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Originally Posted by
SamtheSquirrel2018
Hi BN. I know that you have been all over the place trying to find the handle for optimal nutrition program for MySquirrel!
Just some comments prompted by what you have posted;
THANK YOU STS2018!
In regard to just general Calcium dosing, I do NOT ordinarily use Calcium Citrate for the reason you noted; it contain only 21% Elemental Calcium and Calcium Carbonate contains 40% Elemental Calcium. I know that there have been some potential advantages cited for using using calcium Citrate but some of those are in regard to human use and not animal use. For instance, it is commonly said that dosing of Calcium citrate does not require giving the dose with food and/or having an acidic state in the stomach but that is usually a potential issue only with how humans take there supplemental Calcium and by taking calcium tablets. Humans may take them between meals or during meals or after recent food consumption. Almost without exception; when we give our Squirrels Calcium, it with the Calcium already incorporated into some sort of food already so this issue may be of less concern with animals!
I grind the CCitrate to an extremely fine soft white powder. That other gross gray calcium - Mysquirrel somehow can either feel or smell the CCarbonate. I stopped using that years ago. Possibly you are right, and I should give it another try by now.
Also, it has been said the the citrate may be helpful in minimizing risk of some particular kidney stones but for the average relatively young Squirrel without any history of kidney stones, my personal opinion is that this is not a compelling reason to opt for the citrate preparation either!
YOUNG SQUIRREL ? Mine is nearing 13 now!
There is also some suggestion that absorption of the Calcium citrate may be more efficient than absorption of Calcium Carbonate but even if that is true, the extra commonly cited range of better absorption by around 20% does not offset the 100% ADDITIONAL Elemental Calcium contained in the same weight of Calcium carbonate!
Also, I have tried to point out that many Squirrels find HHBs are relatively acceptable (tasty maybe!) and are a highly concentrated nutritional formulation! This can be ideal for Squirrels with MBD as appetite is often decreased and the bones themselves are often painful and the relatively soft consistency of the HHBs are an added plus in facilitating their consumption as it may not hurt (as much) to eat them!
Some good points! I do stock HHBs and have the bills and loss of freezer space to show for this. It is rare that any of my friends will completely eat an HHB. They often will revisit the left overs, but that could be a day later and by then it is usually cleaned up. I go through periods of feeding them daily to making my own blocks focused more on Calcium/Magnesium
As far as providing for the "average" Squirrel's Daily Maintenance Elemental Calcium requirements; if only two HHBs are consumed each day, this will (according to Henry's) supply 275mg of elemental Calcium and this is actually a bit more than the 250mg I consider to be the goal for daily Maintenance Calcium! IF a Squirrel with MBD should be inclined to eat another (Three HHBs daily should be considered the maximum); this Squirrel will be getting an additional around 125mg of Supplemental (Treatment) Elemental Calcium which is half the recommended initial Treatment Calcium of 250mg (the total Elemental Calcium at initiation of treatment is 500mg which includes 250mg of Maintenance Calcium which should be continued forever and an additional 250mg of supplemental or Treatment Elemental Calcium to begin replenishment the lost stores of calcium in the Squirrel's bones).
So, if the Squirrel is eating two HHBs daily, the Maintenance Calcium is provided entirely by these two blocks and it would be necessary for the Squirrel to be provided an additional 625mg of Calcium Carbonate divided into 4-5 servings (and mixed with something that can be healthy such as a paste made made with Teklad or Mazuri Blocks or other satisfactory substance
YES! EXACTLY that has been the stumbling block (no pun intended)
This is where there may need to be a "trade-off" for some phosphorus containing substance but the Calcium phosphorus ratio can easily kept at or above the ideal of 2:1! If the Squirrel was consuming three HHBs daily, this would provide around 125mg of the Supplemental Calcium required at initiation of MBD treatment so only and additional 300-320 mg of Calcium Carbonate would be required to provide the remaining 125mg of Supplemental Calcium and again, this should be divided into 4-5 servings throughout the day.
MySquirrel at her age, knows everything there is to know about me. She can read my mind and knows every sound and footstep! She has about four hours of activity a day and sleeps straight between those waking phases. If I pick her up while she is sleeping, she will immediately try to climb into my always worn vest, or into my hoodie pouch. After twenty minutes she will reluctantly open her yes, humor me and venture out. After finding a pee pad, and a window to check out, she will want to do one of two things... Either she will want to be taken back to her sleeping station, or to her water cup. She will refuse to eat anything until she drinks - and will pretty much refuse to drink from any other water source except her own cup.. which she identifies it seems by smell as well as location. I can replace the cup in the same spot and she will just take a sniff: I can bring down her cup, along with her and offer a smorgasbord of foods - if they are not a form of nuts she will reject all! She will just insist on going back upstairs to her known drinking cup, and thence BACK TO BED! IF I have the time to spend with her, and can keep her under wraps for an hour, usually I can get her to do some nibbling. About two grams worth.
As Treatment for MBD progresses, the amount of Supplemental (Treatment) Calcium decreases and toward the end of the treatment program, assuming that the Squirrel is consuming three HHBs; this could be continues for the remainder of the Squirrels life if feasible or desired and NO further Supplemental Calcium would be needed!
Again, BN, I know that this probably does not make things easier for you but hopefully, Salty will not become discouraged! BN, I would sure like to see you eventually happy with a nutrition plan for MySquirrel and if there is any way in which I can help you, I would be glad to do so!
Salty, certainly keep working with your buddy! He has a long long time ahead of him and with your love and attention to detail... he will totally thrive. I chimed in, because I want to encourage you to keep it up. I would point out that the more you try to feed him... the more you interact with him, the more he actually will consume. I find that using a syringe, of well mixed calcium/magnesium and a concentrated food flavoring, freshly mixed in a magnetically stirred cup, and then, after GENTLY and SLOWLY feeding that to her, immediately following with an almond fragment (third or half) has the best results. Now I will try the Calcium Carbonate (grr!) again.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel