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View Full Version : Prednisone Dosing Help / MBD Recovery



Pasqual
02-17-2025, 04:06 PM
Hello all,

We rescued Pasqual during Hurricane Helene this past September. We believe he was about 7 weeks old at the time, and was soaking wet in the street, at midnight, before the storm blew in a few hours later. No visible injuries. A very tiny, sweet guy!

Our town was absolutely devastated for weeks (still recovering) and we did the best we could- he started eating apple sauce and moved to solid veggies relatively quickly. His diet, although varied the last few months, was lacking blocks and (I know now) an unhealthy amount of unsalted nuts.

Two weeks ago (2/2) during our morning playtime, I moved him from the top of his perch and down on his snuffle mat. When I stood up behind him, he stretched back while on his hind legs, pawed towards the ceiling for a second, made a little squeak, and then immediately covered his face and fell slowly forward. I thought something scared him, and scooped him up. He felt heavy and was hiding rolled up in my shirt, it eventually became apparent his legs were dragging.

We administered the MBD emergency treatment as soon as we found it. He wouldn't eat solids for a few days, and was being syringe fed tums with yogurt, and eventually started licking baby food. Once we received our order from Henry's, I was able to get calcium in baby food, which is still our method. He was only consistently eating sweet potato in the beginning, but, for the last five days, he is now eating two Henry's Wild Blocks, first thing in the AM, and today he finally nibbled on a little cabbage and raddichio. He isn't freely drinking water like I would like, but, he is peeing, and has had consistently plump, and healthy poops the last few days. I am currently giving him about 165-200mg of calcium carbonate throughout the day.

He appears to have some movement in his feet and his tail, but, is still dragging/ doesn't want to put pressure on them. He will often do a full body shake and kick his feet when I wipe to clean him, and today during a more successful urine cleaning he was comfortable belly up between my legs and chest, and had slight leg reactions and movements during wipes. I am still limiting his movements- he is in a tub with a hot water bottle and padding, but, just in the last two days he has had multiple frantic moments where has crawled up my sleeve and tried to make a break for it, which shows me how he's using/ not wanting to use his body.

Despite being two weeks out from the injury, we have finally gotten hold of 4 and a half old 20mg Prednisone that expire at the end of this month. I have read that it wouldn't hurt to try, right? I have ordered a scale to weigh him, and 1 ml syringes that will be here tomorrow morning. I know from reading other threads that dosing info gets PMed so we officially joined TSB today!

Thank you for this community. It has provided such a light of hope during this heartbreaking situation.

TomahawkFlyers
02-17-2025, 05:42 PM
Hi Pasqual. The period from that first (what sounds like) seizure has been pretty good. The thing with MBD is that once you've emerged from crisis, it can take weeks into months to get back to normal. I encourage you to print this off and tape it to your refrigerator. If a food is not on there or even something with a limited amounts caution, do not feed it. The pyramid is a critical element for long term health. It provides good guidance for proportions. Until your squirrel is all the way back, you should stay away from treats except to encourage the squirrel to eat. Even then, very little: https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

Helene happened in late September as I recall. This puts your squirrel in a time frame in which nature is calling. Add that to the current pain and inability to maneuver and you have a stressed out kid. Humans can look to the future and see resolution and relief. Your kid cannot. He knows something is wrong, he knows he hurts, and the new sensation of adolescence is adding to the mix. Keep it dark, keep him warm, and set things up so he cannot jump around or fall. His bones are brittle from MBD and a fracture can happen with little physical stress.

An admin will be by with dosing instructions. Part of the pain is nerve related. I have Gabapentin that I can get to you in a hurry (no charge) if the admin who picks up your case thinks it appropriate.

Keep us up to date!

Jamie

CritterMom
02-17-2025, 06:46 PM
Do you think there was an underlying injury - like he lost his balance and fell and injured himself in addition to the MBD?

So, for the period of time he is on the prednisone, you will need to increase the amount of calcium you are giving him. Prednisone affects the absorption of calcium by the bones.

Once his weight is known, the dosing can be done.

Pasqual
02-17-2025, 07:37 PM
Hi CritterMom,

As far as I know, I would say there was no obvious underlying injury. When we first rescued him, everything seemed a-ok and in working order, and he hasn't had any falls or balance issues in the months since.

When his accident happened, it almost seemed like he bent a little too far backwards while on his hind legs and injured something. It wasn't a seizure. His reaction was more like "ouch!" and he covered his face while slumping forward.

Looking back, there were times in the last couple of months where his nails were clinging to my sweatshirt, but no other obvious symptoms. I felt like he was in his nest an appropriate amount, and very playful with a healthy appetite.

I am more than enthusiastic to keep the calcium train rolling from here on out for my guy! Any guidance on how much of an increase he will need, while factoring in what he gets from his healthy blocks is much appreciated. Hoping to have his weight dialed in first thing tomorrow morning- will report back as soon as I can. Thank you for your response!

CritterMom
02-17-2025, 09:03 PM
Come back to this thread when you have everything and report it. The dosing will be sent to you by Private Message with directions.

Pasqual
02-18-2025, 03:46 PM
Dear Crittermom,

Thank you so much for your time and response on this thread- my supplies arrived much later today than expected. I did read more on MBD and Prednisone, and feel like, as you mentioned, sucking calcium out of him might be a step in the wrong direction. I'm equally concerned about increased thirst, as he is still not enthusiastic about an easier to access water source.

I am seeing the slightest improvements daily with his current treatment and know this will be a long and calcium filled road, but am finding a better rhythm every day thanks to this community!

CritterMom
02-18-2025, 05:18 PM
Since you have eyes on him, this is how prednisone works to suddenly and miraculously help squirrels that are showing neurological issues...sometimes. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and sometimes the neurological issues and lack of proper limb movement is being caused by some sort of physical trauma - a strike of some kind - that is causing internal swelling that can press or pinch another nerve that doesn't like it and cause the paralysis. Prednisone has the ability to really rapidly reduce that swelling, sometimes before the swelling can cause permanent problems. Which is why giving it promptly is best, and is also why I asked you about an accident of some kind. If this is paralysis caused by MBD it is not inflammation, it is usually a combination of bone weakness and even more importantly, muscle contraction is affected by low calcium too and that is usually causing the appearance of paralysis. Knowing all that, you may see something in his behavior that makes you lean more toward either MBD or a nerve issue from an injury.

You want to find the sweet spot for the calcium - you do NOT want to give too much and you certainly can. Watch his poops - if they start looking whitish and almost like they are dusted with flour, that is unabsorbed calcium and a sign to you to start backing the amount you are giving down.

Pasqual
02-18-2025, 06:47 PM
Crittermom, thank you for walking me through this. I really, really appreciate it! I've been in shambles these last weeks, and am terrified I'm going to make something worse.

I think there is a very real possibility that it could be a pinched nerve, taking into consideration how I believe he stretched too far back and tweaked something when this all went down. I also now know that likely happened because his diet wasn't up to par. So, a combo likely caused this.

While I am seeing some movements in his feet and tail when he is propped up for cleaning, he is for sure still dragging/ not putting pressure on them.

Again, I've been terrified of doing the wrong thing for him, but, if you suggest Prednisone (and upping his calcium while on it) can only potentially help him, we are all in! I wish I only found it sooner.

I'll absolutely have a second set of steady hands and his weight for you in the AM- again, so sorry for the delay!

Pasqual
02-19-2025, 09:12 AM
Good morning, CritterMom

No small feat, but he weighs 342.5g

CritterMom
02-19-2025, 01:40 PM
PM sent with dosing