Possible MBD in 2 1yr old squirrels

[BabiGurl]

Ok so I have (2) 1 year old squirrels both female, I think they could possibly have MBD, they both was quite chunky but have lost some weight in the past few days, I was feeding them Henry's rodent blocks and other fruits and vegetables but have run out of the rodent blocks, I'm ordering some more but haven't had any in a couple weeks and now they have stopped eating I lost weight, they will eat pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds but that's about all I can get them to eat. I got some calcium and mixed it in with some almond butter and tried to feed that to them thay ate a little bit of it but won't eat any more. I rescued them when they were about 3 weeks old I think, they didn't have their eyes open yet and I've had them ever since. They've never actually let me hold them but they will jump on my shoulder, I know I need to force-feed them calcium quickly but they won't let me hold them can someone give me advice on an easier way to force-feed them calcium or tell me what I need to do to be able to hold them so that I can force-feed them calcium??? Do you think wrapping them up in a blanket would be okay just so I can give them calcium or is there a different way I could go about doing it. Also the calcium that I was able to get ahold of quickly was has vitamin d in it and it's for reptiles, I know it recommends no vitamin d added but that's all I can get quickly, also it's for reptiles is that okay if not what do you recommend and I'll go to the pet store as soon as possible.

[HRT4SQRLS]

What makes you think they have MBD? Are they having seizures or hind end paralysis?

You are right that sunflower seeds and pumpkins seeds are not good for them.
I’m going to post this link for the MBD treatment and then I will make another post.

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

[HRT4SQRLS]

You can give the reptile calcium tonight (calcium with Vitamin D) but tomorrow you need to buy Tums.
Tums are calcium carbonate. They don’t have Vitamin D. With the MBD treatment you are megadosing calcium. You can not megadose Vitamin D as it is toxic to rodents.

In the MBD protocol there is an idea about making calcium balls with peanut butter. As a last resort you can burrito them(wrap them in cloth like a burrito) and syringe feed the calcium. Be very careful though because they are fragile and you could potentially break a bone. Also, be careful to not aspirates them.

Here is a link to the healthy diet.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

[BabiGurl]

What makes you think they have MBD? Are they having seizures or hind end paralysis?

You are right that sunflower seeds and pumpkins seeds are not good for them.
I’m going to post this link for the MBD treatment and then I will make another post.

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

The reason why I think they have MBD is because they have lost (to me in my opinion) quite a bit of weight and they have lost their appetite and chunkys been sleeping a lot more than usual, but squirrels hasnt been sleeping as much as chunky. Like for example chunky will smell the food i offer shake her head, wipe her chin and go lay down, squirrels kind of does the same thing she'll smell the food i offer shake her head wipe her chin and go dig in some dirt I have in a tub for them, shes not sleeping or laying down as much as chunky does, Squirtles is a little bit more active. I've even offered them their favorite foods and they still won't eat it. And also I've seen this before, they've done it one other time and was told it was MBD and I gave them calcium and within a few hours of giving them calcium I could see a big difference in them, I could tell they were getting better, so I gave it to them for a while like the emergency MBD treatment said, I got them rodent blocks and I've been giving them the rodent blocks ever since, and I haven't had any problems since except for I ran out a couple weeks ago, had to wait till this month for my check to come in but I've ordered more they should be here within a few days.

[stepnstone]

Ok so I have (2) 1 year old squirrels both female, I think they could possibly have MBD, they both was quite chunky but have lost some weight in the past few days, I was feeding them Henry's rodent blocks and other fruits and vegetables but have run out of the rodent blocks, I'm ordering some more but haven't had any in a couple weeks and now they have stopped eating I lost weight, they will eat pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds but that's about all I can get them to eat.

Like feeding candy to a baby... :shakehead
An over the counter rodent block would have been a better alternative over the seeds.

[BabiGurl]

Like feeding candy to a baby... :shakehead
An over the counter rodent block would have been a better alternative over the seeds.

That's good 2 know I did not know that, no wonder why they was eating that no problem, thank u for letting me know!!!

[BabiGurl]

Like feeding candy to a baby... :shakehead
An over the counter rodent block would have been a better alternative over the seeds.

I have not gave them only sunflower & pumpkin seeds since I ran out of rodent blocks, I have gave them veggies & fruits, fruits after veggies. But they are not eating the veggies or the fruits, so I offered them sum seeds & that's all they would eat. I do try giving veggies & fruits & when I try to had it to them they smell it, shake there heads & wipe their chins. So I just leave it there for them & walk out, & come back later & they haven't touched it at all!!! But I have completely stopped giving them pumpkin & sunflower seeds, I only offered sum to them not a whole lot. & Iv only been offering them veggies & fruits.

[Spanky]

I have not gave them only sunflower & pumpkin seeds since I ran out of rodent blocks, I have gave them veggies & fruits, fruits after veggies. But they are not eating the veggies or the fruits, so I offered them sum seeds & that's all they would eat. I do try giving veggies & fruits & when I try to had it to them they smell it, shake there heads & wipe their chins. So I just leave it there for them & walk out, & come back later & they haven't touched it at all!!! But I have completely stopped giving them pumpkin & sunflower seeds, I only offered sum to them not a whole lot. & Iv only been offering them veggies & fruits.

Stay strong, they will test your will. Trust me when I say a squirrel will never starve themselves by refusing to eat the healthy veggies sitting right in front of them. That does not mean they won't work really hard to make us humans think they are going to starve themselves in their blackmail attempts to get us to give them goodies (nuts, seeds, etc.) just like a human toddler throwing a tantrum in attempts to be given candy.

I say this often... it is as much "training" as anything else. They need to learn to eat that eating their healthy meals is the only way to get "desert".

[BabiGurl]

Stay strong, they will test your will. Trust me when I say a squirrel will never starve themselves by refusing to eat the healthy veggies sitting right in front of them. That does not mean they won't work really hard to make us humans think they are going to starve themselves in their blackmail attempts to get us to give them goodies (nuts, seeds, etc.) just like a human toddler throwing a tantrum in attempts to be given candy.

I say this often... it is as much "training" as anything else. They need to learn to eat that eating their healthy meals is the only way to get "desert".


So does that mean just keep giving them the healthy veggies & they will eventually eat it??? It's been several days & they have lost quite a bit of weight, I'll try to post some before and now pictures. They are both still kinda active but they do lay round a good part of the day.