Care for an Orphaned Baby Squirrel: Post-Rescue Feeding and Care Tips for Infant Squirrels

Experienced wildlife rehabilitators are typically the most qualified to care for an orphaned baby squirrel, but it’s not always possible to get the baby to a rehabilitator within hours of his or her discovery, so understanding how to properly care for the baby will help to ensure survival.

The first priority when locating a baby squirrel is to get the orphan to a veterinary clinic for assessment. Often, these babies are injured, dehydrated, hungry and in need of immediate care. The age of the baby squirrel will also dictate feeding frequency and the type of food offered, so it’s vital to get the orphan assessed as soon as possible to ensure that the proper care is provided.

There are four major issues that squirrel caretakers will have to address when they first find one of these orphaned tree-dwellers: warmth, dehydration, feeding and injury care.

Dr. Michael Levine, DVM offered the following recommendations for new squirrel caretakers:

• Heating: Warming a baby squirrel is the first priority, as a cold baby will quickly succumb to hypothermia. A constant heat source must be provided, particularly for younger orphans who have yet to develop a sufficient coat and are unable to create their own body heat.

A heat pad is a reliable constant heat source, though care should be taken to ensure that the baby does not chew the cord. Reptile heating pads can be affixed to the bottom of a cage, fish tank or box, providing constant heat without exposing the baby to an electric cord. A microwavable heat pack can serve as a temporary heat source, as can a sealed zip-lock bag filled with hot water. If one of the latter heat sources is used, try to provide a warm lamp as well, since this will provide continual heat, even as the heat pack or water cools.

“You also need to ensure that the baby is in a secure location. If he’s in a box, there needs to be a cover. A small cage or covered fish tank is ideal. Even a very young squirrel is mobile and if they escape, they will quickly succumb to hypothermia and die,” Dr. Levine added.

• Hydration: Dehydration is the second most pressing issue that needs to be addressed, as serious dehydration can set in within a matter of a few hours, leading to illness and finally death.

“Do not ever give milk to a baby squirrel! This will trigger diarrhea and it can lead to death,” Dr. Levine warned, adding, “Ideally, the baby should receive a subcutaneous injection of fluids at the vet’s office, but this isn’t always immediately possible. So the most effective product is Pedialyte because it will restore fluids and provide electrolytes. This is available at the supermarket in the baby care aisle. If that is unavailable, mix one quart of warm water with one teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar and offer this. Fluids should be given separately from formula.”

The Pedialyte or hydration solution should be warmed and then given using a medicine syringe (preferred for the good control over the amount of fluid that emerges) or eye dropper. To help minimize the risk of aspirating the fluid into the lungs, deposit one drop at a time on the baby’s tongue. Avoid offering too much fluid at once and do not deposit the fluids at the back of the mouth.

• Treating Injuries: Injuries will require immediate veterinary attention, but certain measures should be taken at home to stabilize the animal in the event that the veterinary clinic is more than ten minutes away.

Wounds should be immediately cleaned to help minimize the risk of infection. Use an anti-bacterial soap like Dial to wash wounds and using a warm water, rinse away the soap and flush the wounds for two full minutes. After drying the baby, use betadine – a no-sting disinfectant solution – to clean the wounds. Apply directly to the wound or use a sterile gauze pad to apply a generous amount of betadine, which should then be allowed to air dry.

In the event of serious fractures, the break should be splinted. For individuals who are not comfortable splinting the fracture, wrap the baby using gauze, an ace bandage or a blanket in a manner that keeps the limb up against the body in a comfortable, natural position. This will limit movement. Use caution when wrapping to ensure that the baby does not have difficulty breathing; the wrapping should be somewhat firm but not tight.

• Feeding: Offering food for the baby squirrel is the fourth step. Esbilac milk replacement formula is the only food that is suitable for an orphaned baby squirrel.

“Esbilac is the closest to a squirrel’s milk, so it’s the least likely to cause digestive upset and diarrhea, which can be deadly in these little guys,” Dr. Levine explained, adding, “Never use any other milk replacement product, even if they claim to be suitable for squirrels. Human formula, cow’s milk or cream, and goat’s milk are also unacceptable. These will kill your baby by leading to uncontrollable diarrhea and dehydration."

The same technique used for hydrating should be used with feeding. Ideally, caretakers should use a medicine syringe and to minimize the risk of aspiration, deposit one drop at a time on the baby squirrel's tongue.

Related Reading

Also check out Suite101's Baby Squirrel Resource Page, with additional articles on how to determine the age of a baby squirrel, baby squirrel care and links to helpful wildlife rehabilitation organizations.

Sep 6, 2008 8:01 AM

Guest :

I just went through hurricane Gustav and am now a mom of 5-6 wk old baby squirrels. Baton Rouge is running on generators at this time and I only have a can of pet milk on hand. I have been feeding the 3 babies with this since Monday but now all 3 have diarrhea. any home remedy? what can they eat until pet stores and vets are open again?

Do they need water or is the diluted formula all that is needed at this time? Also I have read not to use a towel for the "nest" but I think this is warmer than a t-shirt... why should a towel not be used?

Do they pee in the nest?.. how do you keep the warm if the nest is wet?

Sep 6, 2008 6:10 PM

Mia Carter :

Hello there!
It sounds like these baby squirrels have found a great mom! Caring for these babies can be very difficult and diarrhea is among the most common problems in these little guys. Esbilac pet milk supplement is usually what's recommended for these little guys - is that what you're feeding them? That's ideal for squirrel babies. They may just be having stomach upset from the new food - obviously, that's not what they were eating in the wild, and any time you change food, you'll see stomach upset for a few days. You'll also see diarrhea due to stress and they've been through lots of stress, with the storm, and now a new home. They key is to keep them hydrated until the diarrhea passes or until you can get them to the veterinarian. So, in addition to feeding the canned pet milk, we'll want to give them straight fluids too. This way, they'll get some extra fluid to counteract the fluid they're loosing through diarrhea. So in addition to the feedings you're doing, we'll want to give them fluid. This will be less upsetting to the digestive system than the food, so they'll be a bit more apt to absorb the fluid. First choice is going to be Pedialyte, so if a store is open near you, you can look for this. Second choice is Gatorade - most gas stations and convenience stores have this, so you may find this a bit easier. Third choice is a homemade hydration formula, mentioned above: mix one quart of warm water with one teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar. And we'll feed this every few hours in addition to the Esbilac. If you don't have Esbilac - which is really the only food that they're going to tolerate - this is going to be a critical situation because they could end up in a deadly situation where they'll just keep getting worse and worse stomach upset. So if you don't have Esbilac, I would consider driving a bit further out of the storm area, if possible, to try to get some. It's at most pet stores and vet clinics. Another option would be to try to find some animal aid organization in your area that can either take over their care or help you get supplies. So let me know if you need any additional help in this area and I'd be happy to help you find someone who can help.
As for the towel, in my experience, their little nails get stuck in the little loops that form most towels.Most, but not all towels are made of these little loops and those are the problem.
I wish you luck with your babies! Let me know if you need any additional help!
-Mia Carter

Sep 6, 2008 6:21 PM

Mia Carter :

The following website has a list of wildlife rehabilitators by state, including Louisiana, so it's possible one of these people may be able to either take over care for your squirrel babies or help get you supplies: www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA.htm

Oh, and yes - they can and do pee in the nest, but they'll usually pick a different corner from where they sleep and cuddle. So you do have to check it a few times a day and rotate T-shirts for a new clean one every so often!

Good luck!
-Mia Carter

Sep 8, 2008 1:51 PM

Guest :

I am in Lafayette Louisiana and I now have a 5-6 week baby squirrel from the recent hurricane. He seems to be doing really good on the pedialite and esbilac formula. His stools are solid/golden. My question is how do you know if the squirrel has aspirated or has pneumonia. He has a great appettite and sucks so hard on the syringe whenever I feed him. His eyes just opened and his ears have perked up. And when do I put him in a cage????? any comments would be helpful.

Sep 8, 2008 2:06 PM

Mia Carter :

Hi there!
It sounds like your baby squirrel is doing very well! That's wonderful! There are three basic things that indicate health: alertness, a good appetite, and solid stools. It looks like your little guy has all three of these attributes, which is great.
So I would keep doing what you're doing, and look for any signs of illness.

You'll know if he gets pneumonia or another illness in a few ways. Firstly, he'll seem sick - he'll be lethargic and not all that alert. His eyes will loose that sparkle. His appetite will also be poor - not a problem at the moment, by the sound of it! And as the baby gets older, he gets better at feeding and he'll be less likely to aspirate the food. You should also weigh him on a small scale every couple days - he should be gaining weight gradually. If he's losing weight, that's a bad sign, so you'll want to monitor that too.

For respiratory problems like pneumonia, you'll want to look for symptoms like coughing, sneezing, watery or crusty discharge from the eyes and nose, rattling, wet-sounding breathing and labored breathing - you'll see him making a real effort to breathe.

As for a cage, it depends on the squirrel's individual development. It varies. A squirrel who's sick as a baby will spend less time on climbing and other developmental skills. And it's also variable because a squirrel with his mom will develop quicker than with a human parent, so if he was with his mom for a long period of time, he may be closer to target for milestones, and not so much if he was orphaned early on. Depending on his health and his age when he was orphaned, it can be anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks when a cage becomes necessary. You'll know when it's time - he'll stop sleeping as much and more of his time will be spent exploring and walking around. When this happens, you'll need to make the switch to a cage. Just opt for one without metal grate flooring so his feet don't get stuck. Or place a few sections of newspaper (changed daily) over the newspaper. Just be sure to still provide fabric to stay warm and a heating pad, placed under the cage (they make these for reptile cages - they can work well). He'll need those special accommodations until he's basically full grown.

This site has some great signs to tell how old he is, along with directions on weaning and releasing him if you decide to go for that option some day.
http://www.squirreltales.org/

I wish you luck! Let me know if you have any other questions okay?
-Mia Carter

Sep 8, 2008 2:43 PM

Guest :

Hello,
I have three orphaned squirrels and would like to know if the kitten milk replacer is okay to feed the babies vs. the puppy milk replacer.
Thank you.

Sep 8, 2008 3:13 PM

Mia Carter :

Hello there!

Puppy Esbilac is better tolerated than the kitten version, which has a slightly different formulation that seems to be less likely to agree with the baby squirrel's digestive system. The puppy Esbilac seems to provide a better chance of survival, as it lessens the chance of developing diarrhea, which can often lead to a deadly situation in these little guys.

Also, feed your little guys sitting upright - laying down will increase their chances of inhaling the fluid into their lungs (aspiration), which can cause a deadly lung infection or pneumonia.

This site has a great overview of the weaning schedule for babies, as gradually you will need to mix solids into the equation.
http://www.squirreltales.org/

I hope your three babies are doing well!
-Mia Carter
Suite101, Pet Care Feature Writer

Sep 10, 2008 7:32 PM

Guest :

I adopted an orphaned baby squirrel last week after a friend found him laying on the ground near his car. I got some powdered Esbilac and he is doing well. His eyes were closed but opened by Sunday. About how old do you think he is? How long before I should start introducing other foods to him? I found a tall plastic storage container, under half of it I placed a heating pad which I keep on low. He can move to the other side of the box if he gets too warm. I also put a small teddy bear in with him so he'd have something to cuddle up with.
How soon can I put him in a regular cage?? thanks

Sep 10, 2008 9:53 PM

Mia Carter :

Hello there!
I'm glad to hear this little guy found a caring "mom!" That's wonderful - I'm glad he's doing well thus far.
Eyes open around five weeks, so I would hazard a guess that he's approaching six weeks of age.
Here is a link to a story I just wrote about determining the age of a baby squirrel (age 1 to 6 weeks): http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_old_is_my_orphaned_baby_squirre l

I have an additional story that will be done in the next hour or so on development from 6 to 12 weeks, which will give an idea of when certain features develop. These stories also have a guide on how much to feed a baby depending on his age, along with how to introduce solid foods to the baby squirrel.

As for introducing a cage, this is necessary anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks of age - usually around 7 or 8 weeks, most commonly. But if a baby was ill early in life, his development can slow, and likewise, a very healthy squirrel may develop at a slightly faster rate, meaning the cage would be necessary on the earlier end of the spectrum.

There will be a time when he begins exploring his environment - not just sleeping. And this is when a cage should be introduced. But always maintain the warm nest fabric and heating lamp or heating pad.

As for introducing solids, you can start placing solids in his nest now, since his eyes have opened. They seem to prefer soft fruits. Avacado is great and high in calories. Banana too. And melon. NO CITRUS! You can also offer some Royal Canin, Science Diet or another premium brand puppy food.

I wouldn't expect to see him starting to nibble for another few days, but it's nice to give him the smell to become familiar. You'll get a bit more direction in the link above, and in the story that will be posted shortly (I'll put up a link when that's available too)
Good luck to you and your little baby!
-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101

Sep 11, 2008 12:06 AM

Mia Carter :

Okay, we now have two new articles on squirrel development and care requirements for each week of life. Just copy and paste these into your browser.

1 to 5 weeks - http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_old_is_my_orphaned_baby_squirre l

6 to 12 weeks - http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/squirrel_age_and_development

Good luck squirrel caretakers!
-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 15, 2008 6:05 PM

Guest :

A nest of squirrel babies fell from my tree in hurricane Ike. I have taken care of orphaned squirrels before but I can't remember how much to feed them. All sights tell me different amounts like 10 cc, 1 cc, 6 cc. Could you please tell me how much to feed the squirrels at 4-5 weeks?

Sep 15, 2008 8:38 PM

Mia Carter :

Hello there!

I'm sorry there's the confusion with all the different websites - that's unfortunate.

I actually just wrote a couple of articles that you may find helpful. They're based on my experience for caring for baby squirrels, combined with the experiences of a veterinarian/wildlife rehabilitator, so the information is definitely accurate. I'll post those links at the bottom of my post.

For a 4-week-old squirrel, you should be feeding between 3cc's and 4cc's, so since you suspect he's possibly as old as five weeks, I'd suggest feeding at the higher end of the spectrum - about 4cc's. At five weeks, his feeding amount will rise to 5cc's to 6cc's and it's about this time when you can begin letting him decide how much he would like to eat in terms of formula.

Five weeks is when solid foods can be introduced too, so you may want to start that process as well.

I would feed a squirrel this age every three to four hours.

Here's the article I wrote on feeding and physical development for squirrels through the fifth week of life:
http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_old_is_my_orphaned_baby_squir rel

And here's an article that goes over feeding and physical development for squirrels age six through twelve weeks.:
http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/squirrel_age_and_development

Hopefully, by looking at the physical indicators, you can better pinpoint this little guy's age to help better determine precisely how much he should be eating.

I wish you luck with your little squirrel! Let me know if you have any additional questions, okay?

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 16, 2008 8:44 AM

Guest :

I just went through Hurricane Ike. I found 2 bay squirrels I guess are 4-6 weeks old. They were very traumatiized by their ordeal. They were calling out with their loud call. I brapped them up and put them in a bird cage and they slept and recovered well. They don't have any injuries. They were living in a nest in a tree in my yard. The nest (and tree) are gone. I looked all day for signs of the mother but she's didn't come for them. A neigbor gave me some high quality formula mix used for multiple types of animals. They are taking the fomula from a little spoon. No dropper available. I hope to raise them and release them. But right now, I have no power and hurricane fatigue so they are a welcome distraction for me to nurture them. I love them already! I have a boy and girl and I named them Ike and Tina Turner. They lived through 100 mile winds. Angie from Alvin Texas

Sep 17, 2008 3:54 PM

Guest :

My family lives in Pealand, TX, and just came through hurricane Ike. Two of our neightbors have each brought us little orphan squirrels: one that we think is about 2 weeks old, and one that is about 6 weeks old. The young girl who brought us the older baby said that some dogs had been bothering it, but the only injury we have found was to his left eye, it was closed and looked crusty. His other eye is open and bright, and he obviously sees very well with it. We have been very gently dabbing at the closed eye with a warm, damp cotton pad, but today it appears swollen. He has a very good appetite, and seems otherwise fine. None of the vets in town are open yet because power has not been restored. Is there any way we can help him until a vet is available? We are really worried about him.

The other baby is fine, and we were happy to find fresh cream on Tuesday. Thanks so much for your help!

Meredith & Gwen

Sep 17, 2008 6:05 PM

Guest :

I have a new squirrel ( about #18) so I am not new to this. What is new is the very foul odor of the urine w/this baby. What could be the cause of this? He seems to be about 4-5 weeks old. I have never had this problem before. Any advise?

Sep 17, 2008 8:35 PM

Mia Carter :

To the woman on her 18th baby squirrel!:

The foul odor is commonly a sign of excessive bacteria build-up in the bladder and urinary tract. So I would imagine that this foul smelling urine is likely the result of a bladder or urinary tract infection.

Remember, in these little guys, when they're young they need stimulation to the genital area from the mother squirrel to trigger bathroom activities. So it's possible that he didn't get that frequently enough and he ended up with an infection. So in this case, I would recommend a visit to the veterinarian for an exam - he'll likely need antibiotics to heal the infection.

In the meantime, I would try to give him lots of extra fluids to help flush the bacteria from his bladder/urinary tract. That should help prevent the problem from advancing, or it will at least develop at a slower rate.

I hope your little guy is feeling better soon!

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 17, 2008 8:55 PM

Mia Carter :

To Meredith and Gwen:

I'm sorry to hear your little squirrel friend's eye is unwell.

It sounds like one of three things occurred. During his ordeal, he may have been poked in the eye at some point, scratching and injuring the eye. This can cause swelling, squinting, discomfort, etc. When a scratch occurs, you can also end up with infection - anytime the eye is contacted, bacteria can get in and cause problems. So that's possible that he ended up with a scratch and infection. The third possibility is that there is no scratch, but he got an infection.

Whatever the case, it sounds like he'll need a visit to the vet for some antibiotic eye drops. I don't know where you're situated, but if you live near the edge of the hurricane strike zone, it may be worth driving an hour or so out to an area that does have electricity and an open vet's office. So there's an idea.

Until you can get him in, there's a couple things you can try at home. Firstly, you'll want to de-crust the eye a few times a day. Just take a warm damp washcloth and gently wipe the eye to get rid of any discharge and crusty areas.

Then, if you have an ice pack (instant cold packs are available at the drug store if you don't have electricity), you should use the very corner apply a cold compress to his eyelids. Try to just apply the cold to his eye - these little guys chill very easily, so we don't want much of his body coming in contact with the cold. And keep him all warm and wrapped up while you apply ice. Ice the eyelids a few times a day for 20 min. at a time to reduce swelling and pain.

I would also try to find a drug store in your area to get something called wound wash saline. It comes in a bottle that sprays a mild stream of sterile saline and you can use this to flush his eye a few times a day. You can also use some plain eye saline (from the contact lens care section) and use a liquid syringe (looks like a needle syringe, without the needle, used for giving babies medication) to flush the eye. That will help clear away some of the discharge, making him more comfy.

I hope your little guys are doing well!

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 18, 2008 9:44 AM

Guest :

My Name Is Bethany And I Too Have Just Been Through Hurricane Ike And Found A Beutiful Baby Boy Squirrel! He Is About Four Weeks Eyes Closed And Seems To Be Doing Very Well! I Had No Knowledge Of The Care For Him But I Did Notice He Was Dehydrated And Gave Him Gatorade And Was Also Feeding Him Very Deluted Baby Formula. Now As I Am Able To Read, i Find Baby Formula Can Be Harmful To Him. My Question Is Will It Be Ok To Just Switch To The Puppy Formula Or Is There Something I Should Give Him While Switching. His Stools Have Been Good And He Doesnt Have A Problem Going To The Restroom As Of Now, But I Do Wish To Raise And Release Him To The Best of My Ablity!

Short Story:
He Is A Mommas Baby! He Has Been Sleeping In An Old Purse Of Mine That I Has A Heating Pad In And A Small Pillow Case. The Purse Sits On The Bed Surronded With Another Blanket Because Much Like A Little Child He Likes To Get Out And I Of Course Didnt Want Him To Fall Off The Bed. But It Never Fails In The Middle Of The Night He Will Crawl Out And SomeHow Find My hand And Snuggle Down In It. When I Try To Put Him Back He Crawls Right Back Out And Finds It Again. Its Funny How They Get That Sense Of Smell And Know Who Takes Care Of Them!

Sep 18, 2008 4:29 PM

Guest :

To Mia Carter,

Thank you so much for your incredibly helpful tips. Today my mom was able to take both babies to a vet. We have drops now for Chester (we're trying not to get too attached, I promise), and the vet said that little Chip is doing just fine. The vet is concerned that Chester might lose his vision in that eye, but we plan to do all we can and for sure everything you told us to do. Becasue both squirrels were found just a few houses down from ours, we hope we get to keep an eye on them after they are released. Thanks again for your quick response and kind help!

Sep 19, 2008 3:58 AM

Mia Carter :

To Chip and Chester's family:

I'm so glad to hear you were able to visit the vet! That's great that they seem to be doing well - I'm glad to hear it!

It is difficult to not get attached, but most will stay around even when they're released. In many cases, they will still rely on you for food to some degree too, so it's just something to keep in mind. I keep squirrel boxes in my yard for shelter and I have several hand-raised squirrels who are essentially wild pets - they still visit for food and to say hello. We no longer directly touch them for their own good - you can't have a seemingly "wild" squirrel jumping up onto people for petting! But they usually adjust very well.See the link to the article under "related reading" (scroll up to the end of the article) for more information on how to release them into the wild when the time comes.

One note: I would speak to an experienced squirrel wildlife rehabilitator in your area about Chester's eye, if it turns out that he does become blind in that eye. Animals usually compensate very well in cases of partial blindness, BUT I know that vision is required in both eyes for proper depth perception. This could put Chester at risk of falling when jumping through the trees - he may fall if he can't properly judge the distance. So I'd speak to someone in your area who is experienced in rehabilitating squirrels to get some advice - Chester may need to live in a wildlife sanctuary if he can't live in the wild due to his eye. Just something to keep in mind as he grows up. ;-)

I wish you luck with Chester and Chip!

And you (and anyone else!) can feel free to send photos of your baby squirrels to PetCare@Suite101.com.

I'm desperately in need of baby squirrel photographs to accompany these articles!!!

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 19, 2008 4:14 AM

Mia Carter :

To Bethany:

Sounds like your little friend is doing well! It's not unusual for a baby squirrel to seek out comfort from a human as he's doing - remember, he used to share a nest with his siblings and mom! So he's probably not used to sleeping alone! Just be careful - we don't want him to get hurt if you roll over during sleep!

The heating pad is great. The purse is a great idea - it' probably very cozy and nest-like. Just watch his teeth growth - once he has them, we'll want to phase out the heating pad due to the cord. You can either switch to a heating lamp or put him inside a box or cage, and put the heating pad beneath the cage. They make special reptile heating pads just for this purpose.

With the formula, if he's been tolerating what you've been feeding him thus far, I would mix the new puppy formula that you'll be feeding him. Mix them for a couple of days, increasing the new formula and phasing out the old formula a bit more with each feeding. This will allow his system to adjust. Esbilac puppy formula is the best-tolerated and most widely available food for these little guys.

If you're still feeding him Gatorade, I'd actually switch to Pedialyte. It's much more powerful than the Gatorade and it's wonderful at keeping these little guys hydrated.

If you visit my baby squirrel resource page, I have great information on a feeding schedule to help guide you on how much to feed him and how to transition to solid foods, along with information on how to determine his exact age. There's also an article on there about how to plan for his future and release him when the time comes.
Here's the URL to copy and paste into your browser: http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/baby_squirrel_care_articles_on_suite 101_pet_care

And as I mentioned in a previous post, you (and anyone else!) can feel free to send photos of your baby squirrels to PetCare@Suite101.com.

I'm desperately in need of baby squirrel photographs to accompany these articles, so send them in if you'd like!

I hope your little squirrel baby continues to do well! I've raised quite a few and it's just so rewarding to watch them develop from this little helpless baby into an agile, beautiful creature!
-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 22, 2008 8:12 PM

Guest :

Like so many others, I found an orphaned baby girl squirrel after Hurricane Ike. She appears to be about 2 weeks old. I took her to my vet. He recommended Kitten Formula. We're on day 2 and she's doing well. She's eating 1 1/2 to 2 cc every 3 hours. I'm just about out of the Kitten Formula that I purchased. The vet said I could stay with the Kitten Formula or change to the Puppy Formula or I could feed her a homemade formula (pet milk, water, Karo, egg yolk). Most everything that I have read on the internet says Puppy Formula is better. I'm so confused by all the differing opinions. Since I started with the Kitten Formula and she's doing well, I afraid to change now. I don't want to make her sick. My vet handles mainly cats, dogs, and large animals. Should I continue as I am or change formulas? Thanks!

Sep 22, 2008 8:30 PM

Mia Carter :

Hello there!

I'm glad to hear your little baby is doing well!

I've cared for several of these little orphaned squirrels and in my experience, the puppy formula is better. The squirrels on the puppy formula seem to be less prone to digestive upset like diarrhea, so it seems to agree with their system a bit better.

Also, the vet I use as a source for all of my squirrel articles swears by Puppy Esbilac formula. According to him, the puppy formula more closely mimics the squirrel's milk, and it seems to fulfill their dietary needs better. And FYI, this is a vet who's worked extensively as a wildlife rehabilitator and as a professor of veterinary medicine, so he is someone who is experienced in this area.

Many very good vets aren't experienced with squirrels, which can be a problem since they may not know all the little tricks that you learn from raising these little guys yourself - but even an inexperienced (with squirrels) vet's guidance will generally be in the right direction.

Unfortunately, you've run into a problem that many encounter - conflicting information. And it can really confuse matters!

My advice is this: Switch to the puppy Esbilac formula, but do it very gradually. On the first two days, start by feeding one part puppy formula with nine parts kitten formula. On days three and four, feed two parts puppy formula and eight parts kitten formula. Continue this until you've switched to the puppy formula. And if the baby starts to experience any diarrhea or stomach upset, stop. Wait a couple days and once he's stabilized, move forward again. He should be just fine as long as you do it gradually. And in the longrun, the puppy formula will be better.

Your little baby's eating needs will slowly change as she grows. I've written a few articles on how much to feed them based on age, when to introduce solid foods to the baby squirrel, how to determine the baby squirrel's age, how to release them into the wild - all that stuff.

If you haven't already, you can visit my baby squirrel resource page and use some of that information as a guide. It can be found at (copy and paste this URL into your browser):
http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/baby_squirrel_care_articles_on_sui te101_pet_care

I wish you luck with your baby squirrel! Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be more than happy to help!

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 23, 2008 3:12 PM

Guest :

Another Ike person with two litle boys. MY one boy appears to be about 6 or close to 7 weeks old. He is still drinking formula and likes bananas and grapes. Thing is, he was off balance when we got him. hung his head to one side and turned in circles. He's doing much better and has his balance most of the time. He LOVES to eat and tries to suck SO much from the plunger. He has had a slight sneeze since we found him on the 13th, but has never gotten worse or better - It was only happening when he was out in my lap and seemed to be smelling. He will shake his head to. Today, he got too much formula at one time and I am worried that some may have gotten in the wrong places (lungs). He has been quieter then normal today (I just had to take him from the nest and that is unusual as he is the nosier and braver of the two). He is sneezing or coughing (not sure which it is) a bit more now. He is still active and climbing and cleaning himself in my lap, but I want to know what I can give him if he does indeed have a cough or the start of pnemonia? I already treated one with constipation/bloat so I am up to whatever it takes. Please help me out.

Sep 23, 2008 8:14 PM

Mia Carter :

To the mom of the two baby Ike Squirrels:

It sounds like your little guy has an infection - an ear infection would certainly cause the head shaking and balance problems that you describe and I should note that the ears, nose and throat are all connected, so it's possible for an infection to start out in one place and spread to another.

Also, the sneezing/coughing is a bit concerning. He may have already been ill when you brought him home - we just don't know. But I would get him examined by a vet asap. They'll listen to his breathing and examine him, and based on that, they'll decide whether to prescribe antibiotics. I imagine from what you describe that they probably will give him meds. It's pretty easy to treat an infection early on, before there's too many symptoms. But once it gets really serious, it's very hard to cure and the mortality rate is high. So I'd strongly recommend taking him in now rather than adopting a wait and see approach.

I hope your little guys are doing well! Let me know if you have any other questions, okay?

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Sep 24, 2008 1:57 PM

Guest :

Mom of the two boys here again. I have called a couple vets, but they won't see them. Tried calling two rehab people, waiting for a reply. Would love to know which vets these IKE squirrel rescuers are going to. I'd rather not have them go to SPCA as one of 600+, but may not have a choice.

Sep 24, 2008 2:44 PM

Mia Carter :

To the mom of the two Ike squirrels:

Unfortunately, that's a common problem you're encountering. One idea is to call the SPCA and see if they know of a vet who can help you. I worked with a large rescue in the Boston area for many years and we referred people all the time. So I'd try that.

If you tell me what area you live in, I could try to locate a wildlife rehabilitation group in your area - maybe one that you haven't contacted just yet.

Also, do you have any big universities near you? Universities with veterinary schools often have veterinary clinics, many of which see wildlife. For instance, in Boston, we have Tufts University Veterinary School and they have a whole wildlife care center.

And there's also some great vet-finder websites out there that you can use to locate vet clinics in your area. It's a bit of a shot in the dark, but if it's a last resort...
Try this site:
http://vetlocator.petplace.com/

And here's some TX (assuming that's where you are) wildlife rehabbers by county:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/

I wish you luck! Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.

And if anyone else in the Ike strike zone has any helpful info on a vet who can help, I invite you to post!

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Oct 1, 2008 10:28 AM

Guest :

Another Ike person here! I have 3 (2 girls, 1 boy) that fell in the road with a tree during Ike. No mother was visible and they were lying in water so we promptly took them home to warm them up. They are about 6-7 weeks old now as their eyes opened last week. I have done so much research my eyes are fuzzy!! I'm feeding them Esbilac puppy formula every 5 hours and doing everything I can to keep them warm, safe and healthy. However, I've noticed that although their poop is a golden color, it is mushy in texture. I'm feeding with an infant medicine dropper because they are so vigorous in their feedings and this is the easiest method for me to control their sucking. It takes three of these full droppers to make 1 tsp. I'm giving them each 4 full droppers. Is this too much and that's why they are not having solid movements or am I worried for nothing?

Also, they are nursing on themselves in between feedings and I'm worried about the injuries this may cause. Please help! I am extremely committed to giving them safe and healthy care in order to release them into the wild later. My husband is already constructing an outdoor cage to make the transition a little easier.

Oct 1, 2008 3:53 PM

Guest :

I have had 2 squirrels in the past that were given to me at different times, and the first was disabled, and he lived, the second was hit by a car, he lived and he was able to be released. However that was almost 4 years ago. 2 months back I was called to take on 3 orphaned babies that had falled from their nest. One was injured and had a pussy soar on her behind which was easily taken care of. Then a week after the first 3, another baby was given to me. Now having the 4 of them for the past 2 almost 3 months, I am getting ready to let 2 of them go, 2 are right and able and are ready to get out side. I have adjusted them to nature, and Have built them a nesting box out of ceader (sp) and put the fluff in that does not mold. When is the best time to open the cage for them to go out, their tree house is about 40 feet up and they have a little food dish that is about 10 ft up from the ground. They have been out side for about 2 weeks to adjust is am or pm better?
Also one that I am not letting go yet seems not quite right in the head, shes very timid and very slow she never attacks the others for the food, the 3 others fight and play all the time, she has never bitten me, the other 2 have. Which I see as a good sign because I do not play with them alot. She always keeps to herself Her head is also more square and her eyes are not normal looking.
And the 4th squirrel has full rule of inside and out she runs back and fourth If I come home shes at the door waiting for me to come home. I am worried about her in the winter, she never wants to be out side if I am inside. She will wait out side untill my dogs go out and just jump on their back and chill, other dogs she will not go near, and she hides from the cats, But as soon as my dogs go out shes waiting on our pourch I leave food at the edge of the yard but she chirps at me to hand feed her, I try to avoid this. ANy suggestions
Thank you Laura

Oct 3, 2008 12:46 PM

Guest :

Hello, my dad found a baby squirrel at a job site that had fell out of a tree and was wandering around, he brought it home, and now we aren't sure what to do with it, he wants to keep it, but isn't that illegal? were keeping it in our hamsters old cage, with a shoe box and blankets, and their is one of those watter bottle things in it, but I'm pretty sure the squirrel doesn't know how to use it, and all it has for food it dry cat food and nuts, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't know how nto eat it either, I'm afraid it'll die without proper food/water.. we also haven't taken it to the vet, because dad thinks they'll take it away... it seems healthy..but.. Help?

Oct 3, 2008 1:18 PM

Guest :

Hi Mia,

I have had a baby for about 4 wks & he is doing well. Today someone brought me another one who appears to be about the same age as the one I already had. My question is can these two be put together in the same cage or do they need to be seperated.

Oct 3, 2008 2:42 PM

Guest :

My family and I have raised squirrels for a while. Several weeks ago we obtained another squirrel about 6 weeks in age. It had fallen from a tree and was dehydrated and weak. The little girl got better and boy is she a spaz! She is definitely not ill now. And I'd say she is about 9 1/2 to 10 weeks old now. I am concerned though. From day 1 she was making sniffling/sneezing sounds and even now continues with them. We thought she had pnemonia, but it looks like she may have a possible respiratory disease? She banged her head in the fall and has a wound on her head. It's healed, but scarred. When we found her she had blood around her nose. I saw an article on the web that said it could be an injury to their teeth. I flipped her over and looked and as far as I see they look normal. Both bottom ones are straight up and together and she has 2 little ones visible at top. They too appear normal. Though, I don't have anything to compare them with. Any idea what is happening to our little Camo?

Oct 3, 2008 5:54 PM

Guest :

Hi,
I have 2 baby squirrels about the same age, found at different times, can they be in the same cage together or do they need to stay seperated. I have never run into this problem before & not sure how to go about this. Would appreciate your input.
Thanks

Oct 3, 2008 11:58 PM

Mia Carter :

To Laura and the Visitor With the Question on Housing two non-sibling squirrels:

Thank you for your questions - very good ones! I have answered your questions in my Pet Care blog, which is the method I am now using to answer readers' questions to make it easier for visitors to find the information they're seeking (the comments are rather difficult to read!)

So here's the URL to the blog. I hope you find your answers helpful.
http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/2008

-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Oct 5, 2008 12:02 AM

Mia Carter :

To the Guest Whose Dad Found a Baby Squirrel at a Job Site:

Thanks for your question! I've provided information that I think you'll find helpful in my latest blog entry - my new method for answering reader questions, as it creates a separate URL for each answer.

Here's the URL to the blog entry that addresses your squirrel care question:
http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/q_is_it_illegal_to_keep_a_baby_squ irrel

I wish you luck!
Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Oct 5, 2008 2:52 PM

Mia Carter :

To Camo's Family:

Thanks for your question! I've written up with an answer for you in one of my latest blog entries, which is the method I'm using to answer most pet and animal questions from readers from now on.

Here is the URL of the blog post where you'll find your answer:
http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/q_respiratory_illness_in_a_baby_sq uirrel

Good luck! =)
-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Oct 10, 2008 1:35 PM

Guest :

Hi There!
I too have a baby squirrel courtesy of Hurricane Ike. She seems very healthy and eats well but seems to have at least 1 if not 2 bum eyes. One eye has a glaze over it and I'm pretty sure she can't see out of it and I am beginning to wonder about her other eye. I've raised baby squirrels before and this one is acting very different. I really don't think she can see me. I can almost poke her in her eye before she blinks and I think she feels me almost at her eye and doesn't see me. Anyhow, can you give me some hints at what I can look for to determine if she is blind or not? I figure she's 6-7 weeks old and otherwise healthy. (She explores some, but not very much and seems to go to the same places after each exploration, like she's memorizing the area. She just yesterday began walking off of a towel on the floor. She holds her head down to the ground a lot ond scoots most places she's never been.) The more I write this down the more I think I'm answering my own questions..... Suggestions?

Oct 11, 2008 10:36 PM

Mia Carter :

To the Guest with the Blind Squirrel (yes, I do think she's at least partially sight impaired!):

I've answered your question in one of my latest blog entries, which you can find at the following URL:

http://www.suite101.com/blog/miacarter/q_is_my_orphaned_squirrel_blind

Thanks for your question!
-Mia Carter
Pet Care Feature Writer, Suite101.com

Mar 6, 2009 2:21 PM

Guest :

Hello, I live in Kentucky, and we just had a major ice storm about a month ago. Well, my husband was cutting down a damaged tree and a mama squirrel got killed. :( He brought her three babies home to me, and I think they are 3 to 4 weeks old. They have some fur and their bottom teeth. I went out and got the powder Esbilac for puppies, and mixed up 1 quart of water with 1 tsp salt, and 4 tsp sugar. They have drank some of the water, but I haven't tried the formula yet. My main concern is I haven't gotten them to go to the bathroom yet. I've had them for about 3 hours. It happened 1st thing this morning, so they were several hours without mama. Could they not be urinating because they are dehydrated? Thanks for the help.