Today we start our update with the yearlings, Twinkle and Tinsel.
A cub looking cozy in her den.
Yes, it is Twinkle – she was cooperative today,but Tinsel – not so much.
Twinkle takes a restroom break. Using good bear behavior, she leaves the den to take care of her needs.
She forages near one of the vertical dens. She and Tinsel have not shown any interest in them.
Nuts are good, and will help her to chubbify.
She and Tinsel have one thing in common – EATING!
She was spotted going into the foliage.
Through all this, Tinsel stayed in her tree. She seems happy there.
Meanwhile, at UTCVM , the three neonates remain in the ICU,
Two of them are in a milk coma after feeding; the third was being fed.
We think you may be interested in the directions that the UTCVM vets have given to our curators. The list is quite daunting!
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. STIMULATE URINATION/DEFECATION PRIOR TO FEEDING!
– Stimulate with a warm, moist cotton ball, may need to stimulate for at least 30sec & keep going after a single BM or urination as they can often produce more.
2. Instructions for rest of feedings:
***Formula (Fox Valley 30/50), is made by mixing 2 parts powder with 3 parts warm water, good for 24 hours in the fridge.
***Feed 30% body weight by volume split over 6 feedings (q4h), recalculate q12 based on most recent weight.
Calculation: Weight (grams) x 0.30 / 6 or Weight (grams) x 0.033
***Warm formula in a warm water bath prior to feeding; ensure it is comfortable on the wrist.
***Feed parallel to the ground, may need to burp after feeding if hiccups are seen
***Monitor closely while they suckle, should not be suckling hard and making no progress, may need a larger nipple hole or different nipple tip. If they are very eager and suckling hard use a nipple with a smaller opening to slow them down.
***Once they have a nipple they suckle well on, can scratch a symbol into one end so that nipple is always used for them.
***Sterilize bottles and nipples between feedings.
We are glad that the curators are able to do these things. We are not sure that we could handle it!
