Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Help! My squirrels have mange.

  1. #1
    Minkie Guest

    Default Help! My squirrels have mange.

    A few weeks ago I noticed that one of the squirrels in my yard had a bald spot. I have since noticed that about 4 of them are losing fur, some of them very significantly. One has a sore on it's bald spot. Based on info from this site and pictures I have come to the conclusion that it is mange. There are still squirrels that are unaffected as well.

    What can I do to help my little friends? I have feeders out for the squirrels and birds. Can I continue to feed them?

    I have been reading about Ivermectin and Revolution. Which is the best option? How can I give it to them?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. My heart breaks for the ailing ones.

    Thank you very much in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
    Posts
    51,452
    Thanked: 17932

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    hi Minkie -- thank you for caring about these poor squirrels. As Gammas said above, ivermectin is the 'tried and true' method for treating mange. However, IF you can get your hands on Revolution in a cat dosage, the latest news in wildlife medicine is that Revolution is better to use than ivermectin, which is very strong and easy to overdose. Let us know which med is available to you, and we'll try to help either way.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  3. #3
    Minkie Guest

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    Thank you both so very much - I will be in touch the minute I get my hands on either medication.

    In the meantime, is it OK to continue to put out the feeders? I'm not sure if that is a way to transmit mange to other squirrels.

    Thank you again!!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    6,718
    Thanked: 78

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    Hi.....Are you sure they all have mange? The squirrels are molting their longer winter coat...the summer coat is much shorter and will make a squirrel look patchy.....Also the one with the red skin spot could be a mating trophy...I'm not saying they don't have mange just throwing out other possibilities........Do you see them scratching insessivly? If there is any way you post pictures of your squirrels, It would really help to determine what's going on.......Thank you for caring for these babies.....
    To all my babies past and present..
    Thank you for showing me how to love
    and be loved unconditionally....
    RIP Timothy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    100 Acre Woods
    Posts
    7,105
    Thanked: 3

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    I have been experiencing the same kind of problem, I am worried, very worried. I had a hard time getting ivermectin where I live, but I have ordered it and await it's arrival to post new squirrel photos, pictures of the ivermectin and await good loving instructions for the very wonderful people on TSB. Please post pictures if you can. My thread on this is http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=16075

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    City Island, Bronx, NY
    Posts
    51,452
    Thanked: 17932

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    Pointy Tale and Minkie, Gammas just pointed out something to me and I need to correct my post above. Revolution can only be administered topically, drop between the shoulder blades the way you would use Frontline, for example. It cannot be given orally. So....the feasibility of giving Revolution to wild squirrels is not good. Unless you can get close enough to put that little capsule drop between their shoulders without losing a finger, Revolution is not what you need. For a wild populace, stick with the ivermectin and the math wizards here at TSB (NOT me!) will help you correctly dose individual treats to give to your yard buddies.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  7. #7
    Minkie Guest

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    Aha - a very good point indeed! I have been calling around this afternoon and found an animal supply nearby that has Ivermectin. I'm hoping to make it there today, but might not get there till tomorrow. I will post all the info on what I purchase as soon as I have it so we can figure out dosage.

    I've been trying to get pictures this afternoon of some of the afflicted little buddies but it seems that only the healthy ones have been at the feeders lately. I will keep trying though.

    I really appreciate everyone's help!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    toronto area
    Posts
    7,562
    Thanked: 8

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    hi: please don't panic.

    i've had the same problem over the past few weeks and it was not mange!! just shedding.

    i'll post pictures later.

    i know that it wasn't mange because my squirrel comes up very close to me and her fur is growing back nicely.

    Experienced squirrel people couldn't be sure that she had mange and i'm glad i didn't dose her because 1. she's getting better BUT 2. she's pregnant.

    Mange doesn't kill them overnight but overdosing with medication might.

    i'm just trying to tell you both to relax and to tell you that you have time - there's no need to panic even if they do have mange.

    The one thing that i'm starting to think about mange is the crustiness - the skin is sore and crusty not smooth. (at least for normal mange and not something else which could be balding disease)

    As for transmitting to other squirrels - ? one biologist thought that maybe they all have some but their immune system fights it.

    anyway, her name is dana kremples and here is the link ... you've probably already seen it.

    all the best.

    Silvana..

    *************************************

    tip for flyer parents.... Flying Squirrels need meat every single day (mealworms/waxworms/cooked chicken breast)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    toronto area
    Posts
    7,562
    Thanked: 8

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    you can do a search on Tiny Paws threads and mine ... i've got some photos from a few weeks back on mine.

    just trying to say that tinypaws and me have been worrying about this for the past couple of weeks and so some questions that you have, might have been answered on one of our threads...

    all the best.

    Silvana..

    *************************************

    tip for flyer parents.... Flying Squirrels need meat every single day (mealworms/waxworms/cooked chicken breast)

  10. #10
    ajaris Guest

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    does my little friend has mange? it seems like he is growing the hair back but still looks weird. here is a pic:

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Northeast
    Posts
    20,012
    Thanked: 9440

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    That isn't mange - it is a scruffy molt. Mange will show up as crusty looking red sores in the areas where the fur is thin.

  12. #12
    ajaris Guest

    Default Re: Help! My squirrels have mange.

    Thanks for your answer, have a lot of squierrels and he is the only one with that, Glad it is not mange since he is most friendly of them all.

Members who have read this thread: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •