MBD?

[PixieGirl]

I have a 6 month old female who was fine this morning, but this evening she is lay I g on the bottom of her cage and walks around in circles and bumps into the sides of her cage. It seems like her vision has been affected by something. She is drinking when i put the bottle up to her mouth, but won't eat( HT rodent blocks and veggies). She has been a normal happy bouncy squirrel until this evening. Does MBD affect vision? I have no idea what is going on, what else would affect her so quickly?

[stepnstone]

Mbd causes seizures that can effect vision.
Could she have possibly fallen to have caused a head injury?
What is her story how she was found?

[PixieGirl]

Her cage is 4' tall, most of the bottom is padded with fleece blankies. She has one large branch in it. I honestly don't know, it seems unlikely, but possible though( anything is possible with these guys)

She was found by a group of children around @ around 4 weeks. The woman who contacted me said that they had her at the bus stop and when the bus came they left her by the curb. The woman brought her in and called me. She had some blood around her nose, so I'm sure she fell, but she showed no neurological or other injuries when I got her. She ate FV and grew like a champ, no issues until now.

[Nancy in New York]

A lot of time when these babies are found, and possible head trauma is suspected, symptoms will not show up until sometime later, so that is a possibility.
However, I am more inclined to think that she may have taken a fall, and hit her head.
IF she had head trauma as a baby, which the bloody nose would indicate some type of a fall,
a recent fall could most likely trigger seizures. Watch her closely.
This seemed to come on awfully sudden. If she does seizure, make sure to keep her blood sugar up
by giving her molasses on her gums, or karo syrup, or maple syrup. Keep her in a smaller container so
that she cannot climb and reinjure herself.
Do you have a vet?

[PixieGirl]

I've been keeping a very close eye on her, and making sure she stays hydrated. Should I try to get any food in her? She won't sit up, and doesn't seem interested in anything, besides the water.

I don't have a vet, I've only rehabbed 6 squirrels and have never had to see a vet. I called one this evening and after telling them what was going on they said they couldnt/wouldn't treat her but offered to euthanize her.

[stepnstone]

What is a HT rodent block??
What kind of veggies are given?

Bloody nose could be as Nancy indicated previous head injury, recent fall or seizure.
At the least I would administer infant ibuprofen to reduce possible swelling if the first
two and to minimize pain if the latter.

Will be looking for an update come your morning...

[PixieGirl]

Harlan Teklad lab blocks.
Dandilion greens, peas, sweet potato, carrot, avacado, squash and mushrooms. Fruits are mainly apples, grapes and banana. Raw Almonds and Walnuts in the shell
No improvement this morning. Gave her Motrin, and she drank some water.

[Duckman]

Here is what I found on the HT Block ingredients. Not sure about the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio:nono and I definitely wouldn't be feeding this to any of mine due to how much corn and soybean is used. Need someone else to pipe in as well on it. I would suggest starting the MBD protocol, because even if she doesn't have it, she will benefit from it on that diet, in my opinion. http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32122-MBD-Treatment

Ground wheat, ground corn, wheat middlings, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, dried brewers yeast, dicalcium phosphate, iodized salt, L-lysine, DL-methionine, choline chloride, niacin, vitamin A acetate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride,thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, chromium potassium sulfate.


Analysis:

Crude Fiber (maximum)5.00%
Calcium1.01%
Phosphorus0.61%
Crude Protein (minimum)18.90%
Crude Fat (minimum)5.00%

[stepnstone]

PixieGirl how is this baby doing?
You are both heavy on my mind... :grouphug

[PixieGirl]

She is still hanging in there. I started the emergency MBD treatment yesterday. Today she sits up periodically and starts to clean herself, but is very wobbly. I tried some sweet potato last night, she grabbed it with her mouth but won't use her front paws to hold it. I puréed it and tried syringe feeding it to her but she fought me tooth and nail spitting every bit back out. Thinking of maybe mixing up some formula for her, she needs some form of calories.

[stepnstone]

She is still hanging in there. I started the emergency MBD treatment yesterday. Today she sits up periodically and starts to clean herself, but is very wobbly. I tried some sweet potato last night, she grabbed it with her mouth but won't use her front paws to hold it. I puréed it and tried syringe feeding it to her but she fought me tooth and nail spitting every bit back out. Thinking of maybe mixing up some formula for her, she needs some form of calories.
A good sign regardless of how small, a few more days could very well bring
even better results.
I would be vigilant with the mbd protocol, she may very well have had a seizure
due to the onset of mbd and the treatment is not going to harm her.
Make sure she is staying hydrated and if you can get her to take formula that
would just be a plus in her favor.