I think my new baby has mites??

[IU Squirrel Crew]

Just received a baby that I estimate to be 6-7 weeks old. It has gotten cold here in Indiana and she was found on the ground almost dead. Good folks warmed her up and brought her to us. The problem is she has lost almost all her hair. She still has hair on her head and down her back , tail is almost bare. I can, if I look with a magnifier, see a powder looking areas around the tufts of what hair remains. I can't see anything moving. Is this mites and if so what can I do for her. She is very active, eyes open and eating well. Thanks for your help.

[TexanSquirrel]

:Welcome

I'm sure an experienced rehabber will be on before too long to help you out!

[foxsquirrels]

If you have some plain blue Dawn dishwashing soap you can give him a bath. Use a few drops of the Dawn, soap him up good, rinse him and dry him really good. Be sure to keep him warm until he dries completely. This will take care of any mites or squirrel fleas he might have.:) :)

[IU Squirrel Crew]

I don't have any, but will soon have some after the trip to town. He doesn't seem to have been scratching, just lost a lot of hair. He is very vocal when I pick him up to feed him and found out he will eat tomato already. Will get him other vegs also.
The folks that brought him to me said there was a second one that had already expired and it's coat looked just like this one so my first thought was mites.
Thanks so much for your response and I will sure give this a try.

[kackoff]

I have a baby squirrel maybe about the same age as you... also hairless... also in Indiana.

Though mine has no white powder-looking areas. A friend of mine sent me this link:

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/wildlife/newsletter/may05.html

I figure my guy is about 8-9 weeks also (I've had him just over a week), his eyes are wide open and he is active and is eating more and more on his own. He has a little hair on his chin and tail, but is otherwise without hair. My vet also told me it might be a virus -- a squirrel variety of paramyxo. I can't find any good information on this virus. I'm working on getting my guy on a good diet, and then will take him to a vet for a skin scraping.

The good news is that if it is a fungus (see article at the link above) or if it is non-sarcoptic mange, they can grow out of it. But I plan to see the vet when my guy is a little older just the same.

K

[IU Squirrel Crew]

This is really strange. I have raised several squirrels plus live in a woods and we are constantly surrounded by squirrels. I have never seen this before. The reason I thought of mites is that a few years ago we saw a cardinal with no feathers on it's head. After much searching a research university sent a note saying that the loss of feathers was due to a mite infestation and that the feathers will grow back.
This was the only thing I could come up with since my vet is not open on Sunday, I will call them in the morning and see what they think. I will post an answer when I find out. Thanks for your input.
What part of Indiana are you in. I am located about an hour from Fort Wayne.

[kackoff]

I'm in South Bend. I am very new to all of this -- dealing with a hairless baby, maybe a little older than what you have. So please understand I'm not an expert and am inexperienced with squirrels.

However, I can tell you that there are 2 different kinds of mange. Sarcoptic mange is contagious and the animal (or person) itches and scabs develop. Sarcoptic mange needs to be treated. Demodectic mange is generally not contagious, and my vet explains it as a "window in the immune system". Pups, for example, can get demodectic mange and they do outgrow it (but may not always). Demodectic mange does not itch. Both can be treated.

People on this board, however, have warned me against treating a very young squirrel, so I'm holding off on treating my baby for a while.

If the baldness is caused by a fungus, then the hairs have broken off. The squirrel must first shed the hair follicles before new growth can appear. So it may take a while.

This is just my take on things -- please do check with your vet. I'm just gathering information myself.

K






This is really strange. I have raised several squirrels plus live in a woods and we are constantly surrounded by squirrels. I have never seen this before. The reason I thought of mites is that a few years ago we saw a cardinal with no feathers on it's head. After much searching a research university sent a note saying that the loss of feathers was due to a mite infestation and that the feathers will grow back.
This was the only thing I could come up with since my vet is not open on Sunday, I will call them in the morning and see what they think. I will post an answer when I find out. Thanks for your input.
What part of Indiana are you in. I am located about an hour from Fort Wayne.

[IU Squirrel Crew]

Yes, I agree about the mange. I recued a fox that was so debilitated from the mange that the vet and I could not save him. He had scabbing and sores all over him. I would have liked for the folks to have called me a couple days earlier to have given me a better chance.
My little girl does not have any scabbing or thick dark skin so I don't feel she is contagious. I do think she will come out of it and be absolutely gorgeous by spring. My problem is that my fall squirrels have not vacated the squirrel house and I have to keep her inside until they do. As I have not seen them packing their bags I fear they want to stay through the winter, which normally would be OK with me but right now I could use that pen for her. My husband tells me I put out too much food for them to want to leave so maybe if I cut back they will go to the woods and find new dwellings.
Thanks again for your reply and good luck.

[kackoff]

My problem is that my fall squirrels have not vacated the squirrel house and I have to keep her inside until they do.

If she has no fur, she may need to winter indoors any way.

My guy is quite small, still, and we're working on weaning. I have a wire cage about the size of guinea pig cage, which will be his "inbetween" cage, and then I'll probably buy a kitty condo cage for his indoor, winter cage. In the spring the cage can be wheeled outdoors, and we can begin a gradual release process, as long as he gets his coat in by then.

What is your squirrel house like?