Bailey is not well..possible MBD

[jennyb]

Bailey is very lethargic, sleepy, has lost some fur i noticed the fur loss a few weeks ago but just thought it was molt, he hasn't eaten, he urinated ok he seems abit dyhydrated and his claws were getting caught in my clothes. This is what happened with Pearl and makes me think MBD. Bailey is a picky eater so maybe he hasn't been getting enough calcium, anyway i am hydrating him every 15 -30
 minutes and giving him liquid calcium (nutrobal mixed with warm water). He has been taking some but i think i need advice of how often i should do this and how much at the time. I'm worried. I made him a rice buddy and he has a hot water bottle to keep him warm as with MBD they can't regulate their temperature very well plus it is good for the pain. I feel terrible about this Bailey is only the second MBD Chippie i've had and Pearl she came to me with the disease but Bailey was perfectly healthy when i got him so this would be something i've done wrong which makes me feel terrible.

The outdoor Chippies are all getting sunlight but the indoor ones haven't seen sunlight for months now, they always have cuttlefish bones and mineral blocks but rarely touch them. I put cuttlefish powder over their food weekly to make sure they all get it but maybe once a week isn't enough. Bailey only really eats oranges, tomatoes and grapes, he also picks at his Chipmunk food some bits he never eats, he is a picky eater my other Chipmunks are less fussy.

I haven't seen any seizuring so i'm hoping this is in the early stage and he will get better.
I have a pic of me feeding him to make sure i am doing it right.

Bailey needs lots of prayers, thanks

[Sarah-Jane]

Oh Jenny! I am so sorry to hear your little man is poorly, make sure your washing your hands after handling him, just incase, your feeding him correctly upright and watch his nose! X is this the male your trying to breed with? Maybe if it is here lies, your answer?! X when did this all start?! X

[ilovechips]

Im sorry Jen  I really hope he recovers. Come on Bailey lad, hang in there

[jennyb]

Oh Jenny! I am so sorry to hear your little man is poorly, make sure your washing your hands after handling him, just incase, your feeding him correctly upright and watch his nose! X is this the male your trying to breed with? Maybe if it is here lies, your answer?! X when did this all start?! X

Hi Sarah, thanks for your prayers. Yes i'll wash my hands. Glad i'm feeding him fine i was never sure i did it right with Pearl and Hazel. Bailey is swallowing whereas Hazel and Pearl were not i think those two were really too far gone. I'll be careful i don't get anything up his nose. Yes he is the male i tried to breed i feel bad about that now. The fur loss happened a few weeks ago it is on his rump area but he was still active but last few days he seemed less active but still was eating and drinking but today he was just sleepy all the time,  he wasn't interested in the food i gave him and i haven't seen him drink. And when i got him out the cage he was burrowing into my clothes and getting his back claws stuck. I guess the fur loss was a sign things weren't right but i didn't think of that as something wrong but that must of said he was low on calcium.

[Marci]

Jenny -

See my post on TSB.  I wrote a book full of advice.  Did you contact Martin?

Marci

[Sarah-Jane]

  that maybe why he didn't produce then, I am not o' fey with this whole "mbd" I think sometimes, it can be it and sometimes maybe it can seem it's that and not, I would carry on with making sure he gets plenty of fluids, maybe try a little yogurt? ! I do hope the little guy pulls through for you, one of my females had the hair loss, but nothing else apart from a change in her behaviour, slightly sad I however was given by my vet a "pick me up" which entailed me squirting, a mix of antibiotics and extra minerals, plus a vitiamin pack. This work really well and within a week she had her tummy fur back and she had her normal stroppy mood. Maybe phone and ask for there opinion an go from there? ..... Fingers cross sweetpea! 

[jennyb]

Jenny -

See my post on TSB.  I wrote a book full of advice.  Did you contact Martin?

Marci 
 

Thanks Marci i replied on TSB the info you gave was great very helpful.  I haven't spoken to Martyn since beginning of the week i think but i did tell Dayle (his breeder) about him.

that maybe why he didn't produce then, I am not o' fey with this whole "mbd" I think sometimes, it can be it and sometimes maybe it can seem it's that and not, I would carry on with making sure he gets plenty of fluids, maybe try a little yogurt? ! I do hope the little guy pulls through for you, one of my females had the hair loss, but nothing else apart from a change in her behaviour, slightly sad I however was given by my vet a "pick me up" which entailed me squirting, a mix of antibiotics and extra minerals, plus a vitiamin pack. This work really well and within a week she had her tummy fur back and she had her normal stroppy mood. Maybe phone and ask for there opinion an go from there? ..... Fingers cross sweetpea! 

Yes i am giving him fluids, gave him some raspberry yoghurt he didn't have much so will try another flavour, he also has oranges and grapes he did eat some of the grape thats the first thing i've seen him eat today before the yighurt. Glad your female is better its always worrying when something isn't right with them.

[Marci]

I however was given by my vet a "pick me up" which entailed me squirting, a mix of antibiotics and extra minerals, plus a vitiamin pack.

Sarah Jane

Can you please provide more specific information regarding the Antibiotic mix, which extra minerals, and the vitamin pack?

The specifics will help both Buddy and Bailey get thru their ailments.

Thanks!! 

Marci

[pinkpill]

aw so sorry jenny, i'v no experience with this but i hope he gets better soon  is fur loss an early sign of this mbd then? i'v only ever experienced hair loss with 1 of my hamsters, and she went totally bald in the end, but she was well in every other way so i'm sure it couldnt of been a sort of mbd.  mine all have cuttlefish in their cages and i see all of them at sometime or other chew on it.
dont know if it will help or not, but try him with a dairylea triangle and even mixed a bit of calcium in with it being soft cheese 
hope he's well soon 

[jennyb]

aw so sorry jenny, i'v no experience with this but i hope he gets better soon  is fur loss an early sign of this mbd then? i'v only ever experienced hair loss with 1 of my hamsters, and she went totally bald in the end, but she was well in every other way so i'm sure it couldnt of been a sort of mbd.  mine all have cuttlefish in their cages and i see all of them at sometime or other chew on it.
dont know if it will help or not, but try him with a dairylea triangle and even mixed a bit of calcium in with it being soft cheese 
hope he's well soon 

Thanks Pinkpill,

Fur loss can be a sign of MBD, with Bailey his fur looks good apart from a few patches where the undercoat is showing, Pearl's fur looked very rough so maybe fur loss varies.

I've only heard of one case of MBD in Hamsters and it was a rescued Hamster who had been neglected and kept in a cage he couldn't turn around in it was so tiny, the Hammie recovered from MBD he also had cage paralysis but sadly he then got cancer. I'm not sure what caused your Hamster's fur loss i've never seen an MBD Squirrel lose all its fur so quite sure your Hammie didn't have MBD.  Mine rarely touch the cuttlefish bones, its only the oldest Chippies or pregnant ones i've seen eat it. Never seen Bailey eat any. The Dairylea triangle  is a great idea the Chippies have never had them but i'll try one with Bailey thanks.

[jennyb]

I managed to get the recommended dose of calcium into him, i fed him every half hour through the night and morning. The last four doses were really difficult because he struggled so much. I have seen him drink from his water bottle which he didn't do previously and when i had him out he was trying to get away from me and trying to climb up my arm so was more alert than before. He is sleeping at the moment.

[Marci]

Pinkpill also made me feel better when he/she  provided a photo of the HAPPY hairless hammy.  I have also talked to one of my local squirrel rehabbers and she said she has seen squirrels with missing patches of fur that were not caused by mange or mites, and  that it grows back.  They all recommended the autoimmune boost for cats and dogs like the Vetri DMG. 

I can see fine fur hairs where buddy is missing fur but he is also losing fur in some other places.  I have also read that missing fur could be an autoimmune issue or a change in the hormones.  How old is Bailey?

Marci

[regclub]

Hi there,
very sorry to hear about your chipmunk Bailey. In order for calcium to absorbed in the body of the chipmunk effectively feeding potassium first is helpful as it assists by helping the body absorb the calcuim better. Potassium is found in banana so you could try banana and then a little plain yogurt or mild chedar cheese.
Wishing much success with bailey.

[jennyb]

Pinkpill also made me feel better when he/she  provided a photo of the HAPPY hairless hammy.  I have also talked to one of my local squirrel rehabbers and she said she has seen squirrels with missing patches of fur that were not caused by mange or mites, and  that it grows back.  They all recommended the autoimmune boost for cats and dogs like the Vetri DMG. 

I can see fine fur hairs where buddy is missing fur but he is also losing fur in some other places.  I have also read that missing fur could be an autoimmune issue or a change in the hormones.  How old is Bailey?

Marci

Thanks for the info. Bailey is nearly 2 years old

Hi there,
very sorry to hear about your chipmunk Bailey. In order for calcium to absorbed in the body of the chipmunk effectively feeding potassium first is helpful as it assists by helping the body absorb the calcuim better. Potassium is found in banana so you could try banana and then a little plain yogurt or mild chedar cheese.
Wishing much success with bailey

Thanks i haven't heard about potassium being useful in absorbing calcium. Thanks i am going to try the banana and a piece of cheese he has already been having yoghurt. He ate a bit earlier but i am having to syringe feed him he is just not eating enough by himself but even then he isn't taking much at all and he is more lethargic again he had perked up.

[Marci]

Jennifer -

Hang in there, they are tough little creatures and I think you caught what ever is ailing Bailey early enough.  buddy was pretty lethargic for almost a month.  Even yesterday he was mellow all day and today he was extremely active (and aggressive, unfortuneately). 

Go back and read my Buddy just threw up Blood thread on TSB, it takes a long time and people will encourage the both of you to "keep on keeping on."   there was a point that if buddy did not improve, I was going to put him to sleep.  1.5 days before I was going to make my decision is when he rallied and I could tell he was over the hump.  That took two weeks, and then there was two weeks of him mostly acting lethargic with a few days sprinkled in between where he was active and aggressive.  As long as I saw slight improvement, I thought there was hope.

Now I have to go away for a business trip every week for the next couple weeks and I had to hire a pet sitter since I don't think he is completely out of the woods yet. 

If you are that concerned and you see his weight continue to drop, then take him to a vet.  Maybe he may need antibiotics. 

Don't give up, we are rooting for both of you.   

Marci, Ed and Buddy!