Mange in South Dakota

[SusanH]

Mange is affecting the squirrels in my neighborhood. There is one particular squirrel who has become a frequent visitor to my bird feeders. She has been showing signs of mange for the past couple of weeks. I would like to treat her because she is tame enough that I can feed her a peanut and I am confident I could give her medication without it being accidentally eaten by a bird or other backyard visitor. I live in a small farm town and the local vet said they would give me some Ivermectin. They have the liquid cattle solution that is concentrated at 1 percent. Is there someone here who can assist me with determining the dose for a squirrel?

[Pointy Tale]

Hi I am not a rehabber, I think one will be on soon. Do you have a picture to show them so they can confirm it is mange? If it is mange it is treatable, but I will let the experts tell you how, OK? You are in good hands.

[SusanH]

I haven't been able to get a picture of her. I've looked through the pictures posted on this board and she looks like those that are labeled mange.

[luvs squirrels]

I know rippie-n-lilgirlsmom has used it and she's a licensed rehabber. I also know that it is a very powerful medicine and must be used with extreme caution or it could hurt the squirrel. They say that all it takes is a pin drop. Maybe you could send rippie an PM. It would really be helpful if you could get a picture though, just to make sure.

The fact that you would be able to make sure she is the one that gets the medication is great.

Best of luck

:grouphug

[Pointy Tale]

Oh, okay. I am still sure a rehabber will be able to help you, but in the meantime, maybe you could see if you can grab a photo.

Not to bore you, but again, I am not a rehabber, and the only reason I am saying that is because I thought I had mange here a few times and after the photographing it was determined not be mange, which was a relief, by the way.

Wishing you well, and I'm sure a rehabber will be here soon to ask you the specifi questions and stuff that I don't know. Good luck.

[SusanH]

The squirrel in my yard looks like the one pictured in the photos posted by JLM27 on 4/18/2008 in the Treating Mange in the Wild thread that's part of the Specific Ailment Information category under Help Needed.

[Pointy Tale]

I was just looking at that thread. I see. Let me see if I can see if anyone can help you. Hold on OK?

[longshotgamble]

Hi. Just got home and saw this post.
If I remember right the dosage is one drop of liquid Imervecin (sp) on a pecan or walnut for a 1 lb squirrel. IR should be along to verify, but that does sound right to me.

[luvs squirrels]

This is the information Rippie had given for the mange and where to get it. From what I've heard, there are different types of this medicine and it is crucial that you get the correct one since these squirrels are so small.

http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/1561/ivermectin-25-ml.htm
Here it is at chris's you will need a needle with a syringe to get a proper dose.
Your going to put a pinhead size drop on a pecan, and that will help him. The amount is very very tiny.
Ivermectin is very potent medication!!
There is probably enough in that bottle to treat hundreds of squirrels.
It has an oily base so it will stick to a nut.

[Pointy Tale]

Hi Susan, I'm sorry I was not back on sooner, but I was offline until now, dealing with bit of a crisis.

Have you been able to identify a photo of your squirrel with the problem other than what has been shown on this board? This would be very helpful to the rehabbers, as mange can be treated successfully, but it if the medicine is given to a health squirrel or in the wrong dose, I think it can be deadly.

I'm not sure if I told you, but I am Not a rehabber. Will try to see if someone can help you, OK? Everyone on this board is great, so pleae just hang tight OK. We are here for you, so please just hang tight.

Again, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Hi all! Can someone let SusanH know about the dosing or not for the possible treatment of mange?

[4skwerlz]

The fear of overdosing Ivermectin is somewhat exaggerated IMO. It is actually relatively nontoxic and is not processed by the liver, but primarily excreted by the kidneys (peed out). This means there is little danger of liver damage. Of course you do want to try to dose it correctly, and not be careless, just like with any medicine.

I have used horse wormer to dose my wild squirrels. I used to dose each squirrel once a year, since it will take care of many of the parasites squirrels commonly carry.

With the horse wormer, a pinhead-sized drop on a nut seems to do the trick. It is then repeated 7-10 days later. I have treated mangey wilds this way and it works very well.

There are ways to do it more precisely, once you know what percentage Ivermectin you have, by diluting and measuring. One of the rehabbers here can help you figure the dose this way. But I wouldn't wait as mange is very debilitating.

[SusanH]

OK, I did manage to get some pictures of the squirrel in question this morning. Please let me know what you think.


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[SusanH]

The Ivermectin from the local veterinarian is a 1 percent solution. Is one drop from a syringe going to be OK?

[Pointy Tale]

Hi! I just saw your pictures. I will see if a rehabber is here to help you, OK.
Hang tight if you're on. Are you on?

[Pointy Tale]

OK, I did manage to get some pictures of the squirrel in question this morning. Please let me know what you think.


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SusanH, I am so sorry these little guys are suffering. Please hang tight. A rehabber will be able to help you. OK. I see that you already have the Ivermectin... Do you want to post a picture of the kind you are using in the meantime, so that they can see that too? I'm sorry to pester you, but I do not know how to dose and don't want to give you the wrong information.

Please hang tight. The rehabbers can help you.

[SusanH]

I am here. I'll be monitoring the board for a couple of hours if someone can help me.

[Pointy Tale]

Hi there, just letting you know I am back. Let me see if anyone is on to help you. hold on please

[SusanH]

I am still here, too.

[Pointy Tale]

Hi Susan, I just came back. I'm sorry, I'm dealing with a fox crisis myself, long story.

I am Not a rehabber, so I do not want to give you bad advice. I have heard that the dosing of Ivermectin would be something like A PIN-HEAD SIZED on a nut or peanut.

I am sure a rehabber will be here for you soon. I'm so sorry you are going through this.

[Pointy Tale]

Susan I do not see any rehabbers on line right now, I will keep checking for and with you.

[Pointy Tale]

I'm still here and I am looking for a rehabber for you.

[Pointy Tale]

Susan, I am terribly sorry, I want to help you, but I am not qualified to give professional medical advice. I can give you my personal opinion, if you like, but you must know that I am not a professional.

[Pointy Tale]

This is the information Rippie had given for the mange and where to get it. From what I've heard, there are different types of this medicine and it is crucial that you get the correct one since these squirrels are so small.

http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/product/1561/ivermectin-25-ml.htm
Here it is at chris's you will need a needle with a syringe to get a proper dose.
Your going to put a pinhead size drop on a pecan, and that will help him. The amount is very very tiny.
Ivermectin is very potent medication!!
There is probably enough in that bottle to treat hundreds of squirrels.
It has an oily base so it will stick to a nut.


Susan, luvs squirrels gave you very good information/advice. I probably would say the same, but again I am not a rehabber. I also noticed that this information was pulled from advice from a rehabber, rippie-n-lilgirlsmom, would you like me to PM her for you? To ask for review of your case?

Is your Ivermectin liquid or paste? I think it doesn't matter, just asking.

[Pointy Tale]

Susan, I have PM'd Rippie (since her name was previously mentioned in this thread) and You. I hope that this information can and will help you and your special friends. I can see how much you love them and want to help.

Wishing you all the best,
Please hang tight, OK.

[SusanH]

The Ivermectin from the local vet is a clear liquid 1 percent solution.

I would just appreciate it if someone could look at the pictures I posted today, confirm whether or not it's mange and let me know if 1 drop is an appropriate dose.

Thank you for your help.

[4skwerlz]

Definitely looks like mange to me, and I've seen quite a bit.

A pinhead-sized drop of the 1% on a nut sounds about right, unless there are different directions on the label.

I'd do it today.

Then repeat in 7-10 days.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

Hello I'm here!! I will pm you the info! Ivermectin is very potent and will kill! We have had 2 cases come on here that they overdosed with the ivermectin, and they squirrels did not live.
Its not a medication to fool around with.
Can you get a syringe with a needle?
I have pm'd Susan with the information and my phone # to call anytime for help with dosing.

[SusanH]

Thanks to Pointy Tale, 4skwerlz and rippie-n-lilgirlsmom for your help.

When I went outside this morning, the squirrel was not around. So, I called out, "Who wants a peanut?" because that's what I say whenever he is in the yard in the bird feeder tree. Amazingly, just a few moments after I started yelling about peanuts, I saw the mangy little fellow running across the yard. He climbed the usual tree and then took the peanut I had medicated out of my hand. He has never allowed me to hand feed him before. I'd mixed one drop of the Ivermectin from the syringe into some peanut butter and stuffed that in an unsalted peanut shell. He ate it all up. I wrestled with my conscience for several days over whether to pursue this because I don't think I should be messing around with Mother Nature. However, this squirrel seems to want my help. I hope I'm not too late. He has been getting progressively more bald. Please send good thoughts for the little guy.

[Lady Squirrelly]

Thank you for helping this little one.:grouphug

[Pointy Tale]

Susan, I am so happy for you. Your little guy has my prayers and good thoughts. Please Susan, keep us updated on his progress, maybe with photos too as the days progress. Oh, one more thing, I think they are thirsty when they have mange, so if you could put some fresh water out for him, that might help too.

rippie-n-lilgirlsmom, thank you so much for helping, your advice and wisdom is appreciated. :)

[SusanH]

Just a quick update. I think my little friend is starting to re-grow some fur. He is looking a little fuzzier around the shoulder area. He has been visiting the yard daily and seems to be in good shape. I'll keep my fingers crossed that his recovery continues. I am going to give him a second dose of medicine this week to take care of any mange mites that were eggs the first time I treated him.

[Pointy Tale]

Such good news to hear about little friend. So glad his fur is starting to reappear and that he is returning to your yard. Wishing you both all of the best. Good luck,

[Ontario Rehabber]

How is the little guy doing - any new pics?

[SusanH]

Here is a photo of Peanut July 2 sporting his summer crew cut. After treatment with Ivermectin, he has a full body of fur. I started medicating him on June 6 and repeated the treatment around June 22.

There seems to be a fair amount of disagreement in the squirrel world regarding the use of Ivermectin. Ultimately, I considered several sources and decided on a course of action that involved treatment spread over a couple of weeks. I gave the squirrel two drops of Ivermectin that was a 1 percent liquid solution for three consecutive days. I created the drops from a 1 ml syringe and just let the liquid fall onto some peanut butter that I then spread inside a peanut shell. I did that for three days, waited about 12 days and then repeated the treatment for three days. To create the empty peanut shell, I just used a knife to cut off the top of a whole peanut and then removed the first nut from the shell. The medicated peanut butter was easy to put in the shell with a knife.

I hope that the two-phase treatment got any mites that were just eggs when this all started. I have not seen any other squirrels that have the problem, so I am hopeful this will take care of it. Thank you so much for your help and concern. I really appreciate it. I am glad I found you!

http://www.unitelsd.com/~susanh/IMG_1920.jpg

[tatcat]

:wave123 hey susan, :thankyou for the update...glad peanut is doing better:thumbsup

[Ontario Rehabber]

Glad he's doing better :thumbsup

[Reddliz]

GREAT JOB helping this guy :thumbsup


He looks beautiful :alright.gif