Calcium

[Sunflower]

I have a friend who rehabs squirrels and she's looking for a good calcium source that doesn't have to be put in water.  Her squirrels all drink from bowls and she changes the water daily, so she feels much of it would be wasted.  She does provide antlers and has a mineral block that some of them share when they are in the transition cage, but do you have any other suggestions?  She lost a little one to MBD a while back and I fear her babies do not get enough calcium.  Pretty much their only source is the antlers and she does feed 'some' healthy veggies.  She has 16 of them, so it can't be something that requires hand feeding.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

[sqrlady]

I recommend this calcium and the potassium, magnesium made by the same company.  Cal-Quick by Twin Labs and Potassium Magnesium by Twin Labs.  Here  is the link that I use to purchase them:

Here is the place I get the cal quick 

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?ss=1&Ntk=products&x=0&y=0&Ntt=calquick

Here is the potassium and magnesium

http://www.vitacost.com/Twinlab-Liqui-K-Plus-Liquid-Potassium-Magnesium

[Charley Chuckles]

I did get that and have been giving it to Charley daily....is that what I should be doing (daily  ) I have been taking it too  good stuff

[Sunflower]

Thanks Squirrellady!

[sqrlady]

Yes, daily is good.  Squirrels need huge amounts of calcium in their diets so I always recommend it be supplemented in some form.  I prefer this method but other people choose other ways of getting calcium into their friend's diets.

[Sunflower]

Yes, daily is good.  Squirrels need huge amounts of calcium in their diets so I always recommend it be supplemented in some form.  I prefer this method but other people choose other ways of getting calcium into their friend's diets.

Do you have a recommended daily dosage of calcium? 

[sqrlady]

Yes, rodents in general require a lot of calcium.  All of us need daily calcium either through the foods we eat or a supplement and since squirrel require so much calcium I recommend a supplement as well as a good diet. 

[Charley Chuckles]

I know I have asked this before but just checking again....I got both that you recommended, can I just use an eye dropper and put one drop each in a small bottle cap/like one off a water bottel that is what he drinks out of when I carry him around, or do I need to add more water 

[sqrlady]

So long as he gets some each day it should be fine.  I believe we figured out one time that it would only take a drop or two a day if you were not putting it into a lot of water. 

[Charley Chuckles]

I guess I was more worried that I was over doing it...but if I only use one drop each in a cap of water/or alone that would not be to much   

[sqrlady]

We all need calcium in our diet every day so a drop or two should not be too much.  If you look at the directions for people it says to take it daily and squirrels need more calcium than humans do from what I have seen. 

[Charley Chuckles]

wow   I went back to mixing the quick-cal/magnesium/verti-  DMG/immune booster in about 2 ounces of water I use about 2 drops of each, store it in a container in the fridge, then give him about a capfull a day...I believe he should be getting a good amount then....and I see him take it all too so I know he is drinking it.......what do you think  

[sqrlady]

As long as he is taking it all every day I think it is fine. 

[Charley Chuckles]