Squirrel pox:- What to feed and what to not?

[Diggie's Friend]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...09#post1308009

When it comes to viruses, considering the big picture. Nuts, seeds and grains are higher in Arginine than Lysine, the former that supports viral growth, and the latter that retards it.

Nuts and seeds are known to be healthy foods unless you have a viral infection. When you’re sick, nuts and seeds can encourage the growth of viruses in the body. The reason? They contain the amino acid arginine in high levels, which has been known to trigger attacks of herpes-like viruses and further the growth of low-grade viral infection.

If you are trying to recover from a viral infection, arginine-rich nuts and seeds are best to avoid.

"While viruses do not respond to antibiotics, improving your diet can help to support healing in the body. You can strengthen your body’s natural defense by reducing arginine intake while increasing the intake of another basic amino acid called lysine. Antiviral lysine can help to strengthen immunity and protect against viral outbreaks."

And though Squirrel pox is not herpes, all viruses have this issue in common as to supporting their replication, with Arginine promoting their growth and Leucine retarding it.


To combat the pox avoid feeding:

Nuts and seeds, as these are far higher in Arginine than lysine. These included Walnuts, Pecans, macadamia nuts, pistachios, filberts/hazelnuts, "peanuts, almonds and cashews and sunflower seeds", and pine-nuts.

Chocolate is a rich source of arginine too, reports the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.

https://hsvblog.net/herpes-blog/diet...-common-foods/

Sources that best support fighting viral growth are Low-fat yogurt, low fat yogurt with fruit, and Mango, egg. Softer boiled egg chopped, and Ricotta cheese is also very high in Lysine. In captivity a mixture of these may be a good combination for squirrels with squirrel pox.

Pycnogenol is anti viral; if you can put into something they like to eat besides nuts and seeds, this would be beneficial. * (see my post in this forum on Pycnogenol and Dragon's blood.