What to Feed a Five Week Old Baby Squirrel 
You may wonder what to feed a five-week-old baby squirrel. There are many things to keep in mind when feeding a squirrel, such as how much water it needs to survive. For fallen babies, you can find Pedialyte or Gerber brands at the supermarket’s baby section. Squirrels don’t like sports drinks, so a plain rehydrating fluid is the best option. To administer fluids, use an oral syringe that does not have a needle.
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Esbilac
It’s a good idea to introduce whipping cream to a feeding for a baby squirrel, and you can use Esbilac, a formula formulated for puppies, to increase the fat content of the formula. Start with a small amount, about 1 teaspoon (5ml) of cream per cup of reconstituted Esbilac. Gradually increase the amount of cream to the desired amount or eliminate it altogether. To feed your baby squirrel with cream, stir it in at the time of feeding, remove only a small amount, and always warm the mixture before feeding.
When feeding a young squirrel, check to see if it has a soft bowel movement. Most young squirrels go into a feeding trance, which means they don’t stop eating until you remove the food. If you notice a squirrel in this state, massage its genitals for 60 seconds and look for a yellow color. If it’s dark yellow, the squirrel has held on to its urine for too long and needs more stimulation. Thicker urine is a sign of dehydration and may need rehydrating formula. Normal bowel movements are soft and deep yellow.
Pedialyte
A feeding bottle filled with Pedialyte for a 5 week old baby squirrel can help a sick animal recover. The solution must be introduced slowly to prevent the squirrel from aspirating the solution. Always remember to keep the baby upright to prevent choking. It is also important not to force the baby to drink more than is necessary as this can lead to aspiration. If the baby squirrel is in good health, it can be released back into the wild.
A bottle containing Pedialyte is designed to replace fluids lost in the first two weeks of life. It should be mixed with an equal amount of water for the first feeding and less for subsequent ones. It is important to remember that this liquid should never be hot. Avoid using cow’s milk or goat’s milk as these are known to be dangerous to wildlife. Do not use homemade formulas because these are not formulated for squirrels.
High-Calcium vegetables
The first thing to do for your pet squirrel is to give it a balanced diet containing plenty of protein, fat, vitamins, and calcium. When choosing what to give your squirrel, remember to adjust the portions to the weight of your pet. For example, if your squirrel is overweight, limit high-fat food to prevent weight gain. And make sure to keep your home clean and sanitary.
As far as nuts go, almonds and pecans are a good choice. They contain more calcium and vitamin D than pecans, and they also contain fiber and natural sugars. Other high-cal foods include acorns and roasted pumpkin seeds. Asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, and carnations are also high in calcium. Arugula and chicory are also good choices. And don’t forget to give them apples or pecans, too, since they contain over eighty percent of water.
Rodent block
Adding a rodent block to your baby squirrel’s diet is very important. This supplement is composed of 100% animal protein and provides the squirrel with the nutrition it needs while in its cage. Once you wean your baby squirrel, introduce the rodent block to the cage along with other teething materials. You can also add large striped unsalted sunflower seeds to the block, as well as pine nuts or chopped fruit.
You should also provide some stimulation to the genital area of the baby squirrel at each feeding. A wet finger, Q-tip, tissue, or soft cloth is ideal. Alternatively, you can introduce a rodent block for the 5 week old baby squirrel as the first solid food. Red baby squirrels are notorious escape artists. While they may be cute, they can also wriggle out of the box, so it’s best to provide as much stimulation as possible.
Water mixture
The water mixture for a 5 week old baby squirrel should be kept warm. Despite the fact that squirrels normally have a body temperature of 100 – 102��C, the young need to remain slightly warm to prevent dehydration. It should be kept at 27 – 29��C for the first few weeks. During cold weather, you can cover the holes in the pet carrier with a piece of chicken wire or bird netting. The best way to feed the baby squirrel is to keep it busy with fruit or nuts in shell.
When feeding the baby squirrel, you should make sure that the amount of fluid is the same as that of the hydrating solution. Use a small syringe to feed the fluid. The smallest syringe is recommended to avoid aspirating the baby. The best formula for a 5 week old baby squirrel is Esbilac, which can be purchased at most pet stores, Chris’s Squirels and More, or online. Just make sure that you purchase it immediately before it is needed.
Animal milk replacer
A good formula for a five-week-old baby squirrel is a milk substitute that is formulated for orphaned or underweight squirrels. However, it is important to avoid overfeeding, because too much of the formula will lead to fat. Unlike human milk, animal milk replacer is easy to clean and dries quickly. These products contain all the essential nutrients for a baby squirrel’s growth and development.
Unlike human infant formula, squirrels’ digestive system is not developed enough to accept large quantities of food. Therefore, you must provide small amounts, usually just a few drops a day, and keep feeding time short. Alternatively, you can buy a bottle of the product from a veterinarian and feed it daily. Once a week, you can repeat the feeding process. A three-week-old baby squirrel should receive an additional dose every four to five days.
What do you need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 1: You need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel formula nuts and fruits.
How often do you need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 2: You need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel every 3-4 hours.
What kind of formula do you need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 3: You need to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel a high protein formula.
Where can you get high protein formula for a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 4: You can get high protein formula for a 5 week old baby squirrel at a pet store.
What kind of nuts can you feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 5: You can feed a 5 week old baby squirrel almonds hazelnuts and pecans.
What kind of fruits can you feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 6: You can feed a 5 week old baby squirrel apples bananas and grapes.
How many times a day should you feed a 5 week old baby squirrel?
Answer 7: You should feed a 5 week old baby squirrel 3-4 times a day.
What if you can’t feed a 5 week old baby squirrel every 3-4 hours?
Answer 8: If you can’t feed a 5 week old baby squirrel every 3-4 hours you should take it to a vet or rehabilitation center.
What happens if you don’t feed a 5 week old baby squirrel every 3-4 hours?
Answer 9: If you don’t feed a 5 week old baby squirrel every 3-4 hours it will become weak and dehydrated.
Is it okay to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel cow’s milk?
Answer 10: No it is not okay to feed a 5 week old baby squirrel cow’s milk because it doesn’t have the right nutrients.
What will happen if you feed a 5 week old baby squirrel cow’s milk?
Answer 11: If you feed a 5 week old baby squirrel cow’s milk it will become malnourished.
How do you know if a 5 week old baby squirrel is malnourished?
Answer 12: If a 5 week old baby squirrel is malnourished it will be thin and have a low energy level.
What should you do if you think a 5 week old baby squirrel is malnourished?
Answer 13: If you think a 5 week old baby squirrel is malnourished you should take it to a vet or rehabilitation center.
How can you prevent a 5 week old baby squirrel from becoming malnourished?
Answer 14: You can prevent a 5 week old baby squirrel from becoming malnourished by feeding it formula nuts and fruits every 3-4 hours.
What happens if a 5 week old baby squirrel doesn’t get enough to eat?
Answer 15: If a 5 week old baby squirrel doesn’t get enough to eat it will become malnourished.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
