Q. My Baby Squirrels Have Diarrhea and One Has An Area of Swelling. Help!

Posted by Mia Carter Nov 20, 2008

On November 19, 2008, a reader of How Old is My Orphaned Baby Squirrel posted the following question: "Hi. I found 3 Baby squirrels in a nest (two girls and a boy Lucy, Lily and Leo) on the ground that had fallen out of a tree. I started them on Pedialyte immediately and used Esbilac puppy formula. I ran out of the Esbilac and used a generic puppy replacement for 2 days. All of my babies have runny stool and I am worried that they are sick. I just got some more Esbilac. Can I start using it right away? Also, they were trying to nurse on each other and hurting each other so I put each one in a sock so they could still sleep together, but now the boy's genital area is so swollen and I don't know why. Please help!"

Causes and Treatment for Diarrhea in Baby Squirrels

This is a case where the diarrhea was likely caused by the sudden switch in food. This is not at all uncommon in baby orphaned squirrels, as they have a very sensitive digestive system. Even adult animals like dogs and cats can experience diarrhea when they eat a new food.

So I would recommend getting these little squirrels back on the Esbilac puppy milk replacer - it's the best for them and it's the least likely to cause digestive upset - and I'd try to keep a bit extra on-hand so you don't need to suddenly switch them again. You'll also need to give them separate feedings with Pedialyte to help rehydrate these little baby squirrels, who can quickly lose fluids and get dehydrated when they're experiencing diarrhea. So I'd be giving them some Pedialyte by eye dropper in between each feeding. Fluids (Pedialyte) must be given separately from the Esbilac and you must wait a little while - you cannot give it all at once as their little bodies will get overstuffed and very uncomfortable.

If you can tell me their approximate age (see this article for a look at squirrel development from weeks 1 to 5 and then read this article on squirrel development for weeks 6 to 12) I'd be happy to help you come up with an approximate serving size and frequency for the Pedialyte. Feel free to post that information here under this post or send an e-mail to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

I would strongly recommend getting these little baby orphaned squirrels to a veterinarian as soon as possible for an examination. Some times, the rate of fluid loss due to diarrhea is so severe that they require subcutaneous injections of fluid to prevent dehydration.

Causes for a Baby Squirrel's Swollen Genitals

I'm also concerned about your little boy squirrel's swollen genitals. This could be one of two things. It's possible that this is an injury from one of his sisters. If this is the case, the swelling should begin to improve within a day; after about four hours post-injury, the swelling should be about as bad as it will get. If the swelling is getting worse, this suggests an infection, which will require antibiotics from the veterinarian. So I would closely monitor this situation. Photograph the area of swelling several times a day to monitor the progression. And if it appears to be getting worse, this is cause for concern.

The nursing behavior is not uncommon, but it does tend to be more common in baby squirrels who are not fed at the proper frequency. So I would double check your feeding schedule. I have some great feeding schedules based on age, along with other squirrel care literature posted on my Baby Squirrel Care Page.

I hope your little trio of baby squirrels are feeling better soon!

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.