Calcium? and Hair loss?

[Jakebb8100]

I know squirrels need a lot of calcium because of their bones. I got these calcium treats like rodent blocks and my squirrel does not like them and I cannot find any other ones in my area. Someone on the squirrel board told me to uses Tums to give them calcium and my squirrel DID like those, but i dont know if i should feed him tums regularly. and if so how often should i feed him those.

Also my squirrel seem to be shedding hair rapidly. not to the point where i can see his skin but enough to where i can notice. If i pinch some hair i can pull it of just like a dog. I know the season is changing but i figured if it is winter then he should be getting hair, not shedding it. He has the least amount of hair on his lower back near his tail. Pleaseee help.!! thank you:D :D :peace :thankyou

[pappy1264]

Can you describe in detail what you have been feeding him? How old is he and is he still on formula (and if so, what kind)? It could be diet related. Have you seen him scratching at all? Does he get hhb's or a quality rodent block every day?

[Jakebb8100]

no he does not. He does not like them and will not eat them. I give him squirrel food with seed and corn. I give him like two peanuts a day as well. He is not being fed by formula anymore he is full grown male. Should i feed him tums? how do they get calcium in the wild?

[pappy1264]

This diet will kill him. Yes, please give him some tums, but go to the diet section and read on what you should feed him. All of this food is loaded with phosphorus and will cause MBD, which is very painful and will kill him eventually. You can still turn this around, but you will have to be strong and not give in. Stop all nuts and seeds and corn...that is all junk!!!! He should be eating greens, some veggies. Get him some full fat yogurt. Some bugs (waxworms, but first roll them in calcium carbonate). This is very serious and your boy needs to get on a healthy diet now. You should also order him some hhb's (google Henry's Healthy Pet). There is a list on there of good foods to feed. Please, this is very serious.

They wil chew on deer anters, small birds, and many things we cannot know. They also get vitamin D from the sun to help them absorb the calcium. So feeding mushrooms will help with getting vitamin D.

[Jakebb8100]

what are some symptoms of MBD? and do squirrels normally shed hair before winter. the hair loss doesnt seem bad, it honestly looks like he is just shedding a lair of hair.:jump

[SammysMom]

You must listen to Pappy here. That diet is a death sentence. Tums will help calcium, but what you are feeding is NOT going to sustain him as a healthy adult squirrel. :nono How old is he?

[lilidukes]

Without the correct diet MBD is a time bomb. And please don't think it will not happen to your squirrel because it will. Some squirrels show many signs of it early and others will just drop and start going into seizures and die. This is excruciatingly painful for them. Squirrels can and will hide their pain because this is what they have to do in the wild and it's just part of their instinct.

Many a member here at TSB arrived when MBD attacked their squirrel. No shame in not having known. Shame comes from when you are given the knowledge and experience from people who have dealt with it and refuse to act on it. Or ask for help. No one here will just let your squirrel die. This board is about everyone's love for ALL squirrels. We are here to help.

I will pm you my phone number I am located in the upstate and will help you in any way I can. We have members all over the state that will help too.

Please even if this hair loss is not from the onset of MBD your squirrel (not can) but WILL eventually DIE from the diet you are feeding it.

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Jakebb8100]

I dont know how old he is. I got him as kid just after he was off formula. I didnt keep track of how long I had him. I know he is full grown.

But what i want to know is WHAT DO YOU GUYS FEED YOUR SQUIRRELS?!?!?!
I read everything. the whole nutrition post and everything. Obviously I cant get every single thing on the post but I want to know how much of certain things im supposed to feed him a day. And the quantity of food each day

[lilidukes]

My grown squirrels get 2 HHB's first thing in the morning then I feed in the afternoon veggies. There is always romaine or spring mix at least 2-3 other green veggies sugar snap peas, green pepper, zucchini, cucumbers etc. Yellow squash, butternut squash or sweet potato. Mushrooms always. One piece of fruit often apple. Avocado just because my kids love it so much. And then they all get a couple of either pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts or brazil nuts in the evening. I also offer yogurt a few times a week.

There are a lot of things they enjoy from outside that are good for them. Dandelion greens, green pine cones, magnolia cones etc.

The more colorful the plate of veggies the healthier it is for them.

Feeding a single squirrel is very expensive because of the amount of waste you end up with.

[pappy1264]

:goodpost
Another thing you can also give, a couple a day, is waxworms. I roll mine in calcium carbonate, as they have a high amount of phosphourus in them. Wild squirrels most likely eat bugs. Most love them, although some don't. I give hhb's but I also give mazuri rodent block (which most of mine will eat). I like giving both. Lots of green leafy veggies, cucumbers, green peppers (or orange or yellow), mushrooms, zucchini, brocolli, sweet potato (white sweet potato when I can get it), snap peas (everyone loves them). I also will give a piece of dry pasta, some old fashioned oats, and grape tomatoes. I try to give a variety. I also give yogurt and they all still get fox valley in a dish, as well (even adults love this stuff!) I also keep a marrow bone in every cage, as well as a deer antler, to chew on.

[Jakebb8100]

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :D :D

Also where do you get those nutrition blocks? the ones that you feed two a day? what is the easiest way to get them

[lilidukes]

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou :D :D

Also where do you get those nutrition blocks? the ones that you feed two a day? what is the easiest way to get them


http://www.henryspets.com/pages/Healthy-Diet.html