sdreamcatcher
11-21-2011, 10:12 AM
I have to say all these MBD threads freak me out. Butchie and Joey seem very healthy and show no signs (Lethargy? LOL NOPE!!) but I also know that this does a lot of damage BEFORE symptoms develop.
I am still out of work. I am feeding these guys plus the ones outside, plus trying to give the best I can to Flower's Orphans (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31106)
What are alternate calcium sources I can use? Do I need Vitamin D as well?
I have on hand:
(very limited and won't be able to get more, most likely) Fox Valley Formula. I have been mixing the powder in the babies food, and the boys get some as well.
Reptical -- Reptiles also suffer MBD and this is a fresh container. I have two box turtles and one anole.
Dairy free calcium enriched drinks (almond, rice, coconut, and hemp milk at present).
Eggshells -- could crushed eggshells be used when I run out of formula?
The boys don't like rodent blocks; they stash them (I have very few left, maybe a handful at most). They do have a couple of antler pieces stashed around here somewhere. Every so often they "find" them and chew those. They completely chewed/consumed the first two pieces they got (think I got them from Chris?). I need more, or a bigger one, but won't be able to get for a while.
Emergen-c the calcium formula. I do mix this from time to time in their food and they seem to like it. I need to get more but it may be a while for this too.
I have to admit my boys can be picky. They will eat greens and like broccolli, etc but sometimes they stash the leaves. Buggers. They don't get nuts often because they tend to stash and/or fight over them. I do feed seeds sometimes, admitedly to keep them busy if I need to leave for just a few minutes (they don't like caging, another topic to post).
Would any of these work? If so how much of each would I give? Would a calcium supplement be better?
And yes, I know I have been lax. I want to correct this BEFORE any damage is done. I have to say they get pretty crazy over coconut milk (the new type out in containers, with calcium added). They will attack my tea if I add it to my tea in the morning. SQUIRRELS DON'T NEED CAFFEINE!! LOL!! But they like the other non dairy milks a lot too.
Guess my biggest question would be how much in mg do they need per day? Given their diet would it be ok to give extra for a couple weeks even though no symptoms of any problems have been noticed? What woudld be first signs? These are fox squirrels; sorry I don't have weights. Joey is bigger. They do get sun through a window, screen plus wire mesh. They sun sometimes. They love to pull down the blanket covering the window when it is freezing out ;).
Ideas on helping Flower's little ones would be great too; I don't want them to develop any issues on top of being without Mommy :(. I mix fv powder in their food at least once a day. They get some non dairy drinks mixed in as well, but I am guessing this may not be enough? They seem lively and active.....
I am still out of work. I am feeding these guys plus the ones outside, plus trying to give the best I can to Flower's Orphans (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31106)
What are alternate calcium sources I can use? Do I need Vitamin D as well?
I have on hand:
(very limited and won't be able to get more, most likely) Fox Valley Formula. I have been mixing the powder in the babies food, and the boys get some as well.
Reptical -- Reptiles also suffer MBD and this is a fresh container. I have two box turtles and one anole.
Dairy free calcium enriched drinks (almond, rice, coconut, and hemp milk at present).
Eggshells -- could crushed eggshells be used when I run out of formula?
The boys don't like rodent blocks; they stash them (I have very few left, maybe a handful at most). They do have a couple of antler pieces stashed around here somewhere. Every so often they "find" them and chew those. They completely chewed/consumed the first two pieces they got (think I got them from Chris?). I need more, or a bigger one, but won't be able to get for a while.
Emergen-c the calcium formula. I do mix this from time to time in their food and they seem to like it. I need to get more but it may be a while for this too.
I have to admit my boys can be picky. They will eat greens and like broccolli, etc but sometimes they stash the leaves. Buggers. They don't get nuts often because they tend to stash and/or fight over them. I do feed seeds sometimes, admitedly to keep them busy if I need to leave for just a few minutes (they don't like caging, another topic to post).
Would any of these work? If so how much of each would I give? Would a calcium supplement be better?
And yes, I know I have been lax. I want to correct this BEFORE any damage is done. I have to say they get pretty crazy over coconut milk (the new type out in containers, with calcium added). They will attack my tea if I add it to my tea in the morning. SQUIRRELS DON'T NEED CAFFEINE!! LOL!! But they like the other non dairy milks a lot too.
Guess my biggest question would be how much in mg do they need per day? Given their diet would it be ok to give extra for a couple weeks even though no symptoms of any problems have been noticed? What woudld be first signs? These are fox squirrels; sorry I don't have weights. Joey is bigger. They do get sun through a window, screen plus wire mesh. They sun sometimes. They love to pull down the blanket covering the window when it is freezing out ;).
Ideas on helping Flower's little ones would be great too; I don't want them to develop any issues on top of being without Mommy :(. I mix fv powder in their food at least once a day. They get some non dairy drinks mixed in as well, but I am guessing this may not be enough? They seem lively and active.....