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what to feed a baby squirrel with eyes closed

You can keep a baby squirrel with closed eyes alive short-term, but it’s critical to get it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible, because the wrong food or technique can kill it or cause permanent damage.

1. First: safety steps (before feeding)

Do these things before you give any food:

  • Make sure the baby is warm to the touch; cold babies cannot digest and will aspirate easily.
  • Place it in a small box or plastic tub with soft cloth (no loose threads or towels with loops).
  • Put half the box over a low‑setting heating pad or a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in cloth so it can move away from the heat.
  • Keep it away from pets and kids and handle as little as possible.

If the baby is cold, you must warm it for at least 20–30 minutes before attempting any fluids.

2. What to feed a baby squirrel with eyes closed

At this age the squirrel is a neonate, and it needs a specialized milk replacer , not cow’s milk or random “kitchen” milk mixes. Best options (emergency to proper formula)

  1. Emergency rehydration (first few feedings if dehydrated)

    • Use an unflavored pediatric electrolyte solution (like Pedialyte) or a homemade salt–sugar solution (only short-term, 12–24 hours max) until you can get proper formula and confirm it’s hydrated.
    • This is to stabilize it, not a long‑term diet.

  2. Proper formula (what it should live on)
    Look for a puppy milk replacer that rehabbers commonly use, such as:

    • Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer (powder form is preferred in many rehab guides).

    • Another veterinary‑grade puppy or small-mammal milk replacer if Esbilac isn’t available. You typically:

    • Mix the powder with warm water according to label, sometimes slightly more diluted for the first day, then gradually increase to full strength over 24–48 hours.

    • Warm each feeding to about body temperature (check on your wrist).

  3. What NOT to feed (this is very important)
    Do not give:

    • Cow’s milk, goat’s milk, cream, half‑and‑half.
    • Evaporated or condensed milk.
    • Human baby formula.
    • Almond/soy/oat/rice milk or other plant milks.
    • Bread, cereal, nuts, seeds, or fruits.

These can cause severe diarrhea, bloat, pneumonia from aspiration, or metabolic bone disease later.

3. How to feed (technique matters as much as the formula)

Because the baby’s eyes are closed, it is extremely easy to get liquid into the lungs if you feed incorrectly. Basic technique

  • Use a 1 cc (1 mL) or 3 cc oral syringe; a small nipple made for wildlife or kittens can sometimes be attached, but many rehabbers use just the syringe tip.
  • Hold the baby upright or at a natural belly‑down angle (like nursing from mom), never on its back.
  • Offer one small drop at a time on the lips; let it suck and swallow at its own pace.
  • Do not squeeze a stream into its mouth; this is how aspiration pneumonia happens.
  • Pause frequently; if milk bubbles out the nose or the baby coughs or gurgles, stop immediately, wipe it gently, and let it clear before trying again.

Feeding schedule (approximate) Exact amounts depend on weight, but a rough guide for eyes‑closed babies:

  • Very tiny/pinkies (up to about 3 weeks):
    • Every 2–3 hours around the clock (including night).
  • Slightly bigger with fur but eyes still closed (about 3–4 weeks):
    • Every 3–4 hours, last feeding later at night and first feeding early morning.

A common rule: total daily formula volume is roughly 5–7% of the baby’s body weight in grams per feeding session, spread over several feedings; but you really need a scale and a rehab chart if possible. If you can’t calculate precisely, aim for a gently rounded belly but never tight or bloated.

4. Extra care steps people often forget

Baby squirrels this young cannot pee or poop on their own.

  • After each feeding, stimulate elimination:
    • Use a warm, damp cotton ball or soft tissue to gently rub the genital/anal area in small circles until it urinates and/or defecates.
  • Watch for:
    • No poop for more than 24 hours.
    • Bloated, hard abdomen.
    • Diarrhea (watery, very frequent stools).
    • Milk coming from the nose, crackly breathing, or weakness after feeding.

Any of these need urgent rehabber or veterinary help. Also:

  • Keep handling to a minimum; stress alone can be dangerous.
  • Keep it in a quiet, darkish place (like a covered box with air holes).

5. When and how to introduce solids (for context)

You asked specifically about eyes‑closed babies, which are milk‑only, but it helps to know what comes next so you don’t start solids too early.

  • Eyes usually open around 4½–5 weeks (varies slightly by species).
  • Solid foods (like rodent blocks, specialized squirrel blocks, or primate/rodent chow) are generally introduced after the eyes open and the baby is more active and chewing.
  • Before the eyes open, at most you might place a rodent block in the nest to let them smell and gently nibble, but the diet should still be almost entirely formula.

So for an eyes‑closed baby, think: warmth + proper milk replacer + careful technique , nothing else.

6. Finding a wildlife rehabilitator (very important)

Even if the baby looks okay, it really should go to a licensed rehabber:

  • They have precise formulas and feeding charts for the exact species and age.
  • They can prevent metabolic bone disease with proper calcium and long‑term diet.
  • They can raise it with minimal human imprinting, so it can safely return to the wild.

To find one:

  • Search “[your state/country] wildlife rehabilitator squirrel”.
  • Check your state/provincial wildlife agency’s website for a rehabber list.
  • Call local vets, humane societies, or animal control and ask for wildlife rescue contacts.

7. SEO‑style quick scoop for your post

Quick Scoop: what to feed a baby squirrel with eyes closed

  • Use a puppy milk replacer (like a high‑quality Esbilac‑type formula), never cow’s milk, plant milks, or human baby formula.
  • Warm the baby first, then offer tiny drops from a small syringe every 2–4 hours, day and night.
  • Keep it in a warm, quiet box with soft cloth, and stimulate it to pee/poop after every feeding.
  • Do not give nuts, fruits, or solid food yet; eyes‑closed babies are formula‑only.
  • Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible; home care should be temporary.

Example mini‑sections for your article

H1: What to Feed a Baby Squirrel With Eyes Closed
Explain that the goal is short‑term emergency care until a rehabber takes over. H2: First Warm, Then Hydrate
Describe the box, heating pad setup, and initial electrolyte feeding if the baby is dehydrated. H2: Safe Formulas vs. Dangerous “Home Remedies”
List safe commercial milk replacers and clearly warn against cow’s milk, plant milks, and kitchen mixes. H2: Feeding Schedule and Technique
Outline drop‑by‑drop feeding, body position, and approximate intervals. H2: When Eyes Open and Solids Begin
Briefly cover the transition to rodent or squirrel blocks later, making clear it’s not for eyes‑closed neonates. If you tell me roughly how big the baby is (pink, some fur, fully furred) or where you are, I can help you estimate age and a more precise feeding schedule and help you find a rehab contact near you.