Hammy not feeling good again ☹️

[BamaHam]

Well Hammy’s not we’ll again. He crawls and climbs on me and in his cage but it seems like he’s struggles a little. He drinks water and pees. He eats and poops. He’s lost weight and has been losing but I thought it was just winter fat. It looks like he’s breathing fast but I thought it just looks like he is because he’s gotten skinny. He goes outside in a cage during the day when I’m at work. Lately he doesn’t want to do that. That told me something is wrong. He doesn’t run around in his cage in the mornings like he use to. He just sits and lays on his shelf waiting for me to open the cage door. He’s been sleeping a lot and not playful. He’s 7 going on to 8 years old. His daily diet has been mixed greens, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, sometimes celery, sometimes broccoli, sometimes carrot, apple, sometimes blueberries, orange, and sometimes strawberry. He gets a hazelnut in the morning and a hazelnut at night. Sometimes a pecan or hazelnut in mid day but he always buries the extra. He hasn’t gotten blocks because he quit eating them and he was storing them in his box with the nuts. I cleaned his winter box out and discovered them along moth larvae. I kept wondering where the moths were coming from. The other day I ordered Henry’s block for picky eaters. Hopefully he’ll eat those. I suspect his calcium is either low or high. Most likely it’s low. Should I treat him for MBD just in case? He’s also had avocado in his diet. I don’t know if he’s had enough calcium and phosphorus.

[BamaHam]

I just fed him 4 grasshoppers that I bought in a can at Petco. Wow! He ate them like there was no tomorrow. I sprinkled some calcium powder on them. It seemed to perk him up some. He also liked some coconut oil and mayonnaise off my finger. I’ll sprinkle calcium on them too.

[CritterMom]

I would begin doing a full MBD protocol on him - it sounds like that is the issue.

[BamaHam]

I would begin doing a full MBD protocol on him - it sounds like that is the issue.
I replaced his water in his bottle with Evian water which has same thing as Gatorade without the the sugar and flavor. He perked up a little after his grasshoppers and water. I put him in his outdoor cage and he ran around it once and laid down. He’s watching the feeders for birdies and squirrels. I hope he eats his new blocks. I’ll have to use tough love and make sure he eats that first everyday. My work schedule has changed so I can’t monitor him in the morning anymore. About a year ago I use to go in at 9:30 and now I have to go in at 5:00am. He’s still asleep so I just put all the food in his cage and leave. He eats when he gets up. His bowls are usually mostly empty when I get home. He hasn’t had my full attention lately and I feel guilty. My job changed in the bakery and I hate it. It’s not a fun job anymore with all the changes they made at Walmart. I’m looking for another position in the store where my hours will be better. Hopefully I will soon to spend more time with my baby.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I don't think changing his water is a good idea at this time. There have been incidents where squirrels stopped drinking due to different water and became dehydrated. With him not been well right now you certainly don't want to add dehydration to the mix if he rejects the water. If you want to add a bowl of the Evian water that would be fine but I wouldn't change the water in his water bottle.

It does sound like he is calcium deficient. I hope he eats the picky eater block but for now restoring the calcium levels is critical. It won't hurt him even if that's not the primary problem.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?32122-MBD-Treatment

[Scooterzmom]

Does Hammy like kale? Or any other veggie more than others?

I'd found a trick when some of my guys did not want to eat their blocks. Since mine loved kale, I would put kale in a pot, with a little water, cover it and just bring it to a boil - don't let it boil. Then I'd purée it, add a bit of pulverized nuts and a good dose of pulverized blocks to the mix and place that in an ice cube tray. I'd give them a cube twice a day - or more - and wow! They ate them like it was candy.

I don't suppose it would do any harm to add even a touch of fruit if he's really picky. Others can chime in.

[BamaHam]

Does Hammy like kale? Or any other veggie more than others?

I'd found a trick when some of my guys did not want to eat their blocks. Since mine loved kale, I would put kale in a pot, with a little water, cover it and just bring it to a boil - don't let it boil. Then I'd purée it, add a bit of pulverized nuts and a good dose of pulverized blocks to the mix and place that in an ice cube tray. I'd give them a cube twice a day - or more - and wow! They ate them like it was candy.

I don't suppose it would do any harm to add even a touch of fruit if he's really picky. Others can chime in.

Thank you for the tip! I’ll try anything right now. That sounds like something he would eat. I’m having trouble right now trying to get calcium in him. He’s so smart. He knows I’m trying to trick him to eat it. I try forcing some down with a syringe but he is a fighter and will not take it. Don’t want to stress him or lose his trust so I crushed up a calcium supplement and mixed it with some peanut butter, mayonnaise, and even put a little on a piece of watermelon. I got some in him that way. It was easier when he was a baby. He had MBD when he was 6 months old and that’s how I found TSB. That was almost 8 years ago.

[Scooterzmom]

Thank you for the tip! I’ll try anything right now. That sounds like something he would eat. I’m having trouble right now trying to get calcium in him. He’s so smart. He knows I’m trying to trick him to eat it. I try forcing some down with a syringe but he is a fighter and will not take it. Don’t want to stress him or lose his trust so I crushed up a calcium supplement and mixed it with some peanut butter, mayonnaise, and even put a little on a piece of watermelon. I got some in him that way. It was easier when he was a baby. He had MBD when he was 6 months old and that’s how I found TSB. That was almost 8 years ago.

I would probably start with not too much bloc in it, just so as not to make him suspicious. Once he has eaten 2 or 3 - or you see he has really taken a liking to it then you can put a good dose in there and he'll eat it anyway ;)

[BamaHam]

Does Hammy like kale? Or any other veggie more than others?

I'd found a trick when some of my guys did not want to eat their blocks. Since mine loved kale, I would put kale in a pot, with a little water, cover it and just bring it to a boil - don't let it boil. Then I'd purée it, add a bit of pulverized nuts and a good dose of pulverized blocks to the mix and place that in an ice cube tray. I'd give them a cube twice a day - or more - and wow! They ate them like it was candy.

I don't suppose it would do any harm to add even a touch of fruit if he's really picky. Others can chime in.

I had a question. When you mixed the kale with the block and put it in ice cube trays did you freeze it or refrigerate it? How did you store them?

[BamaHam]

Ok. I tried something new. I blanched some kale and then put it in the oven at 150 degrees and dried the leaves only. Then I crumbled some leaves up and mixed it with coconut oil and calcium carbonate powder and he licked it off my finger. He’s already figured out I put it in his mayonnaise and peanut butter so now he won’t lick that. He’s a little more active today and eating and drinking and peeing and pooping a lot. I think he’s drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. He’s very lightweight to me. I know he’s lost weight. I hope he doesn’t have something else going on. He came out of his cage and crawled on me and climbed on his cage and inside. He doesn’t look as weak as before. He didn’t want to go out today. I received his Henry’s block for picky eaters in the mail today so I took all his food out and put his block on his plate. He’s napping right now. Hopefully he’ll like it.

[BamaHam]

Now I’ve noticed he doesn’t want to chew on nuts. He doesn’t want them unless I crack them open. I wonder if his mouth or teeth hurt. I looked at his teeth the other day and they looked ok but when he eats other stuff he stops in intervals. I shelled a hazelnut and he only ate half of it. Later he’ll pick it up and eat some more. He’s eaten apple and a little lettuce. He turned his nose at his new block. He ate 3 grasshoppers earlier today and ate those at intervals. He would take a few bites, stop, eat some more, stop, then finish. Idk. He drinks and pees a lot too.

[BamaHam]

No sooner that I posted about him not wanting to chew a nut he did. Ok so no teeth problems.

[Diggie's Friend]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?59843-Calcium-Carbonate&p=1262951#post1262951

If you are having a hard time getting the calcium into your boy, I would recommend this form that dissolved readily in water. For MBD treatment one half scoop total daily spilt into 5 parts.

Adding a bit of organic apple juice for flavor helps to sweeten the process.

Also check out Camilles Vita Mealies, organic farmed mealy worms. The Supermealies are the better product.

Description of product on blog, see link on page. http://www.sugargliderhelp.com/links/pages/Detailed/2264.html

[BamaHam]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?59843-Calcium-Carbonate&p=1262951#post1262951

If you are having a hard time getting the calcium into your boy, I would recommend this form that dissolved readily in water. For MBD treatment one half scoop total daily spilt into 5 parts.

Adding a bit of organic apple juice for flavor helps to sweeten the process.

Also check out Camilles Vita Mealies, organic farmed mealy worms. The Supermealies are the better product.

Description of product on blog, see link on page. http://www.sugargliderhelp.com/links/pages/Detailed/2264.html

Thank you so much! It has been tough. He’s clever and he knows I’m hiding it in his foods. I got a little in him by mixing it in mayonnaise. He licked off my finger. I’ll get some Supermealies. He’ll love those.

[Diggie's Friend]

Your welcome, I hope it fools him!

A couple of members that have had success getting their picky eaters to eat the block by putting a couple of drops of Organic Chia Oil from Foods Alive on it;perhaps it will work for your boy too. Foods Alive also offers a smaller size bottle. (available on Amazon.com) Don't go for a cheaper version as some aren't food grade, let alone organic, as this one is.

[Scooterzmom]

I had a question. When you mixed the kale with the block and put it in ice cube trays did you freeze it or refrigerate it? How did you store them?


I freeze it.Once the cubed are formed I place them in a ziploc bag and take the air out as much as possible to avoid freezer burn. Of course with a crew of 6 plus the releasable kids they never did have time to freeze-burn. I'm thinking you can vacuum pack half of them, or whatever quantity you wish, and leave the ones you'll use in a well sealed bag in the freezer.

I also forgot to mention that I added the nuts and blocks only once the kale had cooled to room temp and once it was placed in the tray.

[BamaHam]

Your welcome, I hope it fools him!

A couple of members that have had success getting their picky eaters to eat the block by putting a couple of drops of Organic Chia Oil from Foods Alive on it;perhaps it will work for your boy too. Foods Alive also offers a smaller size bottle. (available on Amazon.com) Don't go for a cheaper version as some aren't food grade, let alone organic, as this one is.

Ok! Thanks again. I thought of using organic coconut oil but chia is probably better especially for the nutrition and for his coat. Thank you again!

[Diggie's Friend]

The chia oil has been used in a cube frozen recipe also.

[BamaHam]

I freeze it.Once the cubed are formed I place them in a ziploc bag and take the air out as much as possible to avoid freezer burn. Of course with a crew of 6 plus the releasable kids they never did have time to freeze-burn. I'm thinking you can vacuum pack half of them, or whatever quantity you wish, and leave the ones you'll use in a well sealed bag in the freezer.

I also forgot to mention that I added the nuts and blocks only once the kale had cooled to room temp and once it was placed in the tray.

Ok. Thank you for your tip! Will try it ! I already blanched the kale. Now I’ll pulverize my nuts and block. Thank you !

[BamaHam]

The chia oil has been used in a cube frozen recipe also.

Ok. Thanks for the info.

[Diggie's Friend]

Ok! Thanks again. I thought of using organic coconut oil but chia is probably better especially for the nutrition and for his coat. Thank you again!

I wasn't suggesting that you choose chia oil over coconut oil to make your recipe; that would be another issue. What I was referring to was adding chia to your existing recipe.

For example, if you were to make 28 frozen diet pops and fed two a day, then you would add 28 drops of Chia oil to the recipe. Alternatively you could add the chia oil drops after thawing to each portion.

[BamaHam]

I wasn't suggesting that you choose chia oil over coconut oil to make your recipe; that would be another issue. What I was referring to was adding chia to your existing recipe.

For example, if you were to make 28 frozen diet pops and fed two a day, then you would add 28 drops of Chia oil to the recipe. Alternatively you could add the chia oil drops after thawing to each portion.

Ok. He has licked organic coconut oil off my plate and so I know he likes it. He’s also licked olive oil off a spatula I left on the counter once.

[Mel1959]

A better choice than peanut butter for disguising calcium or other items is almond butter. Better calcium to phosphorous ratio.

[BamaHam]

A better choice than peanut butter for disguising calcium or other items is almond butter. Better calcium to phosphorous ratio.
Ok thank you. I bought some yesterday. I dont know why but he had never bedn an almond fan. Hardly touches them. He prefers hazelnut as number one favorite. Pecan is second. Chloe on the other hand loved almonds. She would go for them first.

[Diggie's Friend]

Hazelnuts, aka (filberts) are a better choice compared to almonds, as research has found that the level of oxalic acid in hazelnuts is lower than that that found in almonds. And though hazelnuts are just bit higher in ratio of Phosphorus to Calcium than almonds, once digested the calcium that almonds contain in the seed is no longer available to the body. In addition, the calcium in other foods that are digested with almonds is lowered as a result of almonds having one of the highest levels of oxalic acid of various nuts tested in numerous research studies. (See below study for data findings)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263659023_Available_oxalate_content_of_nuts (Scroll down on face page to see gold borded data sheet with oxalate levels of various nuts.)

For an alternate, and higher source of magnesium than almonds, organic Styrian pumpkin seeds from Oregon. Just a few daily.