I need help with Doug... Again

[jillian15279]

Sorry for only posting when I need help. Im at a loss what could be wrong with my boy.. He is approximately 10 months. we found him when he was 5 weeks. He eats 2 of the Henry blocks daily along with snap peas, blueberries, and other random fruits when available. Strawberries, banana, pitted cherries, orange slice and grapes. Thursday all he did was sleep. we had been on vacation and work the previous week so we played hard on Wednesday so I chalked it up to him being tired before I worried to much. Friday he was a little more active but no where near his normal. He's still only wanting to lay around. He's eating, drinking peeing and pooping good.just no play or energy. I started giving him the Baytril Friday and he's gotten it twice a day since but still no change.. any ideas? I gave him some calcium yesterday but I don't want to hurt him by giving him to much either. he's been a little sneezy but nothing to out of his norm..
We did put some new tree limbs in his enclosure but I took them out Thursday evening just in case maybe something was not good for him, and I've kept him indoors. im not in a state where he I can take him to the vet.

[McCarthy]

For how long had you been on vacation and working? Was he able to get out of the cage at that time? They can become depressed if they don't see enough activity and interaction.

Since he is sneezing at times, maybe he has some respiratory infection that takes all the energy out of him.

[jillian15279]

we were gone a week. My Daughter was here to feed and make sure he had water twice a day. When we got home Saturday he was happy to see me ( he's definitely my baby) and had been playful all the way up until Thursday. I was home with him all day Sunday and Monday and Tuesday he had my husband to hang with until 10 am and I get home at 2 so he had a lot of play time.. just not like Wednesday.. he played hard and all day with me.. He almost acts depressed but I would of thought he would have shown that right away not almost a week later. its killing me not knowing how to help him.

[SweetPete2020]

He could just be depressed but I would increase his calcium intake and see if this helps since lethargy can be a sign of MBD. Does he get leafy greens along with the snap peas and fruits? Sun exposure? Probiotic, like BeneBac? Henry’s blocks have the recommended daily calcium but the rest of his diet should still be kept as close as possible to the 2:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio with regular sun exposure to produce enough vitamin D to absorb the calcium. Can also offer mushrooms for some extra vitamin D. There is a helpful feeding chart on Henry’s site if you need more info. If it’s just depression from your vacation and/or not exercising enough, a few days of extra snuggles and playtime should help. Good luck! I hope Doug perks up soon!

[Spanky]

Giving calcium can only help and not hurt... if his stools become gray or white he is not processing all the calcium so back down the calcium.
Here is the protocol:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?17680-Emergency-Treatment-for-MBD-(Updated-3-31-09)

Can you elaborate on that diet more, the way it reads it sounds like the only veggie he gets is snap peas and then lots of fruit. Grey's diet should be mostly veggies (80%) and some fruit (15%) and Henry's and some treats. Or maybe he is eating other rodent block in addition to Henry's?

[jillian15279]

Thats pretty much what he eats. he's pretty picky. he does eat a henrys walnut or peanut stick at bedtime... as far as sun we are in a highly shaded area so its hard to get him in the sun but he did get a lot of outdoor enclosure time prior to him acting weird . he does get a few black walnuts nuts a day but he may eat 2 a week, he hides them, rarely eats them. no probiotic. I will look into that!! he wants nothing to do with me :( so cuddles and lovins are forced.

[Spanky]

Thats pretty much what he eats.

Diet is extremely important... can you try to be more specific on what he eats on daily basis regularly? Like how many sugar peas daily... as hi solitary veggie intake. And on a typical day how much fruit? And anything else he might eat daily / regularly..