FEEDING SMALL MAMMALS
Preparing Food For
Small Mammals
Most
baby animals can not take cow's milk. Use "Esbilac" puppy
formula. It is great for taking care of baby possums,
raccoons, skunks and other small mammals. Esbilac can
be bought at a pet store. If you can't get it then try
the following:
Goat's milk with mashed bananas and
liquid lactate drops (lactate can be bought at a pharmacy
and is used for animals or people who have lactose intolerance,
see directions on the package).
Use a plastic syringe
and put a baby nipple on the tip (photo, left),
or use a baby bottle. Make sure that the nipple is clean
and
doesn't clog up with banana seeds.
Remember that heat has a calming effect
and reduces pain. In addition, touch is an important
component: Orphaned mammal babies like to be touched,
especially on the neck area.
It is important that baby animals eliminate
properly. Their mothers would lick their hind area, but
you should take a warm cloth or paper towel and wipe
their hind area in order to stimulate elimination.

When
they try to bite you, that’s the time to get food into
them, you might want to use a spoon.
Ricotta cheese is a favorite of possums.
That mixed with baby squash or carrots and "Nutrical" (pet
vitamins and minerals) provide good nutrition.
Moistened Puppy Chow will do just fine also.
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