Hair Loss:(

[bigandlittle]

My backyard squirrel is losing her hair in patches..please help! She's about 1year and was released a few months ago.

[bigandlittle]

I have pictures, but can't find the additional options to upload.

[CritterMom]

Click on "Post Reply" and at the top in the middle is a paper clip. Click that and you will have the option to upload a bunch of photos.

[bigandlittle]

Thanks, I don't see the paperclip to add an attacment or upload a photo. Maybe because I just joined and don't have approval yet? Thanks for the advice.

[JLM27]

Sounds like mange plus maybe molting. If it is pink and scabby it is definitely mange. If it is just scruffy, patchy look, it could be molting. But they all have fleas, etc., so getting some ivermectin AND UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHT DOSAGE TO GIVE AND HOW TO GIVE IT would be your next step.

Mange comes from sarcoptic mange mites (meaning too small to see), and they are often in tree interiors that the squirrels use in winter.

[bigandlittle]

Thanks so much for the advice, This has just happened in the past 3 weeks or so. There are no scabs and it does not look irritated. Under her front legs the hair is gone on both sides, looks like it was shaved for surgery. There is a little patchiness on the base of the spine, in between shoulder blades. Is the ivermectin available over the counter? Is that only for mange? I'm awaiting approval so that I can post the picture. I hope she's ok, her brother (little)got hurt and we have not seen him in 2 days. We're heartbroken here and would hate to have anything bad happen to her.

[Chemist]

I have been seeing this too (southern wisconsin here). I think it's just molting. I had a squirrel that looked like he or she was done for, but I saw him the other day with some brand new fur where he was bare before. My favorite squirrel... the one who comes up to me and even just inside the house has lost some fur and I was really worried, but she is growing it back.

So be watchful, but don't panic.

[Ronda]

Does it look like this?.. These racing stripes are from the Princess Scrat molting

[bigandlittle]

Thanks so much for the help, I know these pic are large, but I thought it would help in identifying.Still no sign of little, let me know what you think. Any advice is welcomed!

[bigandlittle]

Im having trouble with photos, feel rediculous

[bigandlittle]

Ok..... one more try, geez I dont think im that much of a technodinasaur

[pappy1264]

I am oerwintering four, and they all seem to be molting (I thought it might be mites before, as at first I was seeing some itching, but now I don't, so I think new hair was growing in, hence the itchies). Usually when you reply below the white box you type your message in, you will see a box that says 'manage attachments', when you click on that, a dropdown box will appear, with 10 boxes with 'browse' buttons to add pics. Make sure they are resized, as they will not take them if they are too big.

[bigandlittle]

Ok... files too big Ill try to resize

[bigandlittle]

Once again!

[bigandlittle]

Phew!

[pappy1264]

Ok, mine are like that, mine look just a little thinned out, not down to skin. Do you see him scratching alot?

[Chemist]

Mine look just like that. The one that grew his hair back looked far worse than that. I don't think you need to worry.

[CritterMom]

My overly pampered boy with the perfect diet had bare racing stripes this winter - just now growing in - right down to the pink skin. There was nothing wrong - I would KILL to have skin that flawless and smooth - just a terrible molt.

[Rhapsody]

That's how Picasso looked two months ago, but he had small patches and his fur grew back with in a few weeks of coming out..... for him it turned out to be winter molt.

[bigandlittle]

Thanks so much for all the advice, hopefully the fur will just grow back!