NatureNut
04-28-2011, 11:40 PM
We have a small female squirrel missing her tail that lives in our back yard. We generally call her "monkey squirrel" because of how she moves through the trees without a tail. For now I guess I'll call her Monk.
Anyway, I noticed some time ago that she has missing patches of fur on her back. I thought it may be mange, but can't say for sure. Over the last month, I have not been seeing her as often, so I was really happy to see her today - that is until I noticed she had neither of her eyes open at all. She looked horrible. She was just moseying along the fence like she was lost. I ran inside and got a piece of bread so I could coax her close enough to get a look. She was starting to head up a tree branch, but heard my "chirping" for her, turned around, and came all the way down the branch towards me, much closer than she ever has. She sniffed the bread a couple of times but didn't seem interested. I was able to see that her eyes are swollen shut. From there, she turned around and wondered aimlessly up into the tree - haven't seen her since.
After doing some reading elsewhere on the web, I thought it could be mange, so I stopped by the vet and he have me three (very small) doses of Ivermectin to lace some bread with. However, he did warn me that it could kill her and that has me hesitant to dose her. Fortunately, I do have a small mammal trap and am going to call the nearest rehab tomorrow. However, I doubt seriously she will come down to the ground to be trapped since every one around me, including me, has dogs.
So I guess my questions are these:
Should I give her the ivermectin if she'll take it? If so, how much?
Or should I try to trap her? Any alternative ideas for trapping her? I would prefer not to handle her at all since I do not know what is wrong with her and I have pets. Plus I don't feel like getting bit or scratched.
If I can get her to rehab, will they let me "have her back" if she is successfully rehabbed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
On a side note, I noticed one day that she was down on an old rusted out grill I had out back licking the surfaces. I thought she was after water but then I watched her pull off a flake of rust and literally eat it. Oddest thing I have ever seen. At this point I am assuming she has a mineral deficiency as I have also watched her carry rocks up into the tree, sit down, and lick away.
Anyway, I noticed some time ago that she has missing patches of fur on her back. I thought it may be mange, but can't say for sure. Over the last month, I have not been seeing her as often, so I was really happy to see her today - that is until I noticed she had neither of her eyes open at all. She looked horrible. She was just moseying along the fence like she was lost. I ran inside and got a piece of bread so I could coax her close enough to get a look. She was starting to head up a tree branch, but heard my "chirping" for her, turned around, and came all the way down the branch towards me, much closer than she ever has. She sniffed the bread a couple of times but didn't seem interested. I was able to see that her eyes are swollen shut. From there, she turned around and wondered aimlessly up into the tree - haven't seen her since.
After doing some reading elsewhere on the web, I thought it could be mange, so I stopped by the vet and he have me three (very small) doses of Ivermectin to lace some bread with. However, he did warn me that it could kill her and that has me hesitant to dose her. Fortunately, I do have a small mammal trap and am going to call the nearest rehab tomorrow. However, I doubt seriously she will come down to the ground to be trapped since every one around me, including me, has dogs.
So I guess my questions are these:
Should I give her the ivermectin if she'll take it? If so, how much?
Or should I try to trap her? Any alternative ideas for trapping her? I would prefer not to handle her at all since I do not know what is wrong with her and I have pets. Plus I don't feel like getting bit or scratched.
If I can get her to rehab, will they let me "have her back" if she is successfully rehabbed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
On a side note, I noticed one day that she was down on an old rusted out grill I had out back licking the surfaces. I thought she was after water but then I watched her pull off a flake of rust and literally eat it. Oddest thing I have ever seen. At this point I am assuming she has a mineral deficiency as I have also watched her carry rocks up into the tree, sit down, and lick away.