Cinnamon needs help

[Cinnamon88]

Hi everyone I've read alot of post on here. It's very helpful I've decided to ask for help.

Cinnamon was born in February she is a red fox squrriel. And up until last month she was healthy. Then I started to notice here laying around alot. She dropped weight fast. From being plump to skin and bones. I have pretty much figured out it's mbd her nails get caught, she always sleeps, weight loss, falls over. I've got her on pedilyte and tums and she has since perked up a little. I've also put a warm rice sock with her. Other then the Pedilyte which I'm giving with a syringe, what else can I do? I want to get some food in her as well. I got her a forging diet mix but she has no interest in it. Can I maybe do mashed pumpkin are advacado? Something mushy? Also her poop went from normal black pellets to orange mush, like sticky. It was just stuck but with the Pedilyte she started passing it alot better. I don't wanna give up on my girl so I'm seeking what else to do.

[Spanky]

Hi everyone I've read alot of post on here. It's very helpful I've decided to ask for help.

Cinnamon was born in February she is a red fox squrriel. And up until last month she was healthy. Then I started to notice here laying around alot. She dropped weight fast. From being plump to skin and bones. I have pretty much figured out it's mbd her nails get caught, she always sleeps, weight loss, falls over. I've got her on pedilyte and tums and she has since perked up a little. I've also put a warm rice sock with her. Other then the Pedilyte which I'm giving with a syringe, what else can I do? I want to get some food in her as well. I got her a forging diet mix but she has no interest in it. Can I maybe do mashed pumpkin are advacado? Something mushy? Also her poop went from normal black pellets to orange mush, like sticky. It was just stuck but with the Pedilyte she started passing it alot better. I don't wanna give up on my girl so I'm seeking what else to do.

Stop the pedialyte after 24 hours or so, continuing to give salts will whack out her electrolytes resulting in other issues. If she needs hydration after that use plain water or water with just a bit of honey or sugar.

Pumpkin and avocado are just fine if she will eat it. She should not be given any nuts or seeds, as this will worsen the MBD.

Start the Emergency MBD protocol, link below. If this is MBD it can only help and if it is not it will not harm. As a young adult, she is at the age we'd normally see MBD start to manifest if her diet has been out of whack a bit.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?17680-Emergency-Treatment-for-MBD-(Updated-3-31-09)

Please you share more about her routine diet and if it included rodent block. And what is this foraging diet mix?

[Cinnamon88]

Thank you so much for responding the food I have her on is a natural forage blend vitamins and minerals it's made by vitacraft and it's called vitasmart Complete Nutrition bought it at the local PetSmart it says it has vitamins a d and e Dental support Omega-3 and a whole bunch more stuff in it and when I seen calcium on the label I bought it. I do know that not all food is good food but I won't lie when I seen calcium and you that's what she needed especially with MBD I did buy it before this I would offer her fresh carrot apples lettuce pine nuts which I've later learned depletes energy and calcium fresh dried coconut things of that nature if I could find anything fresh I was feeding it to her fruits and vegetable wise every now and then I would give her some pecan almond pine nut Walnut. That's why I'm kind of shocked that it did happen to her because to me I was feeding her a healthy diet although since I have been home she has perked up a lot she is sitting up on her own now looking around eyes wide open I still can't get her to eat but she is drinking later on I'm going to try again to feed her but as far as for right now she looks a heck of a lot better than she did last night cuz last night she looked like absolute death

[Cinnamon88]

And after seeing your post that says she shouldn't be giving any nuts or seeds that is what this natural forage blend has in it so I'm assuming I need to stop feeding her this what should I offer her as far as something besides the pumpkin and avocado

[Spanky]

Yes, please stop feeding the vitasmart Complete Nutrition... that really does not look like proper rodent food when I read the ingredients. Definitely way off for a squirrel. Pine nuts are the worst nuts of all!

I am certain she has MBD based on her present diet and as per the MBD treatment protocol stop all nuts, seeds and corn. Cinnamon needs to get on a proper squirrel diet, which may prove a battle of wills (yours and hers).

I use Henry's block, which is a concentrated supplement block. They need to eat only 2 of these blocks a day... a bag will last about 1 month. These need to be stored in the freezer since they have no preservatives. The shipping is flat rate, so if you order them consider ordering several month's worth at a time. When feeding Henry's, they are usually fed a variety of veggies, some fruit and wild foods. The upside of Henry's is they usually love the block and readily eat it (though any squirrels that have had a lot of nuts will snub almost everything for a while.. which is why this may be a battle a wills). Get either the Picky, Hazelnut and / or the Wild versions... the Wild Bites are most economical.

Extruded commercial "pet store" rodent block is the other alternative, which includes Mazuri, Envigo (Teklad) or Oxbox rat foods. Though the Envigo has made news lately about animal abuse. If you use these, it should be about 80% of the entire diet.

Follow the MBD protocol and Cinnamon can recover 100%, but it will take months for her bones to be fully recovered even though she will start feeling and acting better in days. Squirrels are masters at hiding injury and sickness (they have to to survive is the wild) so once they are noticeable not well it is a very critical situation.

Did she eat either the squash or avocado?

[applecrisped]

Oop, Spanky clearly types faster than me. I'll drop some links though to save you some time.

Seeds, nuts, and fruits should only be fed in limited amounts as treats.
There's a great food chart here: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

More info on treating MBD: https://henryspets.com/emergency-treatment-for-mbd/

Henry's Blocks: https://henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/
Henry's MBD treatment kit includes a package of Picky blocks, calcium carbonate, and a syringe: https://henryspets.com/mbd-treatment-kit-for-calcium-deficiency-in-squirrels/

Mazuri rodent blocks (https://mazuri.com/products/mazuri-rat-mouse-diets) - You may have trouble getting her to eat these, but you can find them at the pet store.

[Cinnamon8888]

Hi spanky sorry it took a minute I got locked out my other account. Cinnamon will not eat the pumpkin so I'm going to try the advacado tonight. She won't drink water only Pedilyte and she's pooping alot. She actually started moving around today which made this momma cry cause that hasn't happened for a lil bit. I will order some Henry's mix today. Praying and hoping my girl makes it out of this. If I could figure out how to upload a picture I would

[Cinnamon8888]

Thank yall so much I've just ordered her some bites from Henry's. On the plus side grandma came over today and held her and wouldn't you know she ate 3 bites of a carrot stick and a bite of a banana. That's the 1st food she's eaten in days. I'm am committed to doing what I need to for her. She's my baby. I've had her since March when she was estimated to be 3 weeks old. I've bottle fed her and cared for her since. I cant belive I didn't pay more attention to her diet. I thought fresh fruits and veggies and seeds was what she needed. I'm hurt everyday looking at her. But I will do what ever it takes. Including spending 100 plus shipping at Henry's. I only wish I would have found this site sooner. The vet doesn't seem to much to care called her a pest 1st day I brought her. Can't tell you the conversation I had with them about that. There all gods babies and they just need someone to care for them from time to time. Thank you. Both of you for the information. I hope to speak with yall again. I will be checking this daily and updating her status. Which right this second she's snuggled in her bed with her warm rice sock.

[Cinnamon8888]

One more question spanky as for as her drinking if she's not taking water what do I do? Can I mix the sugar are honey in it?

[Spanky]

One more question spanky as for as her drinking if she's not taking water what do I do? Can I mix the sugar are honey in it?

Yes, she can have water with honey (better than sugar).... it is the salts in pedialyte that are a risk of overloading her system. Remember that pedialyte is for a toddler that is 30 times larger than a squirrel... more or less.

[Cinnamon8888]

Spanky thank you for all your help. This morning I mixed 2 drops of honey in some water and she is drinking the water. Thank you so so so very much for all of your help. We are noticing that she seems a little stronger today. She is up and walking around.

[Spanky]

She is up and walking around. :bliss

That is good news, but do not deviate from the emergency MBD protocol even if she is feeling better. She needs new bone growth which sill take months.... :thumbsup

[Cinnamon8888]

I'm making sure everyday to follow it. She's eating a little, drinking, and she even played a little today. I did notice some white milky discharge on her eye. When I loomed it up it said it could be pain signs. But other then that she is 100% better. Thanks for all of your help ill continue to update.

[Cinnamon8888]

WE NOW HAVE A INDEPENDANT SASSY GIRL

Normally she'd hear me open a bag of pecans or something and go absolutely crazy waiting for me to give her one tonight I was trying to move the bag out of my way from my nightstand she heard it and went crazy in her cage I let her out she climbed on top and as soon as I said the bag down she went in got her own and went on the edge of her house and started eating it all by herself this is a side of her I haven't seen in weeks thank you so much for all of your help we are still doing the MBD emergency protocol with her she is about to get her calcium tablet and Juice in just a second and by tomorrow we should have her bags of Henry blocks

[Spanky]

Normally she'd hear me open a bag of pecans or something and go absolutely crazy waiting for me to give her one tonight I was trying to move the bag out of my way from my nightstand she heard it and went crazy in her cage I let her out she climbed on top and as soon as I said the bag down she went in got her own and went on the edge of her house and started eating it all by herself

If I am reading this correctly and she is eating pecans, that needs stop immediately. She should not have any nuts, seeds or other calcium robbing foods if she is suffering from MBD. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. This is like a lung cancer patient having a few cigarettes while they are receiving their chemo infusions...

[Cinnamon8888]

Yep I did realize it my husband was trying to get her to eat anything and finally she ate that after I thought about it I freaked out I was like no pecans is a nut.
So they were taking out and today is going to be trying to figure out something she will eat on the plus side Henry's will be here hopefully today or tomorrow

[Cinnamon8888]

This is what I found is this ok to try with her Henry blocks

Healthy fruits: apple, apricot, bananas,* blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries* (sweet), cherries (sour), crabapples,* cranberries, grapefruit, grapes,* honeydew, kiwi, kumquats, lemon, lime, mangos,* navel oranges, nectarines, papaya, passion fruit,* peaches, pears, pineapple, pomegranates,* raspberries, strawberries, watermelon.
*Somewhat higher in sugars/starches
Note: The pits and seeds of some fruits can be toxic, except for berries.
Avoid: Dates, dried fruit of any kind, figs, fruit juice, persimmons, plums, prunes, raisins, as these are very high in sugar

[CritterMom]

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

Just like us, you need to lean more into vegetables and less into fruit...