Losing hair?

[PearlsMom]

Rose is starting to shed her hair. Do they do that? Like her tail is changing and she has some spots on her body by her tail what is falling out and really thin. Is this the norm or is something bad happening?

[farrelli]

Did you ever get her to eat her HHBs or other rodent blocks? If not, how did you compensate for that?

Right now a lot of squirrels are molting and losing their winter coats, but we should make sure that it's not malnutrition.

[PearlsMom]

She eats them sometimes, not often. She does eat boo balls though. I need to make some speaking of. What are some calcium high foods?

[PearlsMom]

No one?

[farrelli]

Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnips, and collard greens, but your best bet is getting calcium powder and some multi-vitamin powder. It's not just calcium at issue with the blocks, it's the whole vitamin and mineral combo. Calcium, for example, can't be absorbed without D3 and magnesium, but too much D3 is bad. You really have to get the nutritional issue under control or your squirrel will have a short life and a bad end. This hair loss could be molting or it could be malnutrition. Are you willing to gamble?

http://www.henryspets.com/vita-mins/
http://www.henryspets.com/calcium-carbonate-powder/

[PearlsMom]

No I'm not! I will have to get some. Thanks

[astra]

it will be in her best interest if you insisted on her eating HHBs.

Although, powder is better than nothing, you can't know how much she actually eats, how much falls off, and how much gets stuck to your fingers.

However, in the form of HHBs you will have more control over her nutrition.

nutrition is the first, second and third major thing that should be taken care of for indoor squirrels.

If she is picky, henryspets has picky eaters blocks.

With tough love she can learn to love HHBs - people will be happy to share what worked for them

[farrelli]

I take back what I said about the veggies. I just remembered that spinach, turnips, and collard greens are all on the "avoid" list, for some reason. I think they have something in them. So, you really have to rely on the HHBs and vitamins. Fortunately, calcium powder is tasteless and easy to get them to take. You can sprinkle it on just about everything.

You should also review the calcium to phosphorous ratio chart because it's not just about calcium, too much philosophers can negate good calcium intake. You're looking for a 2:1 calcium to phosphorous ratio.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15397