MBD!! Help!! Found yesterday about 7 pm

[Bejammie]

My 3 year old flyer, Timber, has MBD. He can barely use his back legs. My older flyer, Delilah, is not showing any symptoms. She is 6.

He won't eat much, he just crawls into a corner and sleeps. He drank water last night but I haven't seen him drink any this morning. I have been giving him cuttlebone shavings mixed with applesauce, some dannon yogurt, and some vitadrops vitamins. Since he is a flyer I am worried it could be vit D defic??

We found him laying on the bottom of the cage. He is so sweet and loving and I just can't stop crying and I'm so worried he will die. I'm a horrible squammy, I can't believe I let this happen to my baby!! He had a cuttlebone in there but I guess he didn't use it, or he needed more leafy greens.

I am having to force feed him what I can get in him (vitamins, calcium, yogurt and applesauce). I have been trying to mix reptocap in with peanut butter and again with honey which he usually loves, but he won't eat any of it.

Please help, if you can call me and are a rehabber or someone with MBD experience who may be able to help me better, please let me know as I am more than happy to give out my phone number to someone who can help


OH, and in addition to this...I have to leave my home tonight because of Irene evacuations...and my baby is sick. I am in so much emotional pain, I just need someone to tell me if it is too late, if he will be ok, what to expect...I mean I've read all of this on the NFSA and I've had flyers for 6 years, but I just feel like I'm not doing enough, like he isn't eating enough calcium, like he could get worse....

[gs1]

this is from our emergency forum....



Emergency Treatment for Metabolic Bone Disease

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Emergency Treatment for Metabolic Bone Disease (updated 3-31-09)



Get calcium into the squirrel IMMEDIATELY, not later, not tomorrow, NOW. Delaying treatment can cause death or permanent paralysis.

You will need:

--Tums or calcium pills (any kind)
--a syringe, eyedropper, or spoon

Crush one Tums or calcium pill and add a little water or fruit juice. Use the syringe, eyedropper, or spoon to force-feed the mixture, a little at a time, until it is all gone. Feed a total of 600-800 mg of calcium, and spread it out through the day and night to keep his blood calcium levels as steady as possible.

If the squirrel is having seizures, weakness, or paralysis, the symptoms will usually improve within a few hours, but this does not mean the squirrel is cured. It will take many months to rebuild the calcium in the bones.



Long-Term Treatment for MBD

The next step to curing MBD is to fix the diet.

1. Remove ALL seeds, nuts, corn, and treats.

2. Follow the Healthy Diet For Pet Squirrels, which can be found at the top of the “Squirrel Nutrition” forum. (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=16093) Your squirrel MUST eat rodent block or squirrel blocks every day. If your squirrel doesn't like rodent blocks, you can try crushing them up with peanut butter or avocado temporarily. You can also make a tastier version of squirrel blocks using the recipe at the top of the Squirrel Nutrition forum.

3. In addition to the Healthy Diet, you will need to continue giving extra calcium every day for several weeks. Either use the syringe/eyedropper or you can try putting the calcium on a small piece of fruit.

Week 1: calcium = 500 mg per day
Week 2: calcium = 250 mg per day
Weeks 3-8: calcium = 100 mg per day

The cause of the acute symptoms—weakness, lethargy, seizures, paralysis—is a drop in blood calcium levels. If these symptoms return at any time, you will need to give another emergency dose of calcium.

More Tips
MBD causes brittle bones that break easily. Try to keep your squirrel away from high places, where he might jump and break a bone. Also, if he is in a tall cage, either place him in a smaller cage, or pad the bottom very well.

Heat is very soothing for a squirrel with MBD. A heating pad turned to low and placed so they cannot chew the pad or cord, or a rice buddy (a sock filled with dry rice/beans and microwaved for about 20 seconds) will work.

[gs1]

we need location ....what city are you in?

[Bejammie]

I'm in eastern NC, outside of raleigh. I don't live here permanently, though.

He just ate some ground up cuttlebone mixed with applesauce from my finger, but only a few little flyers licks.

[Bejammie]

Also, He has a rice buddy, he is in a cardboard box right now. He is curled up in his fleece blankets.

It isn't like we just found him, I've had him 3 years and he means so very much to me, he is my fiance's little baby and Chase just can't stop crying. He is seriously the sweetest most loving squirrel and I don't know what I will do if he doesn't get better. Oh God this sucks so badly.

[gs1]

:grouphug we're going to try to help you ...:grouphug


there is another thought too.... he's a flyer.... has he been getting meat...cooked chicken breast... mealworms...waxworms etc... see my signature....

i want to give you mrs skuls phone number she's in texas and probably asleep now ... but she's one of our best flyer people.... also she's dyslexic so phone calls are easier for her.....check your pms ... upper right hand corner.....


just tried to pm you but you have a setting which doesn't let you receive pms....


go to QUICK LINKS .... EDIT OPTIONS.....click on the box ...third from bottom ...ENABLE PRIVATE MESSAGING....


Bejammie...you need to keep cool and calm .... nothing else matters.... what you didn't know before you didn't know.... you only need to think about what you'll be doing from this moment forward.....:grouphug

[Tickle's Mom]

Can IR get the message/phone number to her???

[gs1]

Can IR get the message/phone number to her???

Benjammie is off line now....

i can send it to you and if she comes back you can forward it to her?

(i'll also send it to IR ... mrs skul doesn't mind who has her phone number as long as it's squirrel related... )

[Tickle's Mom]

I'll be her until about another 20 minutes - send it to me and we'll do something. IR was on the board so I thought she would see the MBD Thread and comment.

[gs1]

ok..have sent it to you ... ir... and have pmd skul and muffinsquirrel ... mrs skuls pm box is full....don't want to call her in case she's sleeping would rather benjammie call her.....

[Skul]

C is online right now.

[Tickle's Mom]

C is online right now.

:thankyou :thankyou

Now the other one isn't :sanp3

[Mrs Skul]

I tried sending you a PM with my information to call me. I need your Email address. I will send you my number.
Start the MBD Treatment now! Start feeding some Tums crush it up in some water and Syringe Feed it. Do you have some Molasses, or Maple Syrup? Put a little on your finger and let him lick it off. You can also wipe it in side his mouth or on his lips. You need to call me!
I am Dyslexic and have trouble typing. Your Flyers are MBD and Protein deficient.
Have you been feeding any Protean? (WaxWorms, MealWorms,Fresh Chicken, Eggs,and Chicken Chips or Freeze Dried Chicken???) Do you feed any Fresh Vegatables? Can you post what the diet Consists of?
Do you feed Fresh Mushrooms? Also Do you feed a Full Fat Yogurt? What you need to do is order some FoxVally 32/40, and Calcium Carbonate. Start feeding some of this mixed in with the Yogurt, or mix like a formula adding Yogurt and Heavy Cream. Boil some Chicken and Eggs. Feed Immediately.


http://henryspets.com
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/prod.asp
You need to start treating the other Flyer. It will be crashing all so.
SOMEONE GET MY NUMBER TO HER! Both of them. :thankyou

[Bejammie]

phone number- 8647067574
email- ADJassistantaAllison@gmail.com


I tried changing my settings but it said I wasn't allowed?

Call me!!

[Bejammie]

Their diet consists of bugs (millers, moths, and mealworms), nuts (in shell), sweet potato, tomatoes, fresh fruits, chard and greens here and there...apparently not enough here and there though.

Also, we usually give them yogurt every few meals but lately we hadn't since they are in their temp. cage and not at home.

I spoke with a rehabber here in NC that joan from NFSA directed me to and she recommended Moon Drops to help get him some vit D quickly.

Thank you for the advice, I assure you I will follow your directions completely.

Chase just called and said our petsmart doesnt carry moon drops.


Timber voluntarily are some applesauce with cuttlebone in it a few mins ago, not a whole lot, but he is a flyer so it's always hard for me to tell if he is eating enough...

I have vitadrops that I give them to supplement them in their water (as a secondary source of water) but I hadn't offered it or yogurt in almost 2 months now due to our work circumstances (traveling for work so the squirels are in their travel cage in the camper with us, in a corner that doesn't get much natural sunlight, but since delilah is nippy and the cuttlebone was in there i didn't offer yogurt to prevent getting bit when removing the left over)...stupid stupid stupid....

I wish he would eat some brocolli or kale but he is having nothing of it. Sorry that I am rambling I'm just trying to include all information possible.

[CritterMom]

Don't mess with shaving cuttlebone right now. Use the Tums, or if you have calcium carbonate powder (health foods sell it) use that. You need easy to digest calcium RIGHT NOW in that baby and the Tums WILL do for the time being, plus the fruit taste is good.

These guys need to get on a rodent block as well, to supply the calcium they need.

I would also, immediately, start doing the same protocol on the other flyer - same diet, he has just held out longer, but I bet he's working on it...

[Bejammie]

sorry- incorrectly typed my own email...not much sleep and lots of tears...


adjassistantallison@gmail.com


Thanks

[Bejammie]

I was able to change my settings this time, hopefully I can receive PMs now.

[Bejammie]

Does anyone have her number that is online right now?? Anyone???

[Jackie in Tampa]

I have not read this thread but PMed about it...can I help?
I will read/scan quickly.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Dr.Dan Johnson will see your sq...
he is in raleigh...
it appears that he needs calcium NOW...
I am sure that you have been given good advise...do it NOW..
a tums... any calcium tablet...smash it and add water and syringe...every drop counts, don't give up please.... if the sq is lethargic, rub molasses on his gums or log cabin syrup...
get his sugar up so he can find strength to swallow...
do you want to chat via phone...I am slow typer and a fast talker:)

[Jackie in Tampa]

OK, C has this handled...:thumbsup

remember a calcium injection CAN save his life...but it is for one day...it will not help tomorrow...
my method would be slow methodical syringing calcium...

I am not flyer guru like joan, but I know what MBD can do...
I have never had a flyer with it, but have helped many greys with it

...not sure what moon drops are or how important they are...
you are with good flyer folks...
good luck babies...hang in there bejammie:grouphug

[Bejammie]

Timber only ate ONE lick of molasses mixed with calcium carbonate off of my finger. I force fed him tums mixed with water but he only took about 1/4 or 1/3 ml.... we have this giant dropper since we can't find anywhere local that sells small enough syringes. He won't eat or drink without forcing him.

Delilah seems fine, maybe slightly slower, so I've of course given her the same treatment except no tums with water--she's a bit of a touch-me-not.

Any ideas or help will be appreciated, phone number is listed so feel free to call.

I need to figure out how to get the most calcium in him as fast as possible, but he gets so upset and tries to climb into my shirt and I know it hurts him to move so I just don't know what to do.

Just hold him and force him? Even though he is so fragile and pitiful?

I can't believe he didn't eat any molasses, he LOVES sweets.... use to fly around trying to find where I hid his marshmellows...

[Bejammie]

Calling Dr. Johnson now....

[CritterMom]

Make a sludge of the calcium with just a little water or juice - a paste - and use your finger to stuff it in his mouth and smear it on his gums.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Calling Dr. Johnson now....
tell him TSB refered you...he will come after hours if needed usually...
good luck...

[Bejammie]

we are here at the vets now, the vet said she doesnt think it is mbd, she thinks it is a bladder blockage, he is getting xrays now

[Skul]

we are here at the vets now, the vet said she doesnt think it is mbd, she thinks it is a bladder blockage, he is getting xrays now
I'm impressed, you've done good.:thumbsup

[Bejammie]

they didnt find a stone but did drain his bladder, it was bloody. they are.trying to see if they can find a plug or something now

[Tickle's Mom]

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Bejammie]

Dr. Leonatta (at Dr Johnson's office) determined he did have a blockage but couldn't get it out. She said he couldn't have any quality of life and there was nothing more we could do but end his suffering.

Timber passed away in my hands about 30 mins ago.

[CritterMom]

Oh, I am so sorry. And so glad you got him taken care of so quickly. He knew his mama loved him...

[Tickle's Mom]

Oh no! I am so sorry :grouphug :grouphug

[pappy1264]

Oh no.....I am so very sorry. RIP sweet baby.

[Mrs Skul]

:sad
RIP
Sweet Little Timber

:Love_Icon Your Mama and Daddy Love you so much to help you like this.:Love_Icon
:grouphug Bejammie You a one Strong SquMommy & SquDaddy! I am so sorry it ended like this.:grouphug
:grouphug Chase I am so so sorry for your loss!:grouphug
I know the Pain you are experiencing right now! :Cry
When you feel a little better call me. I have a few suggestions for you. Again I am So Sorry!!!
Christal

[Twi_prime]

I'm terribly sorry for your loss. :grouphug

[mpetys]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Busysqrl]

I'm so sorry for your loss :grouphug Words sound so shallow at a time like this. Please know we all who love squirrels care :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

:grouphug

[Bejammie]

Thank you all for your kind words. I also got a few phone calls (Thanks Christal) from a few rehabbers I had called from the NFSA contacts and some rehabbers I had found online in my area. Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Vet recommendation. Dan Johnson's office was wonderful and although it ended sadly for us we know we gave him the best possible vet care when he needed it, and we were able to keep him from going through days of agonizing pain until his kidneys eventually failed or his penis ruptured. He went to sleep in my hands and wasn't alone and wasn't in pain, which is what means the most to us right now.

I have added squirrel blocks to Delilah's diet even though the vet said it wasn't MBD, the scare was enough to make me extra careful. I've also added cranberries to her diet to help keep an UTIs from developing or anything.

I'm also working on getting my rehabber's license so that if anything ever happens again I won't have to worry about being able to take him anywhere. It's just not a risk I'm willing to take with Delilah, she was my very first flyer and is now 6 yrs old. :)

Chase is doing better but we still cry and talk to Timber like he's there...we believe squirrels go to heaven, too. I just don't see how Heaven could be all that great without the little guys bouncing around.

Anyway, thank you again for all of your support. The only silver lining for us is finding a wonderful online community for squirrels. We have been NFSA members for years but somehow never ended up at TSB until now, thanks for being there when we needed ya'll.

Allison and Chase