While I am not a rehabber, I have learned much this past week about MBD, a terrible disease and the use of calcium as treatment. If anyone has read my thread "Dwarf Hamster Needs Help," in non-life -threatening, you will know that it is about a hamster, I've named Pip. He was brought to me 1 week ago,seriously ill from both MBD and cage paralysis. He was treated by 1 vet and yesterday, I changed to another.
I can honestly say that it is my belief that our 4skwerlz has helped to save little Pip's life. There was a question of how much calcium should be given to Pip. (4s, when you are able, it would help if you could transfer some of the relevant posts from that thread to this one, since I don't know how). She prepared a schedule for Pip to follow. Yesterday, I was put in touch with a new vet who deals with many hamsters..When I told him of this schedule, he in fact increased Pip's calcium. He said that due to his size and the strong possibility of a relapse, more calcium needs to be given over the next 9 weeks. He said that too much calcium cannot hurt Pip, but too little will kill him. I don't have to explain what an impact that statement had on me. My Pip is a loving little hamster who has been through too much in his short 3 months on this earth. The vet's statement about calcium and MBD not only affects treatment of Pip, but for me, all animals.
I felt this to be an important learning experience for me and I wanted to share this with everyone.
All comments on the subject are welcome.