New baby (3wks) possible mange

[Jules_]

Hi all, first time posting here. I read some of the other forums to familiarize myself and think I'm in the right place.

I might have a new baby with mange, need advice or pictures to look at so I can compare.

We've just started helping a friend rehab grey tree squirrels. Our first two were 'early' babies and are now already 7 weeks old and doing fabulous. The second one we got didn't make it, he had been punctured by a cat's bite and probably had an infection or internal injuries on top of the people keeping him in a cold box too long before finding help.

Our latest arrival is another male, we've had him for a week, he was only about 2wks when we got him but he appeared perfectly healthy in every way for barely out of pinkie stage. Not really knowing if it was safe or not, we put him in with the other two to stay warm and they seemed ok with him. Heating pad underneath the box.

After a few days he developed some tiny scabs under one ear, one arm and one leg all on one side. They were reddish at first then dried skin around that before a scab developed. It happened really quickly. I suspected maybe the bottom of the box got too hot from the heating pad since he had very little hair at that point, but we don't think that's the problem.

Now, I've taken him back out from the other two as they've been moved to a bigger cage with climbing room and a nestbox going on 8 weeks. The little baby is by himself in box with heating pad. The rash or scaley skin looks better after a few more days but I'm still not sure if it's mange or not.

Two questions:

1. Can he have transmitted the mange mites to my older two via contact in the sleeping box within the 3 or 4 days they were together? If so, should I treat them or wait to see if they develop symptoms?

2. Is it safe to treat a very young infant for mange with Ivermectin or Revolution? Again, he's only 3wks old or so.

Thanks for the help!

Jules

[Jules_]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

No, I will not treat any of the babies until told to do so, and we've notified the licensed rehabber we're working under as she will provide the medicine if needed. She lives a bit far out (which is why we're helping being more local to the city people who find orphaned squirrels in town) so its hard to have her diagnose anything over the phone.

I will take some pictures of his dried skin and post them here today so you can see and give more feedback.

Answers to your other questions:

Yes, he's on Esbilac with 3cc syringe as directed by our rehabber, same as we give the older ones, he eats well and is thriving/growing over the last week we've had him. Stools are fine as well. Does not appear sick or weak in any way.

He's on the same bedding as the others, which when they were newborn was clean washed cloth baby diapers which we do not bleach or use scented detergents when washing. We put a cloth diaper in the bottom of the little box, which sits on top of the heating pad, so I don't think he had direct with too much heat as we never put the pad directly under him or in the box.

Thanks for the link I'll check out the pictures and see if his looks similar. It really looks a lot better today and yesterday and I don't want to treat him until he's older as I do understand the medications are harsh.