Is it ok to give Tums regularly as a calcium supplement?

[Phoxy8947]

I see that u guys use it as an emergency treatment for MBD, but would it be safe to give Snickers regularly? Just to be safe-- I just want to make sure all his dietary needs are being met, and he tends to be a picky eater, so I worry about him getting enough vitamins, minerals, nutrition, etc... Also, does it matter what flavor?

[TubeDriver]

The real way to keep him healthy is with a correct diet. If his diet is not very good, some additional calcium might help but supplimental calcium is not absorbed by the body in the same way that it happens with a healthy diet.


Think of it this way, a person who eats nothing but McDonalds Cheesburgers and fries who takes a Multi-Vitamin is not going to be very healthy!

Picky eaters often need tough love, they have to eat their blocks first before getting other foods and certainly before getting any treats.




I see that u guys use it as an emergency treatment for MBD, but would it be safe to give Snickers regularly? Just to be safe-- I just want to make sure all his dietary needs are being met, and he tends to be a picky eater, so I worry about him getting enough vitamins, minerals, nutrition, etc... Also, does it matter what flavor?

[Phoxy8947]

The real way to keep him healthy is with a correct diet. If his diet is not very good, some additional calcium might help but supplimental calcium is not absorbed by the body in the same way that it happens with a healthy diet.


Think of it this way, a person who eats nothing but McDonalds Cheesburgers and fries who takes a Multi-Vitamin is not going to be very healthy!

Picky eaters often need tough love, they have to eat their blocks first before getting other foods and certainly before getting any treats.

Several other users advised me to give him tough love in order to change his diet too-- But it's been about 3 or 4 days now since I took away his nuts and seeds, and although he's eating his avocado, spring mix greens and spinach, cucumbers, and a little bit of sweet potato, he's still barely touching the blocks 😔😔 I don't want him to starve himself, or develop MBD, but he's really holding out for the nuts!! I gave in today and gave him a handful, and he wolfed them down, so I know he's hungry...

[TubeDriver]

He called your bluff!:tap:grin2

Trust me, he will not let himself starve. He might lose a little body mass for a couple days but he WILL start to eat blocks if he has nothing else. You have to be strong now and get him on a healthy diet. It is the single most important thing you can do towards keeping him healthy and happy. A handful of nuts over time will end in MBD.




Several other users advised me to give him tough love in order to change his diet too-- But it's been about 3 or 4 days now since I took away his nuts and seeds, and although he's eating his avocado, spring mix greens and spinach, cucumbers, and a little bit of sweet potato, he's still barely touching the blocks 😔😔 I don't want him to starve himself, or develop MBD, but he's really holding out for the nuts!! I gave in today and gave him a handful, and he wolfed them down, so I know he's hungry...

[Phoxy8947]

He called your bluff!:tap:grin2

Trust me, he will not let himself starve. He might lose a little body mass for a couple days but he WILL start to eat blocks if he has nothing else. You have to be strong now and get him on a healthy diet. It is the single most important thing you can do towards keeping him healthy and happy. A handful of nuts over time will end in MBD.

Is now the rite time to do it tho? Can he afford to lose any weight rite now? He's a juvenile (according to the wildlife rehabilitator that I've been corresponding with and updating on his progress)'-- his tail is naked underneath, no fur. And he came to us only about 2-3 weeks ago-- skinny, losing patches of fur, dull gray color, looked more like a rat-- with a bloody tail tip and a blackened bit of bone sticking out the end... Does he still need extra calories to heal? Or is he ok now that the blackened bone has fallen off?

[CritterMom]

Will he still take formula? That is a real good source of nutrition.

This is the absolute most dangerous time as far as MBD is concerned - during weaning. Now is when we see the most of it - because it is really easy to cave in to a cute little STARVING squirrel.

Give him his blocks in the morning with nothing else - no spring mix, no sweet potato, just the blocks, and see what happens.

Are you feeding the Henrys blocks? They are much tastier than pet shop blocks...

[Phoxy8947]

Will he still take formula? That is a real good source of nutrition.

This is the absolute most dangerous time as far as MBD is concerned - during weaning. Now is when we see the most of it - because it is really easy to cave in to a cute little STARVING squirrel.

Give him his blocks in the morning with nothing else - no spring mix, no sweet potato, just the blocks, and see what happens.

Are you feeding the Henrys blocks? They are much tastier than pet shop blocks...

I have honestly never tried to give him formula, since I thought he was too big/old for it... That's him in my profile pic and my signature pic. What do u think, as far as his age? And I've ordered him Henry's Healthy Blocks for picky eaters formula, but they haven't arrived yet. In the meantime, I'm giving him Kaytee fortified rodent blocks, becuz that's what the wildlife rehabilitator that I've been in touch with suggested...

[UDoWhat]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Phoxy8947 https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1221276#post1221276)
Several other users advised me to give him tough love in order to change his diet too-- But it's been about 3 or 4 days now since I took away his nuts and seeds, and although he's eating his avocado, spring mix greens and spinach, cucumbers, and a little bit of sweet potato, he's still barely touching the blocks 😔😔 I don't want him to starve himself, or develop MBD, but he's really holding out for the nuts!! I gave in today and gave him a handful, and he wolfed them down, so I know he's hungry...



TubeDriver and CritterMom are totally spot on correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your squirrel does not need any supplements if it is on the correct diet. In fact over supplementation is counterproductive and even harmful.

Rodent block, rodent block, rodent block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please do not let this little squirrel boss you around. :tap You are the only one that can fix his diet. He will not starve or get MBD in just a few days. I believe I mentioned to you last week that he can and will hold out longer than you think!!!!!!! But do not give in. If he wins, his prize is ill health and possibly death.

Have you tried the boo ball recipe.?? I use a recipe like this , I grind up Henry's and/or rodent block to a fine powder about 1/2 cup . Grind also to a fine powder 1/4 cup of pecans. Then add enough unsweetened apple sauce to get it to stay together in about 1 inch balls. Keep frozen or refrigerated. Note the pecans must be finely ground to a powder of he will pick out any pieces of nuts and leave the rest. I use this only if I get a squirrel in that has been fed junk food. I slowly, over a few weeks, reduce the amount of nuts until there are only 2 tablespoons in a half cup of powdered block. This will help with the switch to rodent blocks. I only give 3 rodent balls a day and I leave in either rodent block or Henry's. NOTHING ELSE!

As I said last week, this switch to rodent block is not easy or fun but it has to be done to get your sweet boy on a good diet. I saw CritterMom's instructions on feeding. Please follow it to the letter.

Good luck!:blowkiss

[Phoxy8947]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Phoxy8947 https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1221276#post1221276)
Several other users advised me to give him tough love in order to change his diet too-- But it's been about 3 or 4 days now since I took away his nuts and seeds, and although he's eating his avocado, spring mix greens and spinach, cucumbers, and a little bit of sweet potato, he's still barely touching the blocks 😔😔 I don't want him to starve himself, or develop MBD, but he's really holding out for the nuts!! I gave in today and gave him a handful, and he wolfed them down, so I know he's hungry...



TubeDriver and CritterMom are totally spot on correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your squirrel does not need any supplements if it is on the correct diet. In fact over supplementation is counterproductive and even harmful.

Rodent block, rodent block, rodent block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please do not let this little squirrel boss you around. :tap You are the only one that can fix his diet. He will not starve or get MBD in just a few days. I believe I mentioned to you last week that he can and will hold out longer than you think!!!!!!! But do not give in. If he wins, his prize is ill health and possibly death.

Have you tried the boo ball recipe.?? I use a recipe like this , I grind up Henry's and/or rodent block to a fine powder about 1/2 cup . Grind also to a fine powder 1/4 cup of pecans. Then add enough unsweetened apple sauce to get it to stay together in about 1 inch balls. Keep frozen or refrigerated. Note the pecans must be finely ground to a powder of he will pick out any pieces of nuts and leave the rest. I use this only if I get a squirrel in that has been fed junk food. I slowly, over a few weeks, reduce the amount of nuts until there are only 2 tablespoons in a half cup of powdered block. This will help with the switch to rodent blocks. I only give 3 rodent balls a day and I leave in either rodent block or Henry's. NOTHING ELSE!

As I said last week, this switch to rodent block is not easy or fun but it has to be done to get your sweet boy on a good diet. I saw CritterMom's instructions on feeding. Please follow it to the letter.

Good luck!:blowkiss

😮😮 I will absolutely try that Boo Balls recipe ASAP!! I saw other recipes to make them, but they used peanut butter, and Snickers does not like no salt no sugar peanut butter, and I don't wanna give him one with sugar... plus, I read that peanuts have a certain mold that is toxic to squirrels... but I will absolutely try ur recipe ASAP!! Thanks so much!!

[Rockysmom]

Hey phoxy8947. I just went through the same thing with my little guy, Rocky! He was so stubborn! Absolutely didn't want to eat the block at all!! It was causing me soooo much anxiety and stress! He even lost a few grams over a couple of weeks. But, I trusted those here that told me he wouldn't starve himself and they were right!!! He eats the block now every day and LOVES it! You just have to be strong and not give in!!! Believe in what these people are telling you! It works!!!

[Phoxy8947]

Hey phoxy8947. I just went through the same thing with my little guy, Rocky! He was so stubborn! Absolutely didn't want to eat the block at all!! It was causing me soooo much anxiety and stress! He even lost a few grams over a couple of weeks. But, I trusted those here that told me he wouldn't starve himself and they were right!!! He eats the block now every day and LOVES it! You just have to be strong and not give in!!! Believe in what these people are telling you! It works!!!

Thanks for assuring me that he won't starve himself... Lol I've been stressing and agonizing over this so much

[Rockysmom]

Thanks for assuring me that he won't starve himself... Lol I've been stressing and agonizing over this so much

Totally understand how you're feeling! I was, too! My boy had the beginning stages of MBD so I was extra stressed about diet! Every bite he took was a calculation of what he needed and was it enough! Just keep listening to the advice these folk are giving you! :hug*

[Phoxy8947]

Totally understand how you're feeling! I was, too! My boy had the beginning stages of MBD so I was extra stressed about diet! Every bite he took was a calculation of what he needed and was it enough! Just keep listening to the advice these folk are giving you! :hug*

Thanks!! I sure will... I love Snickers too much to lose him now