What is Metabolic Bone Disease?

What is Metabolic Bone Disease?

MBD is a calcium deficiency caused by a lack of calcium in the diet.

Why is Calcium Deficiency So Deadly in Squirrels?

Calcium does more than build strong bones; it also plays a vital role in all body functions. Every cell in your body contains water and small amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals allow the cells to transmit small electrical signals. Without this cell-to-cell communication, organs can't function: your heart can't beat, your nerves can't transmit impulses; in fact, you would die.

When there isn't enough calcium in your squirrel's diet, their body will dissolve the calcium in their bones and use that instead. This eventually causes the bones to become depleted of calcium. Eventually, there isn't enough calcium left to maintain sufficient calcium in the cellular fluids and the organs can't function properly. This is what causes the symptoms of MBD: loss of appetite, lethargy, muscle pain, paralysis, seizures, and eventually death. Humans and most other animals don't get this type of severe MBD because their calcium requirement is lower and their bones are bigger, allowing them to store more calcium.