bald squirrel -- pics!

[kackoff]

I was finally able to snap some pics of my bald baby. Not great shots, but enough to give you the idea (he doesn't stay still and doesn't like to be handled).

You can see, he has fur on his feet, a little on the top of his head, and his tail is kind of scraggly.

This doesn't look like a mite problem to me -- there is no itching, no scabbing or thickening of the skin. And in mite infestations, the head and neck are usually the first places where hair is lost. A skin fungus seems more likely, in which case, I hope he'll outgrow it, but I'm contacting a vet for advice just the same.

There some very fine hair on his body -- VERY fine.

Any ideas?

He is still taking formula -- I offer it 3 or 4 times a day, and he'll take between 3-10 ccs at 2 feedings; the other feedings he takes just 1 cc or so. He is eating on his own -- cucumbers, avocado, sweet potato, broccoli, etc. I also made him rodent block using the recipe on this board, but am certain he actually eats it yet. I'm using the recipe for youngsters with a larger quantity of whey. He is bright and active and boy can he move!

http://mypage.iusb.edu/~kackoff/misc/babysquirrel1.jpg

http://mypage.iusb.edu/~kackoff/misc/babysquirrel2.jpg

He does NOT have spots on his skin -- these are very fine tufts of fur. His skin is clear, and is soft.

Thank you! I want to tell you this board has been great. I'm a newcomer, and this is my only squirrel rescue. I had met a lot of resistance and everyone here has been very generous with information, helping me get this guy, dubbed "Gulliver" for his travels, on a good diet.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

It could be anything to a certain type of mange that you can't see with out a microscope to a nutrition issue.
I would first cut out the sweet potato, cucumbers, and avocado . Try buying a pre-made rodent block. Get him to eat that first before anything. After he consumes the blocks then offer calcium rich veggies. His diet should consist of 80% rodent block and the ingredients need to be extremely accurate, this is why I use pre-made.
Also take out any bedding he is on ( wood chips, carefresh whatever you use if anything) Take out all old blankies etc. Wash them with bleach then wash again with dreft or perfume and dye free hypoallergenic detergent or buy new fleece material. Make sure to wash the entire cage he is in out with bleach and water, rinse well.
Last but not least find a vet or rehabber who can give him a proper dose of ivermectin in case it is mange. Not all mange will show flakey irritated skin. In the second picture though his skin looks dry and flakey.
It could be a fungus as you said , and in that case he needs proper meds or it can kill him.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Awwww, what a sweetie. It looks like your little tyke has balding syndrome. Here is a link to Gabe's (a VERY experienced rehabber) thread for her squirrel with balding syndrome. The cause is unknown but the fur does grow back. Usually about two weeks after they loose all their fur (they always keep the fur on their face, feet, and tail, which is what makes me almost positive your little guy has balding syndrome). I had a red squirrel with balding syndrome this spring/summer and hers took FOREVER to grow back. It was probably 2 months before she got any fur. Unfortunately, she died right before release. Here are the links:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2699&page=2&highlight=noel+bald

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10531&highlight=mouse+balding

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I think your baby is actually a red squirrel too, like mine was :D. At first I thought a grey, but the nose looks like a red and it looks like there is a little black stripe on his side like a red would have. If that is the case, that would explain his small size. You will have your hands full if it is a red, I can remember spending HOURS chasing Mouse around because she was so quick and would dart out everytime I went to give her her food or change the towel.

Hopefully, your little tyke is in the growing his fur back stage since he has little tufts of fur starting. If not, he will lose those tufts and be bald for 2 weeks or so before he gets new fur in. With my red it came back in in little tufts, it was so cute.

[Buddy'sMom]

SR&BT, I was reminded about Noel also -- and went and searched for Gabe's thread, and THEN saw that you already posted about it. :shakehead :D [great minds think alike :thumbsup ]

I hope the fur on your little one comes back soon like Noel's did!

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Does no one else see the red flakeness in this picture even with the green hue color turned way up? I think the squirrel should be checked regardless to ween out other problems before assuming its nothing to worry about.
http://mypage.iusb.edu/~kackoff/misc/babysquirrel2.jpg

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

She said that the squirrels skin is smooth and those are tufts of fur starting to grow back or perhaps (hopefully not though) patches that haven't fallen out yet.

If it were my squirrel, and I am a rehabber, I would just watch it. I wouldn't take the squirrel to the vets or give ivermectin yet. Of course, the squirrel would probably be fully furred by the time I could get it into a vet :shakehead because no vets want to see wildlife even if you have a permit. So, if you do have a vet that will see him, it would be a thought. I am 99% sure it is balding syndrome though.

[ShesASquirrelyGirl]

Tuffs of fur aren't going to be white and flakey though .... I know she said the skin is smooth but I can see the flakes ..
Maybe not take it to a vet but to a rehabber who can examine it in person since we can only see low quality pics here. I am not in disagreement that it could be balding syndrome but none of mine have ever had white flakey skin. I can see the tuffs of fur mentioned but I am referring to the white flakes..
If it is some type of fungus and its just waited out it could kill him. Fungus will also look like this and keep fur on most of the tail but thinner then usual, on the top of the head and paws.
It could be either one, but to be on the safe side since this person is not a rehabber I would have an experienced person look at it in person just in case. JMO

[Loopy Squirrel]

I see what looks like flakes too. If she does have a vet all it would take is a simple skin scraping to start with. She could dose the ivermectin topically which is much safer than orally or injection if the squirrel is compromised.

[kackoff]

Yes, Gulliver's baldness is the same pattern shown in the first link you provided (I cannot access the 2nd link; it says I do not have access privileges).

I hope Gulliver can recover and thrive. He is certainly eating well and is active and bright. The amazing thing about him is that he walked right up to student on campus. He was shivering and bald and cold, and he asked to be picked up! (And he does not like being held.) He knew he needed help. So I hope I can bring him through.





Awwww, what a sweetie. It looks like your little tyke has balding syndrome. Here is a link to Gabe's (a VERY experienced rehabber) thread for her squirrel with balding syndrome. The cause is unknown but the fur does grow back. Usually about two weeks after they loose all their fur (they always keep the fur on their face, feet, and tail, which is what makes me almost positive your little guy has balding syndrome). I had a red squirrel with balding syndrome this spring/summer and hers took FOREVER to grow back. It was probably 2 months before she got any fur. Unfortunately, she died right before release. Here are the links:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2699&page=2&highlight=noel+bald

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10531&highlight=mouse+balding

[kackoff]

The green hue was not adjusted -- that's simply a reflection in the glass. I had him in an aquarium while taking the pictures. No flakes - those are tiny tufts of grey fur -- undercoat, I assume. I looked under magnification.

If I see no improvement, or his condition worsens, I will have him checked out.


Does no one else see the red flakeness in this picture even with the green hue color turned way up? I think the squirrel should be checked regardless to ween out other problems before assuming its nothing to worry about.

[digiandchipper]

Gulliver is precious and I hope to read good news on his progress:grouphug

[kackoff]

By George, I think you've got it!

Gulliver has a definite coppery red cast over the back of his head and over his shoulders, with just a hint of red on his back and rump. So he must be getting some fur in, albeit, more like peach fuzz at the moment. But peach fuzz all the same!

He still takes a little formula, but eats on his own quite a bit. I have a Nekton calcium diphosphate supplement I use for my birds, and I take just a pinch and sprinkle it over Gulliver's fresh foods. He also gets his home-made squirrel block, mashed monkey biscuits, avocado, etc., etc. He seems to be thriving.

And yes, he seems to be a little red squirrel. What they refer to as "piney squirrels" around here, I think.

Who knew?

K




I think your baby is actually a red squirrel too, like mine was :D. At first I thought a grey, but the nose looks like a red and it looks like there is a little black stripe on his side like a red would have. If that is the case, that would explain his small size. You will have your hands full if it is a red, I can remember spending HOURS chasing Mouse around because she was so quick and would dart out everytime I went to give her her food or change the towel.

Hopefully, your little tyke is in the growing his fur back stage since he has little tufts of fur starting. If not, he will lose those tufts and be bald for 2 weeks or so before he gets new fur in. With my red it came back in in little tufts, it was so cute.

[IU Squirrel Crew]

Hi, last month I got a squirrel just like this. I thought she might have mites, even though I saw no itching or thick skin, I was grasping at straws. Someone on this board told me to get Dawn dish liquid, blue original. I did this, gave her one bath (she did not like it) and waited to see what would happen. She is now lightly white furred on her belly with dark hair now being seen on her back and tail. She never lost the hair on her feet or head. I don't know if this was a cure or if it was just time for her to get her fur back, whichever I will probably always think it was the Dawn. Good luck, he's sure a cutey.

[island rehabber]

Dawn is excellent for removing fleas, ticks and mites from even very young animals. As most of you probably know, it is used to clean oiled birds and wildlife by the most experienced and knowledgeable experts on the planet, so it must be OK. The thing is, it's not a repellant; it does not prevent re-infestation. That's where the more specific products are needed like Sevin dust or Zodiac Kitten spray. :thumbsup