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