that will make it thicker and should help hopefully. Also, adding onto the prior post, you could try giving the one with loose stools a bit of plain yogurt mixed into formula, sometimes the active cultures help sooth an upset tummy. Keep in mind, that not all thrive. Mother nature is picky, and we are interfering already. Please don't be discouraged if one slips downhill, some things simply aren't meant to be. I have had very little success with babies who's eyes aren't opened yet, but incredible success with ones that are (including one that had loose stools and an upper respiratory infection!) What is she on antibiotics for anyhow? Here, we don't use those unless it is a last ditch effort, if they are still eating, we just offer heat and food, if they cease eating, we intervene with antibiotics. Nice learning how others do things though, as any and all of it may come in handy at some point! By the way, the one with the upper respiratory (which I was totally freaking out about), well, it cleared up on its own, without the meds I had asked about using. Fortunately, I have a mentor to learn from, god only knows what would happen otherwise!
Joker

I wonder if the live cultures in the yogurt are similar to this Prozyme I have been giving the diarreah monster known as Sloppy Joe. I am not sure what this prozyme does exactly, my mentor just told me to give it to him. His poop is becoming formed now. I'm so excited. I have never talked about poop and pee so much in my life!

As for Kate the skin and bones I was having to force feed her so we put her on the antibiotics. Luckily with the antibiotics in her system she is getting much more active and has been put in the 20 gallon tank with her brother and sister. I will put her on 4-1 instead of 5-1 which is what she is on now. That will probably fatten her right up.

Have you used the rice cereal?

I used rice cereal with the raccoons I had in the spring, but not with squirrels. Squirrels seem to be interested in real foods moreso than the coons, so I give the fruits, nuts, seed mixes for them to supplement the formula. Raccoons are different, they develop faster as far as from when I get them, to when they eat on their own, and seem to have 2 modes, formula, and NO formula (weaned). Squirrels are slower about that, which gives more time for them to play with the other foods while enjoying their formula. I guess my thoughts are, why thicken, if they are willing to nibble on other things? Let them eat what they want of what I offer, then supplement with the formula. This seems to work quite well once they are mobile (I keep mine caged rather than in aquariums, so I can tell when they are ready, they start playing with the cage bars, climing, and nibbling their blankets, when they are that curious, throw in some grapes broken in half, and expand from there. They start out just sucking out the pulp, but move on from that quickly. Of course, each person who does rehab, has different methods, and if your mentor says "NO, don't do that", then you should listen. My mentor is pretty laid back, if something is genuinely a bad idea, he tells me, but otherwise says "give it a try, see what happens", and I do, so far, so good! You will learn what works for you personally and what doesn't as well, despite mentor suggestions. Sounds like they are doing good tho!
Joker