I meant the organic applesauce. Beyond making the yogurt more appealing taste wise, organic applesauce contains pectin that has been found in rats to lend greater support to the absorption of calcium into the bloodstream. Excess sugar though should be avoided in their diet, for too much causes calcium loss into the urine. Rodent block for rat and mice studies is not just for convenience, but for the continuity of results to support the greater body of studies towards using rodent models to mirror the diets of humans, in support of gaining knowledge as to how to improve and maintain human health. These diets used to support the need for convenient nutritional support of short term rehabilitation of tree squirrels back to the wild, when used as many rehabbers do, are sufficient.
To support these animals in captivity long term passed the age of release, Nutraceuticals (Pycnogenol, Organic Pumpkin Seed oil, Organic food grade Chia oil), concentrated nutrient sources akin to those in the wild, not included in rodent block diets, can help to fill in the gaps in their nutrition with sources that contain nutrients sources that are like that which their diet in the wild could otherwise provide.
Pycnogenol, (PYC) for example, is an extract of the cambium layer of the Maritime Pine from France; it has been studied over 50 years in over 100 studies. This source is particularly very high in polyphenols, having anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-aging properties which support the longevity of vital organs. It is also analgesic, found to work better than synthetic aspirin without the negative side effects that synthetic has. Rats were confirmed to have a high tolerance for this source, yet a minimum dose of 1 to 2 mg. daily. The longer a squirrel is on these sources the greater the potential for it's compounds to support the properties it has been found to promote in rodents.
https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Orgin...3&s=hpc&sr=1-4
These oils from Foods Alive organic Chia oil (food grade, for not all are)
https://foodsalive.com/products/orga...il-foods-alive
and
Seed oil Company of Oregon (organic pumpkin seed oil)
https://www.seedoilcompany.com/pumpkin-seed-oil
sales@seedoilcompany.com Ask for 8 oz. small bottle, I did and they sent me one not shown on their webpage. Family run company.
Though even laboratory research journals have stated that there is no perfect diet for rats and mice (ground rodents; the closer a diet is to supply the nutrients that the natural wild diets supply for tree squirrels, the better!