Dark, dark urine since I started to feed blocks

[frank'smom]

Hi, I need your help. I have a few questions. I have a 10 month old rescued squirrel and a short time ago I came across the Squirrel Board and learned the importance of including rodent blocks in the diet. I made the blocks using the recipe that was posted on the squirrel board (dated 10/14/08). I was excited when my picky eater, Frank, started to eat them (about 3 a day- but mostly picks the pieces of nuts out of them). I then ordered henry's healthy blocks for picky eaters and frank eats maybe about a half of one a day. All of a sudden his urine turned super dark- as if it has a lot of blood in it. Is the homeade recipe safe? He likes those blocks better than HHB's. Am I feeding him too many (approx. 3 a day)? Is the vitamin D that is in the homeade recipe safe? Thank you for your advice. Frank's mom ps he is acting very healthy- excellent coat, energetic, wants to play etc.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Hi glad to see you here!!
Is your baby a NR(non-reasonable)
Does his urine have a bad smell to it, that you haven't smelled before?
Are the blocks the only difference in his diet?

Dark urine can mean a couple of things.
infection......in which case you need to get some baytril.
since you are in Florida squirrels are ok to keep in this state,
what area are you in so we can find you a vet.

acorns are the other culprit that I know of,
when I give my little guy acorns his pee gets darker
and stinky, so he gets them only on the weekends
as a treat

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

I'm sorry but I have not make the block myself yet, I have HHR and mine does the same thing, breaks it up and eats mostly the nuts in them,
But that's all he gets till he eats them,
them salad , dark leafy , broccoli, brussel sprouts, snap peas
then if he has eaten the block and the salad,
he can have some frit, blueberries are his fav
then a nut at night for treat

[frank'smom]

Thank you so much Sweet Simon's Mommy for your quick response. His urine has barely any odor. He has not had an acorn for the past few days. Could it be that he is not drinking enough water? Worried, frank'smom ps I tried to release him late summer/early fall and he would not go anywhere.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

do you have a water bottle in his cage, check to make sure it isn't blocked or clogged. when he drinks there should be bubbles going up in the bottle.
I always have a bottle and a dish with water in it under the bottle so if it does get clogged mine can still get the water in the dish.

[frank'smom]

He likes driking from his large water bowl, but if he accidently gets poop in it he will not drink until the water is changed. Thanks for the suggestion- I will rehang his water bottle to have in addition to his bowl. Another idea is that maybe it is from the tree bark that he chews on - apple wood, cherry wood, oak and pine. Do you think that this could be the reason?. I am still hoping to hear from someone who has used the recipe to make blocks. Have you heard anything about human grade calcium with vitamin D3? The recipe calls for 4 tablets of calcium carbonate, and 8 tablets of calcium + D. I am using one with D3. Thanks, Frank'smom

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

looking for some help for you

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

calcium ratios are not the same for squirrels as human
in the MBD thread
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32122
there should be some information about lack of calcium,I have not herd anyone say that dark urine can be the beginning of calcium deficiency

[Scooterzmom]

He likes driking from his large water bowl, but if he accidently gets poop in it he will not drink until the water is changed. Thanks for the suggestion- I will rehang his water bottle to have in addition to his bowl. Another idea is that maybe it is from the tree bark that he chews on - apple wood, cherry wood, oak and pine. Do you think that this could be the reason?. I am still hoping to hear from someone who has used the recipe to make blocks. Have you heard anything about human grade calcium with vitamin D3? The recipe calls for 4 tablets of calcium carbonate, and 8 tablets of calcium + D. I am using one with D3. Thanks, Frank'smom

Hi FM and :Welcome

I make my own blocks but I buy the bags of Vita-Mins from Henry's store. So I don't know the answer to the vitamin question. However, if you ensure that he has enough water at all times and you cut out thenuts, and his pee has no bad smell, then I would say that the color is sue simply to the intake of food of some kind - as you said, chewing on some things or such. My guys' urine at times goes darker, then lighter again, depending on the kinds of things they eat. If your guy is eating the blocks plus a lot of healthy greens now then his pee might be more colored.

For the water I'd suggest you put back a bottle hanging off the side of his cage and place another water bowl with some pebbles or little rocks in it so it doesn't tip over - not a huge bowl though - under the water bottle. That way it's harder for him to go poop in it ;)

[frank'smom]

Hi Scooterzmom, Thank you for your suggestions. Using Henry's vitamin mixture, how much do you use to make your blocks? Can I get your recipe? Thanks! Frank'smom

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

This is the recipe many have used
but I haven't made them yet myself


Homemade Squirrel Block Recipe (Revised 04/22/11)

Makes approximately a 4-week supply for a 1-pound squirrel.


Preheat oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit

Dry ingredients:
90 g Pure Whey Protein Isolate for adult formula (for growth formula, use 185 g).
200 g finely ground nuts (any kind; peanuts, pecans, or almonds work well)
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1 package (45 g) Henry's Healthy Vita-Mins*

Wet ingredients:
1 whole egg
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
1/2 cup water, or a little more, as needed (this is for growth formula only; do not add water to the adult formula unless the dough is too dry when mixed)

Instructions:
Place dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until dough sticks together. It will be fairly dry, like pie crust dough. Wearing gloves or with your bare hands (oiled), press the dough down and then start to knead it. Once the dough forms a ball, place it onto a lightly greased surface and knead a few more times until smooth and uniform in color. Roll dough out into a roll about 12 inches long and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. While still warm, cut into 60 pieces with a sharp knife

Allow the blocks to cool for at least 2 hours. Then place in zip-lock bags and store them in the fridge or freezer. They will keep in the fridge for several weeks. They will keep in the freezer for several months (unopened and with as much air as possible removed from the bag before sealing). Some squirrels enjoy eating them cold or frozen, but you can also put a cold block into the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to warm it up.

Feed 2-3 per day for a 1-pound (453 g) squirrel. Different squirrels will have different energy requirements.

[frank'smom]

Hi, sweet simon's mommy, Yes, this is the one that I use for the exeption of the hh vita mins (which I just ordered). I was using I guess the old recipe that was posted which included: cod liver oil, 1 tablet of b-12, 2 tabs of vitamin b complex, 8 tablets of calcium with vitamin d, and 4 tablets of calcium carbonate. I just calculated the vitamin d compared to henry's and it is about the same. I do not know that if henry uses d3 or d4 ?? Also, I have been using two scoops of whey protein isolate- is this about 900 grams? thanks again for all of your help. Ordering the vitamins already weighed out should make my life easier. Frank already takes tons of my time (no complaints, I am in love with him).

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

we all know that feeling :grouphug