Southern flyer not acting normal and looks greasy on her back?? Please help!

[Meech's Human Tree]

My southern flyer Meech has been gaining weight and not active as normal and now she looks kinda greasy and she been aggressive towards other people?? I'm not sure if her diet is right I've been feeding her henrys picky blocks and henrys cherry berry hamster food and she gets one little pice of pecan stick from henrys a day plus her salad at night and sometime pumpkin seeds an a walnut once a week.. am I doing something wrong? Please help!!!

[CritterMom]

How old is she? Adolescent flyers go through a phase where they DO look greasy!

[Diggie's Friend]

You can try adding (Chia Oil by "Foods Alive, "Food Grade source only; never use carrier oils) to the diet block. Some that have, found it increased their squirrels consumption of rodent block diets. This specific tested source can also be added to greens, squash and other bland foods to increase interest in these otherwise blander foods.

This very health (non-goitrogenic) plant oil source, is one of the highest natural (nutraceutical) sources Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, that lend significant support to the immune and organ health, recommended by veterinarians.

Add (4 droplets) onto the block for each of 2 meals fed daily.

https://www.amazon.com/Foods-Alive-A.../dp/B007788AZA

[Meech's Human Tree]

How old is she? Adolescent flyers go through a phase where they DO look greasy!

She will be 2 in march but this has just been a recent weight gain the past 2 months and greasy looking for 2 days and not active as much about a week or so...

[Meech's Human Tree]

You can try adding (Chia Oil by "Foods Alive, "Food Grade source only; never use carrier oils) to the diet block. Some that have, found it increased their squirrels consumption of rodent block diets. This specific tested source can also be added to greens, squash and other bland foods to increase interest in these otherwise blander foods.

This very health (non-goitrogenic) plant oil source, is one of the highest natural (nutraceutical) sources Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, that lend significant support to the immune and organ health, recommended by veterinarians.

Add (4 droplets) onto the block for each of 2 meals fed daily.

https://www.amazon.com/Foods-Alive-A.../dp/B007788AZA

Ok maybe I should try it but I am still really confused about her diet and calcium supplement and how much to feed her and if she needs an exercise wheel for her cage because she doesn't have one... I've read SO MUCH about what to feed her that it all starts to run together and I think I'm doing it all wrong or not giving her something she needs or etc..

[TomahawkFlyers]

Hey Meech!

Please check your PM and give me a call. I'm happy to discuss this with you and get all of your questions answered. In the meantime, if you read through this thread, you'll quickly gather a great deal of information:

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...lp-appreciated

Jamie

[TomahawkFlyers]

Hi Meech,

In case you don't get around to calling, in addition to reading the thread mentioned in the previous post, Here are some comments:

• The hamster food is not specifically tailored for squirrels, flyers or otherwise. It is quite possible that by eating that in addition to the blocks, your little girl is filling up on the hamster food and not eating enough of the block to get the correct amount of nutrition from those. I suggest you eliminate the hamster food from your kid's diet. You might wonder - "She's been eating it for two years, why now?" The effect of nutritional imbalance can be slow, incremental, and cumulative. I suspect that one possibility here is that constant exposure to foods tailored to the needs of other animals may have finally tipped the balance and what you see might be the result. So, eliminate the hamster food - not by weaning but "cold turkey."
• Calcium. Calcium comes in different varieties. What you should be using is pure calcium citrate powder without vitamin D or any other additives. An inexpensive and readily available option is here: https://www.amazon.com/Fluker-Labs-S...2&sr=8-14&th=1
• Calcium (again!) If squirrel block is the foundation of your flyer's diet, there is little to no need for a calcium supplement. If you are providing an occasional out of the shell nut (which is just fine, by the way,) it is a good idea to put the nut supply in a jar and add enough calcium to coat/dust the nuts when the jar is shaken. That will help counteract the big hit of phosphorous contained in the nut. The best way to tell if you're overdoing it with calcium is the color of the squirrel's poop. If it is turning gray or white, there is too much calcium in the squirrel's system. This is not harmful, but it is a sign that you need to back off a little until poop is the usual brown/darker brown.
• Seeds, pumpkin and otherwise. These foods contain high levels of phosphorous. Phosphorous is a silent killer of squirrels. It leaches calcium from the squirrel's system until the squirrel falls into Metabolic Bone Disorder (MBD.) MBD brings on an excruciatingly miserable death. If caught in time, the squirrel can be saved and the damage reversed. I recommend that you stop feeding your flyer seeds of any kind - again, "cold turkey."
• In the shell nuts should be provided for your squirrel to chew for tooth health. Sticks from tree branches are also important.
• Protein. Again, quality blocks contain all the protein your flyer needs. If you wish to supplement, boiled, shredded, spice-free (including salt and pepper) chicken breast and chopped hard boiled eggs (whites and yellows) are popular and healthy.
• Your flyer's symptoms. The weight gain and aggressiveness are both of significant concern. They are both symptoms of MBD. If your flyer is coming down with MBD, she will be miserable and not want to interact with strangers, hence the aggressiveness. Is she moving more slowly? Is she sleeping a lot at night? Is she eating less? It would be enormously helpful to know the answers to these questions. If the answer is yes to any of them, I would implement the MBD emergency protocol just to be safe. This protocol can be found at the bottom of this page: https://henryspets.com/what-is-metab...n%20treatment.
• One other thought on weight gain and nutrition. Does your flyer have access to other flyers (of the male variety?) Weight gain plus aggressiveness in female flyers can be a symptom of pregnancy. The aggressiveness remains through birth and until the babies are out of the nest. Unless your girl has been exposed to a boy, this is not a possibility.
• Greasy Fur. When your flyer's coat is anything other than silky soft, there is something wrong. The first suspect is always diet.
• Exercise. YES! Your flyer will make great use of an exercise wheel. Her life will be happier, healthier, and significantly extended as a result of the exercise and subsequent physical well-being.

In a nutshell I would:

1. Do the MBD Emergency Protocol, even if it turns out that MBD is not involved
2. Eliminate the hamster food now
3. Eliminate all seeds now
4. Coat nut treats with calcium citrate powder
5. Provide in-the-shell hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, and almonds (one per week) to maintain teeth at healthy length. No acorns, ever. No Brazil nuts, ever. One nut per week. Also provide fresh sticks from tree branches for chewing. Fruit trees are a favorite.
6. Provide supplemental protein
7. Get the kid a wheel! The safest one and the one they take to best (we've been through them all) is here: https://free-runner-inc.mybigcommerce.com/ It is a bit pricey, but you'll only buy it once. It is large enough to not cause back problems for your flyer. You'll want a wheel, not a disk.

We can communicate more about creating an ideal environment and diet for your flyer. First things, though, are 1-7 above. Thanks for caring and seeking help. You are a good soul.

Jamie