NEED HELP! MBD, diet & UVB lighting for my non-releasable squirrel w/malocclusion

[Squirrel Girl 1961]

My sweet non-releasable squirrel, Willie, is about 2 years old. Weight as of this week is just under 500 grams, or 1 lb.
Willie had severe malocclusion as a baby and I traveled to have Dr. Emerson at Ravenwood in Port Orange, FL to have his top incisors removed. I trim his bottom teeth monthly so no issues there. Without top incisors, he obviously can't shell anything himself but gets along well by scraping food with his bottom teeth and using his molars to chew. Nonetheless, he is limited on what he can eat. He can't chew a rodent block, hates HHB's (I tried two different kinds including the ones for picky eaters), and he won't eat homemade balls that I have tried making by crushing the block and mixing in peanut butter, apple juice, honey and the like. I have tried Kaytee blocks and Harlan Teklad. Since he can't chew the blocks and hates the balls I have tried with both types of block I have, can anyone please share a yummy recipe or a tasty rodent block that the pickiest squirrel in the world will actually eat? Willie is showing signs of Metabolic Bone Disease and I am very concerned. I have been feeding him pecan halves, green beans, kale, blueberries, squash, sweet potato, snow pea pods, carrots, apple, broccoli, and corn (all raw veggies of course). I simply can't get him to eat the blocks but it is now affecting his health no doubt for lack of calcium. I did take him to my local vet this week and he is now on a Calcium liquid supplement .3 cc along with the food I mentioned above. The vet explained about the need for block to get the calcium so I started trying to make the soft balls so he can chew them but as I mentioned.... no success. :( Please help!!!
Also, I want to purchase a UVB bulb to help with his calcium deficiency and have been researching what to purchase. I picked up a bulb yesterday at the pet store but am not sure it is sufficient. I just want the right bulb that will give him the D-3 he needs from lack of natural sun.
The bulb I bought is called "Avian Sun 5.0 UVB by Zoo Med" It says UVA + UVB + Visible TRUE FULL SPECTRUM 26 watts. It's a screw in bulb, obviously made for birds. Is this one safe and sufficient?
I've been reading through SB threads and it looks like a lizard bulb might be better but I simply don't know what to get and am overwhelmed. I do not want to take any risk of blinding Willie or affecting his eye site in any way so I need advice. Also, how many feet should I have it from the cage and for how long a day should he be exposed to it?
Please help!!!

[cava]

It sounds like you know what's happening, what he needs and what his limitations are. I'm sorry he won't eat the off the shelf or Henry's blocks.

Have you tried boo balls with formula or a thin layer of nut butter(home made by food processing nuts)? How "tough love" are you being about giving him plenty of time to eat the softer versions you make before you give in and give him something he wants?

The rule is eat your block first, then you can have your veggies.

Have you experimented with different forms like food processed blocks, paste, liquid, etc?

I look forward to seeing what those with experience have to say. Hang in there and continue the calcium. I know nothing about using the lights.

[stepnstone]

My sweet non-releasable squirrel, Willie, is about 2 years old. Weight as of this week is just under 500 grams, or 1 lb.
Willie had severe malocclusion as a baby and I traveled to have Dr. Emerson at Ravenwood in Port Orange, FL to have his top incisors removed. I trim his bottom teeth monthly so no issues there. Without top incisors, he obviously can't shell anything himself but gets along well by scraping food with his bottom teeth and using his molars to chew. Nonetheless, he is limited on what he can eat. He can't chew a rodent block, hates HHB's (I tried two different kinds including the ones for picky eaters), and he won't eat homemade balls that I have tried making by crushing the block and mixing in peanut butter, apple juice, honey and the like. I have tried Kaytee blocks and Harlan Teklad. Since he can't chew the blocks and hates the balls I have tried with both types of block I have, can anyone please share a yummy recipe or a tasty rodent block that the pickiest squirrel in the world will actually eat? Willie is showing signs of Metabolic Bone Disease and I am very concerned. I have been feeding him pecan halves, green beans, kale, blueberries, squash, sweet potato, snow pea pods, carrots, apple, broccoli, and corn (all raw veggies of course). I simply can't get him to eat the blocks but it is now affecting his health no doubt for lack of calcium. I did take him to my local vet this week and he is now on a Calcium liquid supplement .3 cc along with the food I mentioned above. The vet explained about the need for block to get the calcium so I started trying to make the soft balls so he can chew them but as I mentioned.... no success. :( Please help!!!
Also, I want to purchase a UVB bulb to help with his calcium deficiency and have been researching what to purchase. I picked up a bulb yesterday at the pet store but am not sure it is sufficient. I just want the right bulb that will give him the D-3 he needs from lack of natural sun.
The bulb I bought is called "Avian Sun 5.0 UVB by Zoo Med" It says UVA + UVB + Visible TRUE FULL SPECTRUM 26 watts. It's a screw in bulb, obviously made for birds. Is this one safe and sufficient?
I've been reading through SB threads and it looks like a lizard bulb might be better but I simply don't know what to get and am overwhelmed. I do not want to take any risk of blinding Willie or affecting his eye site in any way so I need advice. Also, how many feet should I have it from the cage and for how long a day should he be exposed to it?
Please help!!!
If Willie had been on block as his first and only solid food regardless of form, boo balls, etc, you wouldn't be having this problem of rejection or the concerns of mbd. With all the block and ways you say you've tried suggests you knew the importance of block, at the very minimum he should have been on an alternative calcium supplement. Insult to injury is his diet and your feeding him "pecan halves" /nuts which takes calcium from the body. Calcium which Willie was not having replaced through proper nutrition.
It's always harder with an older squirrel to turn the diet around but it can be done! Tough love is the key, no one can do it for you, his survival depends on it! Pull the nuts, make your boo balls, limit his veggies. Use fruit as a treat and only if balls are eaten. You need to follow the healthy diet which I will attach the link to below. Besides the nuts, out of the 10 food items listed you are feeding him 6 items out of group #3 of the healthy diet which should only be fed in limited amounts due to the high fats, starches, oxalates, etc. A balanced nutrition is extreamly important to these "captive" squirrels and their healthy survival.

UV light assists in the synthesis of Vitamin D, and in turn, the proper utilization of calcium for strong and healthy bones.. The bulb you purchased is adequate for full spectrum lighting, a 5.0 should be placed 16-18" above cage. Not certain of length of time but believe it's at least 20 minutes per day that's providing squirrel is under lighting. I run my lighting longer for coverage due to the unlikelihood of that with my crew.

Healthy diet:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels