If you find an abandoned baby raccoon, and you're pretty sure it doesn't have parents, you may need to nurse it back to health. These steps include keeping the raccoon warm and hydrated, and feeding it a milk replacement formula. Raccoons (even babies) can be dangerous and carry a wide variety of germs. Therefore, you should wear gloves and be very careful when caring for them.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Food
Step 1. Start with Pedialyte
Pedialyte is an electrolyte drink used to hydrate sick human babies. If the baby raccoon has been neglected for a long time, you can start giving Pedialyte as food and hydrating it before using a milk substitute. Pedialyte is sold in many pharmacies.
Step 2. Feed the raccoon with KMR (cat milk replacement formula)
When it comes to "real" food for baby raccoons, the best option is KMR or cat milk substitute, which can be found at most pet stores. The formula for the baby cat is closest to raccoon milk.
Step 3. Give Esbilac to the baby raccoon
Esbilac is the second best choice. Esbilac is a replacement food formula for baby dogs. Like KMR, Esbilac is also available at most pet stores. This milk substitute formula for dogs is a great alternative to raccoon milk.
Step 4. Avoid using milk
Cow's milk, goat's milk, soy, and most other dairy products for humans can make baby raccoons sick. Administration of these products can lead to acute dehydration, malnutrition, and possibly even death.
Use infant formula only in an emergency
Step 5. Collect additional supplies
In addition to Pedialyte and KMR, you will need other supplies. You may want to collect eye drops, pet bottles (or baby bottles with premium nipples), blankets, washcloths or feathers, and hot water bottles.
Method 2 of 3: Feeding the Raccoons
Step 1. Make sure the raccoon's body is warm
Baby raccoons cannot digest food unless they are at the right body temperature. If it has been left outdoors, the baby raccoon should be warmed before eating. Wrap the baby raccoon in a soft blanket and lay it next to a hot water bottle until it feels warm to the touch.
Step 2. Check for dehydration
If the skin pops when pinched, or the eyes look sunken, the baby raccoon may be severely dehydrated and should be taken to the vet immediately. If your baby raccoon appears only slightly dehydrated, take steps to give him a rehydration solution (or Pedialyte).
Step 3. Decide how much baby raccoon you want to feed
The amount of food given to the baby raccoon depends on its body weight, so start weighing the baby raccoon in grams. (You can use a kitchen or postal scale at home.) Once you know your baby raccoon's weight, plan to feed it 5% of its body weight in millimeters (or cc) at each meal.
- 60 grams = 3 ml per meal
- 100 grams = 5 ml per meal
- 200 grams = 10 ml per meal
- Feed the baby raccoon 7-8 times a day.
Step 4. Feed the baby raccoon with an eye dropper
It's a good idea to use an eye dropper when you first feed your baby raccoon so that the amount of fluid administered can be controlled. Hold the baby raccoon on its stomach, or in a slightly upright position, and drop the milk in its mouth little by little.
- You may have to clamp your hand around the baby raccoon's snout to maintain its grip on the eyedropper.
- Never hold a raccoon on its back (as you would hold a human baby).
Step 5. Feed the baby raccoon using a bottle
After practicing feeding your baby raccoon with an eye dropper, you can continue feeding your pet bottle. (This kit is available at most pet stores.) As with the eye dropper, lay the baby raccoon on its stomach, or in a slightly upright position. After inserting the pacifier into the raccoon's mouth, massage the back of the raccoon from the neck to the base of the tail to encourage the "snoring" response and stimulate a sucking motion.
Step 6. Stimulate the expulsion of feces
This step is very important for the survival of the baby raccoon. The mother raccoon usually licks the baby raccoon to stimulate the elimination of urine and feces. Instead of the mother raccoon, you should stimulate the baby raccoon's urinary tract and anus using a warm washcloth or feather. This step should be done before and after each feeding process until you see that it is excreting itself.
Step 7. Incorporate solid foods
When a baby raccoon's teeth begin to appear, it's important to incorporate solid foods right away. You can start by mixing a small amount of crushed kitten food with baby raccoon formula. Follow up with dry kitten food, cooked eggs, soft fruit, and oatmeal.
Method 3 of 3: Hydrate Baby Raccoons
Step 1. First of all, apply the hydration solution
When found stranded in the wild, baby raccoons are very likely to become dehydrated. You'll need to give him a hydration solution (or Pedialyte) before you can give him any food. Administer the hydrating solution using an eye dropper or baby pet bottle.
Look for Pedialyte plain, unflavored, unsweetened
Step 2. Make your own “hydration solution”
In a pinch, you can make your own rehydration solution. Combine tsp salt + tsp sugar + 2 cups water. Warm the mixture briefly to dissolve the sugar and salt. Only use this solution until you can afford to buy Pedialyte.
Step 3. Heat the solution to body temperature
Take a bottle of rehydration solution and immerse it in a container of hot water until the solution is warm and reaches body temperature. Baby raccoons are more likely to drink it if the temperature of the solution resembles that of the mother raccoon's milk. In this way, the solution will also be more easily absorbed by his digestive system.
Step 4. Stimulate the process of urination
You should stimulate the anus and urinary tract with a warm washcloth or feather until the baby raccoon begins to pass urine. Continue administering the rehydration solution until the raccoon passes light yellow urine.
Step 5. Use a milk substitute
When you feel your baby raccoon is adequately hydrated, start using a milk replacement formula (KMR or Esbilac). Start slowly, including small portions of milk substitute in the raccoon's rehydration solution, then work your way up to a full serving formula.
- 3 parts rehydration solution, 1 part milk substitute for two meals.
- 2 parts rehydration solution, 2 parts milk substitute for two meals.
- 1 part rehydration solution, 3 parts milk substitute for one or two meals.
- Pure milk substitute.
Tips
You can also use a regular baby bottle. Look for baby bottles with premium teats
Warning
- Don't overfeed the raccoons! Baby raccoons will overeat if provided.
- Wear gloves when handling baby raccoons.
- Be careful. Do not force the eye dropper/baby bottle into the raccoon's mouth.
