MBD Calcium/Overgrooming Question

[lachy22]

Hello,

I just have a few questions about calcium/MBD.

Can overgrooming be a symptom of MBD, and if so how long will it last before the calcium 'fixes' it?

Case specific: The squirrel I am rehabbing is about 5-6 months old. He has recently gotten a somewhat bald patch about the size of a nickel on his hind leg on the outside. It is not bleeding, but fur is missing. We gave him Advantage for ferrets, both doses about a month ago, so I do not believe it is bug/flea related.

For the first week, which was this past Monday, I gave the recommended 400g/500g using Tums (sometimes residue is left on the spoon when I mix it with peanut butter or applesauce). During that time, my squirrel's overgrooming subsided a bit.

But it is now the 4th day, (I switched to these supplements on day 3: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-Valley-Calcium-Dietary-Supplement-600-mg-100-count/10534204?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=1998&adid=22222222420449455996&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-293946777986&wl5=9021749&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=10534204&wl13=1998&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwNWKBhDAARIsAJ8Hkhdz2yA32CBv46Rz4oc1 CFxGck-cl12t1UGduajV5LCCaY_2ac4JPaUaAnCBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)

but his overgrooming seems to have gotten a bit worse or just not changed. He has eaten Mazuri/Oxbow rodent blocks for the past two days in addition to his normal fruits/veggies meal.

Additionally, he used to take maybe a 2-3 hour nap miday/afternoon and then a short 1 hour nap evening before the calcium. But after the calcium treatment, he takes maybe 5 or so smaller naps maybe 15-30 minutes throughout the day.
I also recently started him on Henry's blocks using the boo ball recipe. He has free roam of the house 75% of the day, the rest of it he is in his cage with sticks and some food, which I have seen him readily chew before.

Could his overgrooming be diet-related or MBD related or something else? How can I know if he is getting too much calcium?

Any help is greatly appreciated because it breaks my heart to see him constantly itching.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Although over grooming isn’t a classic symptom, it is certainly possible. Let me quote something from a reliable scientific journal.

“The hallmark of acute hypocalcemia is neuromuscular irritability. Patients often complain of numbness and tingling in their fingertips, toes, and the perioral region. Paresthesias of the extremities may occur, along with fatigue and anxiety. Muscle cramps can be very painful and progress to carpal spasm or tetany.”

Based on this information regarding low calcium, it is very possible that MBD could cause over grooming due to nerve tingling or pain. A squirrel is very prone to going after this type of sensation. We see it in paralyzed squirrels that chew their feet and legs. So, IMO it’s possible. Watch him to make sure the over grooming doesn’t progress to chewing the area.

We don’t use Advantage. We use Revolution. Of course it’s done so I think you can rule out any type of external parasite as a cause of this.

Are you following the Henry’s MBD protocol?
Treating MBD is a long process that could take months to rebuild bone. If the squirrel is getting too much calcium the stool will turn white. The calcium is passing through without being absorbed.

Have you removed nuts and seeds from the diet? What symptoms did you notice that made you think this was MBD?

[lachy22]

Thank you so much for your response.
His stool is still what it was previously, normal color and texture, so I think the current dose of 500mg should be kept up like the protocol says, right?

I thought it was MBD because before I had solely given him veggies, fruits and some nuts and after reading about what Henry's and other rodent blocks have, I figured he was missing some nutrients. He also in the past few weeks has begun to stop climbing on his branches as much and chewing them, playing/tickling for shorter amounts of time, sometimes his nails get stuck in my shirt and pants when he climbs on me, he doesn't jump from different set-ups as he used to, and keeps running back and forth between 2 windows we have up and downstairs looking and watching outside for around 30 seconds or a minute and then switching windows. Does it seem like it could be MBD or something else?

In terms of his overgrooming, he licks his hands and feet a lot mostly, but also sometimes his sides or legs.

The only type of nuts he is receiving is a slight sprinkling of ground up walnuts in his goo balls.

Also, should I do anything to supplement with Vitamin D, or will the goo balls made with Henry's suffice?

Thanks again,