Will I see MBD coming?

[wmcginnis]

OK. I am overly worried about MBD, especially since the drama earlier this week with one of my babies running away. I was in severe sadness for the two days she was gone, and now over the moon since she returned. Anyway, my babies have stopped eating the Forti-Diet rodent blocks we bought at petsmart. They were eating them previously. I have ordered HHB growth formula and the picky eater formula. What is the best thing for me to do while I wait for those. After my scare earlier this week, I do not think I could handle one of my babies getting MBD. They have a cuttlebone in their enclosure. Will they instinctively go to it if they need calcium? I have given strict instructions to my children that there are no nuts to be given to the babies until they are eating blocks again. The babies are approximately 12 weeks old and have refused formula for about 4 weeks. Do I sprinkle their food with calcium carbonate powder? Can I put calcium carbonate powder in the water bottle? They haven't really liked the vegetables I have given, but I have printed the calcium:phos. chart and will take it with me shopping this afternoon to get several suitable options to try. Also, will MBD give any warning signs before paralysis? I just want what is best for my babies.

Thank you.

[wmcginnis]

calcium/phos. was supposed to say calcium to phosphorus

I am taking the chart with me when I shop today.

FYI: This morning, my two squirrel babies were playful and climbing all over the enclosure, but they don't want the blocks. I understand that they won't starve themselves, but I would like to get a jump on making sure their diet is balanced before it becomes very unbalanced.

[wmcginnis]

Oh, and I tried mashing the blocks with peanut butter today, but haven't had a chance to get back to see if that helped them eat the blocks.

Sorry for rambling.

[gs1]

ok..just quick... but mbd won't happen overnight.

it's calcium leached from bones.

have a look at our healthy diet. also some offer formula (i'm assuming fox valley - it's the only one i recommend?) offer formula in a small dish of full fat yogurt - danon baby vanilla i think?

anyway others will come on soon ....

but i wanted to tell you not to worry immediately, right now ... and you'll be eventually ok ...cause if there's an issue you're going to fix it before it becomes a problem.:grouphug

i'm also assuming your squirrels are not flyers? prob a gray or a foxer?:)

[wmcginnis]

My babies are greys. They ate a couple of blocks today with peanut butter on them. However,at least one of them has acorn urine today. I believe they were overly spoiler with acorns lately. So I'm going to restrict acorns and nuts while waiting for the HHB to arrive. They have been chewing on their cuttlebone as well. I'm going to calm down now. Ill sprinkle fv on their food to put my brain at ease.
:thankyou

[island rehabber]

My babies are greys. They ate a couple of blocks today with peanut butter on them. However,at least one of them has acorn urine today. I believe they were overly spoiler with acorns lately. So I'm going to restrict acorns and nuts while waiting for the HHB to arrive. They have been chewing on their cuttlebone as well. I'm going to calm down now. Ill sprinkle fv on their food to put my brain at ease.
:thankyou

This all sounds good -- you're doing fine. And if they love their HHBs as mine do, you can finally sleep at night. :D

[wmcginnis]

My babies went crazy for the HHBs. They were wrestling each other for the blocks. I'm wondering if I need to separate them while they eat their blocks. They sure are funny. I'm thankful that they love them.

Thanks for the advice!:thankyou