Caring for a Young Raccoon's Diet

Commence with Pedialyte. Pedialyte, an electrolyte solution for sick infants, serves as an initial hydration source for your baby raccoon if it has been abandoned for an extended period. Start with Pedialyte to rehydrate before transitioning to a milk replacement formula. You can find Pedialyte at most pharmacies.

Provide KMR for Nourishment. Opt for KMR, or kitten milk replacement, as the primary food choice for your baby raccoon, available at most pet stores. This formula closely resembles raccoon milk.

Offer Esbilac as an Alternative. Esbilac serves as a secondary option, a puppy meal replacement formula also found in most pet stores. It serves as a suitable substitute for raccoon milk.

Avoid Dairy Products. Cow’s milk, goat’s milk, soy milk, and other human milk products are harmful to baby raccoons, leading to dehydration, malnutrition, and potentially fatal consequences.

• In emergencies, only use human infant formula.

Gather Necessary Supplies. Alongside Pedialyte and KMR, prepare essential supplies: an eyedropper, a pet or human baby bottle with a premie nipple, a blanket, a washcloth or feather, and a hot water bottle.

Maintain Optimal Temperature. Ensure the baby raccoon is warm before feeding, as proper warmth is necessary for digestion. If found outdoors, warm the raccoon by wrapping it in a soft blanket and placing it near a hot water bottle until it feels warm to the touch.

Check for Dehydration. Assess for dehydration by pinching the baby raccoon's skin; if it tents up or if its eyes appear sunken, immediate veterinary attention is required. For mild dehydration, administer rehydration solution or Pedialyte.

Determine Feeding Amount. Calculate the feeding quantity based on the raccoon's weight, measured in grams. Offer 5% of its body weight in milliliters or ccs per feeding, with frequency ranging from 7 to 8 times a day.

• For instance, for a 60-gram raccoon, provide 3ml per feeding.
• For a 100-gram raccoon, offer 5ml per feeding.
• For a 200-gram raccoon, administer 10ml per feeding.

Utilize an Eyedropper for Feeding. Begin feeding the baby raccoon with an eyedropper initially to control fluid intake. Hold the raccoon belly-down or slightly upright and dispense milk gradually into its mouth.

• You may need to gently hold the raccoon's muzzle to keep it in place.
• Avoid holding the raccoon on its back like a human baby.

Transition to Bottle Feeding. Once comfortable with the eyedropper, progress to feeding with a pet bottle, obtainable from most pet stores. Position the raccoon belly-down or slightly upright, insert the bottle nipple into its mouth, and massage its back to encourage sucking.

Facilitate Waste Elimination. Ensuring waste removal is vital for the well-being of your baby raccoon. Since mother raccoons typically stimulate urination and defecation in their young through licking, as a surrogate raccoon parent, you'll need to mimic this by gently stimulating the raccoon's urethra and anus using a warm washcloth or feather before and after each feeding until the raccoon can eliminate waste independently.

Introduce Solid Foods. As your baby raccoon's teeth start to come in, it's essential to introduce solid foods. Begin by blending crushed kitten food with formula, then progress to offering dry kitten food, cooked eggs, soft fruits, and oatmeal.

Prioritize Hydration Solution. If you come across an abandoned baby raccoon in the wild, dehydration is likely. Before offering any food, provide a hydration solution (or Pedialyte) using an eyedropper or pet baby bottle.

• Opt for plain, unflavored, unsweetened Pedialyte.

Prepare Homemade Rehydration Solution. In emergencies, you can create a homemade rehydration solution using ½ teaspoon salt + ½ tablespoon sugar + 2 cups water. Warm the mixture slightly to dissolve the sugar and salt. Use this temporarily until you can obtain Pedialyte from the store.

Warm the Solution to Body Temperature. Place your rehydration solution bottle in a container of hot water until it reaches body temperature. Your baby raccoon is more likely to drink it when it mimics the warmth of his mother's milk, and it will be better absorbed by his system this way.

Facilitate Urination. Use a warm washcloth or feather to stimulate the anus and urethra of your baby raccoon until he starts to urinate. Continue offering rehydration solution until your raccoon produces light yellow urine.

Incorporate Milk Replacement. Once you believe the baby is adequately hydrated, start introducing milk replacement formula (such as KMR or Esbilac). Begin gradually by mixing small amounts of milk replacement into the rehydration solution, then transition to full formula.

• 3 parts rehydration solution, 1 part milk replacement for two feedings.
• 2 parts rehydration solution, 2 parts milk replacement for two feedings.
• 1 part rehydration solution, 3 parts milk replacement for one or two feedings.
• Use pure milk replacement for subsequent feedings.

• You can alternatively utilize a standard baby bottle with a premie nipple.

• Be cautious of overfeeding! Baby raccoons have a tendency to overeat if given the chance.
• Handle with care. Avoid forcing the eyedropper or baby bottle into the baby's mouth.
• Always wear gloves when handling the baby raccoon.

• Eyedropper
• Pet bottle
• Milk replacement
• Rehydration solution (Pedialyte)
• Hot water bottle
• Blanket
• Feather or washcloth