In a previous article, we talked about how to take care of newborn squirrels. This is the second part. In this article, we are talking about the Metabolic bone disease that occurs in squirrels. This article is based on a discussion we had with veterinarian Kumudhu Bandara. So let’s see what he says about this disease.
Most of the squirrels that came to me for medicine had this disease. However many people who keep squirrels as pets are not aware of this disease. The main cause of this disease is the lack of calcium and phosphorus in the food we feed the squirrels.
A squirrel in the forest eats a variety of food like ants, insects, eggs, fruits, and leaves. Those foods have the nutrition that squirrels need. That’s why a squirrel in the forest never gets this disease. But pet squirrels that live in houses get a very limited range of food such as baby formula, rice, and yogurt. So they are more likely to be affected by this disease three to four months after birth.
What are the symptoms of a squirrel affected by metabolic bone disease?
* Body tremors
* Numbness of the legs.
* Step aside while walking.
* Trembling legs.
* Constant screaming due to pain in the flesh.
* Loss of appetite.
* Paralysis.
* Sleeping longer than usual.
* Not like to walk, climb trees, or jump.
All or some of these symptoms may be present. The first thing you see when a squirrel walks is that it goes to the side because it does not have proper control of its legs. Squirrels that are critically ill with this disease may even need to be given calcium injections. Therefore, if the above symptoms are present, the best thing to do is to show the squirrel to a qualified veterinarian. The other thing is that not all squirrels with this disease can be cured by treatment. Therefore, it is important that people who keep squirrels as pets know about this common disease among squirrels.
The reason why squirrels get Metabolic bone disease.
Although squirrels are small animals, their calcium needs are very high compared to humans and other animals. When the amount of calcium in the food we give them is not enough, they absorb the amount of calcium needed by their body from their bones. As a result, the bones quickly weaken and the body loses calcium. After that, when the calcium required for other metabolic functions and body functions is lacking, squirrels get this disease. Therefore, the best thing is to prevent the disease before it occurs.
How to prevent Metabolic bone disease in squirrels?
It is much easier to prevent the disease than to treat it after it occurs. This can easily be done by providing suitable food for the squirrel to eat. Let’s see what we should do to prevent this disease.
1). Do not give milk powder from the market to baby squirrels. Give them goat’s milk instead. It is better if you can mix some liquid yogurt with goat milk. But squirrels fed goat’s milk can also rarely get this disease. Therefore, when giving goat milk to a baby squirrel, it is better to mix 2 drops of calcium syrup like Ostocalcium and a multi-vitamin syrup like Zincovit with vitamin D into the goat milk. Do not give these 2 medicines at the same time. Give twice with an interval of more than an hour.
2). Many people feed squirrels food like rice and yogurt. Squirrels eat them with gusto. But it is not suitable to give such food. Because squirrels do not get the nutrition they need from foods like rice and yogurt. The following types of food can be fed to squirrels. These foods contain enough calcium and phosphorus for a squirrel. But don’t give the same food every day. Give a variety of foods.
* Cauliflower
* Pumpkin seeds
* Carrot
* Beet
* Pumpkin
* Beans
* Grona triflora
* Spinach
* Cashew nuts
* Cashew
3). It is better if you mix a little bit of calcium supplement called Vetzyme stress powder with the above food.
4). Also, it would be good if you could give 2 pellets daily. Pellet is a very cheap food. (Pellet is a food that is given to egg-laying hens.)
5). Vitamin D deficiency also affects this disease. Therefore, to stimulate the production of vitamin D in the body, expose the baby squirrel to the sun until around 10 in the morning.
