Very Urgent!! MBD for a 4 months old Indian Palm Squirrel!

[kutty]

Hello,

I am Karthik, from the southernmost point of India.

I found two orphaned baby squirrels in my backyard. One is 5 months old and the other one is 4 months old.

The elder one fell down from the top after climbing a 10ft wooden poll three months ago. Since then, the elder one is not able to run normally. It hops and walks very slowly.

Unlike the elder, the younger one was very active until day before yesterday. All of the sudden, it fell sick and his both back legs got paralized and I realized that the younger squirrel is in its life threatening phase! :'(

I googled and found this forum yesterday. Tried to get the Calcium supply without D, but I couldn't find a single medication without D. Finally, I was left with no choice other than to give an initial Calcium dose of 500 mg with a medication I found in a nearby pharmacy. It had Elemental Calcium 250 Mg and vitamin D3 250 IU. After had a confused mindset, I finally decided to give it to him. I crushed it and mixed with warm milk and gave only 1/3rd of the mixture to him, as he refused to consume all at once. I kept the remaining and tried feeding that after 4 hrs, but he didn't consume. He was trying to move fast with his front legs, and he was active except having the paralized back legs. In the evening on that day, I took him to see the Vet. I explained everything to him, and what I read here on this forum about MBD, but he simply ignored what I was telling him and he kept on saying the paralysis wasn't due to calcium deficiency. He then prescribed the following two syrups and he assured me that nothing bad will happen. He advised me to continue with what I have been giving him for diet along with just the two syrups as specified for another 10 days.

1. Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate Syrup - (1 drop twice a day)

2. Proviboost - (3 drops twice a day)

I returned home and gave him these syrups as directed. In the morning, I found him completely wet in the cage with his urine all over his body and the cloth I covered him with at night was also wet.

He wasn't active like how he was the last night, so I thought this was due to the new medications I gave. I called the Doc, and he simply instructed me to stop the dose for one day. I stopped giving the syrups, but my instinct kept on saying this wasn't the right way to treat his MBD.

He looked so tired after losing so much water from his body as urine. He didn't have the intention to eat at all.

So I started giving him Calcium tablets I had in my hand even though they contain D3 125 IU in every tablet. I had no other options at that time. So gave him an initial Calcium 250 Mg dose by crushing a tablet and mixing it with milk. I am bit skeptical about continuing the same Calcium tablet for one more time, as it may turn to be toxic to him with an additional 125 IU D3 intake. So I didn't give him any calcium tablets after that, but gave him crushed papaya juice and milk 4 hours once.

I love him very much, because he is very attached to me. I am the one who made him suffer like this!! Can't see him sitting idle without moving!

I never had a chance to take care of Squirrels in the past. I didn't feed them with a healthy diet plan like the ones I found here. I fed them with what we eat. Rice, Pasta, Cookies, Cashews, Cooked veggies, Milk, Bread, Juices, and Fruits. After reading this forum, I feel very guilty for what I did to them. The younger squirrel is suffering very worse! I am the sinner. God should punish me for what I did, and for the inability to recover the younger squirrel from this deadly MBD. :'(

He is drinking milk and fresh papaya juice as of now. I don't know how to proceed further to save him. I cried a lot last night. I didn't sleep at all! Seeing him like this kills me! :'(

Please guide me to save my little one's life! Please!!!

~ Karthik

[Spanky]

An alternative to calcium from the store is calcium from eggs shells. I found on-line that about that 1 teaspoon of chicken eggshells is 800mg - 1,000mg of calcium.

You need to empty the shells.. if you boil them you can peel and save or use the eggs for other purposes... but once empty and clean / washed, bake them in the oven some... basically to dry them out completely. Crush them up and it will be pretty much calcium powder.

The Calcium will be necessary to treat MBD. I see where other India members were able o order Calcium Carbonate from Amazon.

The prednisone is indeed a viable treatment for paralysis... but paralysis from a trauma; some type of injury.

MBD would be caused by a diet deficient in calcium, or conversely a diet that is high in seeds and nuts... these things are "calcium depleting" as a result of having very high phosphorous levels. If this is MBD he should start responding within a day or two of consistently getting calcium.

If there is a chance or evidence this is trauma (swelling around the spin or head maybe?), then we can help you more accurately and effectively dose the prednisone if you share the weight of your squirrel and the concentration (strength) of the prednisone solution.

[kutty]

An alternative to calcium from the store is calcium from eggs shells. I found on-line that about that 1 teaspoon of chicken eggshells is 800mg - 1,000mg of calcium.

You need to empty the shells.. if you boil them you can peel and save or use the eggs for other purposes... but once empty and clean / washed, bake them in the oven some... basically to dry them out completely. Crush them up and it will be pretty much calcium powder.

The Calcium will be necessary to treat MBD. I see where other India members were able o order Calcium Carbonate from Amazon.

The prednisone is indeed a viable treatment for paralysis... but paralysis from a trauma; some type of injury.

MBD would be caused by a diet deficient in calcium, or conversely a diet that is high in seeds and nuts... these things are "calcium depleting" as a result of having very high phosphorous levels. If this is MBD he should start responding within a day or two of consistently getting calcium.

If there is a chance or evidence this is trauma (swelling around the spin or head maybe?), then we can help you more accurately and effectively dose the prednisone if you share the weight of your squirrel and the concentration (strength) of the prednisone solution.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. Much appreciated!

He didn't fall from anywhere, and had no injuries since I took him from the backyard.

In that case, is it harmful if I continue giving prednisone drops the Vet has prescribed? The another Syrup seems to be a multi-vitamin supplement. Don't know which one caused him to urinate plentiful. Could you please clarify this?

Regarding CaCO3 found on Amazon, one product listing says it has 39000 mg of Calcium in a 100g serving. Shall I buy this CaCO3 for him?

He weighs approximately 80g. So how much Calcium he needs per day during the first week treatment for MBD?

It will take 6 to 8 days for the CaCO3 to arrive at my home. I ordered Tums too, but they told me due to Covid-19, delivery would take another 15 days.

In the meantime, I will try getting cuttlebone powder if it's okay to use as an alternative for the Calcium supply.

Apart from the liquid diet he is on, what should be done to improve his Calcium levels?

Please suggest me.