supplies

The Basics

Supplies The following are absolutely necessary to feed and raise a baby squirrel: In Brief (further explanation below) A digital gram scale 1cc and 3 cc o-ring syringes A proper formula Digital Gram Scale It is extremely important to weigh the baby daily to determine how much to feed. Digital gram scales can be purchased online, at many major department stores (in the “Kitchen Section”), at health food stores, and at kitchen supply stores. Babies can vary widely in weights--from individuals to regions. For example, Southern Eastern Grays weigh on average a pound or less at adulthood while Northern Eastern Grays can push two pounds. Below is a chart demonstrating how much they can vary in weight. Each of these babies was a day old when received. DO NOT rely on estimations that tell you to feed x amount of formula at x weeks old x number of times daily. Weigh your baby daily!

Other Possibilities Until a digital gram scale is obtained, you could use a mechanical dietary or postal scale. If either (which are not as accurate) weighs in ounces (not grams) only, you can visit this site to make a quick conversion: As an emergency solution--until a digital gram scale is obtained--you may go by the estimation that at one week old, a baby requires 1cc of formula per feeding; at two weeks old 2ccs of formula, and so forth. This is entirely inaccurate, and you don’t want to underfeed or force-feed the baby, but hopefully it will provide the baby with enough sustenance to survive but not enough to cause digestive problems before an accurate weight can be determined. See the link “Aging Babies” under the “Infant/Found Baby” menu above. Syringes and Nipples You need to purchase 1cc and/or 3cc syringes, depending on the age and weight of the baby. Nipples are not mandatory but will make feeding more comfortable for the baby. Latex or silicone nipples both work, but the silicone (clear ones pictured at right) last longer. Until a baby is eating three full ccs of formula, based on its weight (60+ grams), use a one cc syringe. If the baby is over sixty grams, you can use a 3cc syringe, but understand that for every millimeter you push the syringe plunger in, the volume is approximately three times what the same distance would be for a 1cc syringe, so you MUST go slower. NEVER use a syringe larger than 3cc. It’s too easy to aspirate the baby (get fluid into its lungs), which can be fatal itself (drowning it) or lead to aspiration pneumonia. The smaller the syringe, the more control you’ll have over the flow/amount. Below are pictured three types of syringes. O-ring is to the left, and this type is preferred but might be harder to come by. The syringe in the center is a rubber-tipped single use syringe. These will begin sticking after only a couple of feedings, which is extremely troublesome because, if you apply more pressure to force the plunger in, once it breaks free the volume of formula will be too much too quickly, and you will aspirate the baby. If you MUST use this type of syringe temporarily, purchase many of them and discard each as soon as it begins to stick. The syringe to the right is an oral/topical only use syringe of relatively new design. These have not been tested extensively for long-term use but have a smooth “action” and may be even more sanitary than o-ring syringes as no groove or mating surfaces exist to allow formula residue to develop bacterial growth. Based on limited experience, they do tend to “drag” after a half dozen or so feedings.

O-ring syringes and nipples can be purchased online at these two locations: Please click the “Next/Formula” button below to continue.

Do NOT attempt to feed a baby squirrel with a pet nursing bottle! You will aspirate the baby! Eye droppers can be used in an emergency, but GREAT care must be taken to feed slowly and control flow.

It is VERY important to clean your feeding instruments thoroughly after each feeding as bacteria that can sicken the baby can develop quickly on unclean syringes. squirrelsandmore.com squirrelstore.com Unit Conversions