Pox advice needed!

[rozdow]

I recently discovered two squirrels with pox in my backyard here in CT. Both look "healthy", other than the pox leisons, and eat/move well. To complicate matters, I placed my four spring babies in the pre-release cage (also in the backyard) about a week ago.

I'm worried about the wilds AND mine. I've been spiking everybody's water & food with vetri-DMG. I will not be releasing my squirrels on my property.

I'm getting mixed advice: euthanize the wilds or just give supportive care and hope for the best.

Please chime in! What do you all think??? :thankyou

[4skwerlz]

I recently discovered two squirrels with pox in my backyard here in CT. Both look "healthy", other than the pox leisons, and eat/move well. To complicate matters, I placed my four spring babies in the pre-release cage (also in the backyard) about a week ago.

I'm worried about the wilds AND mine. I've been spiking everybody's water & food with vetri-DMG. I will not be releasing my squirrels on my property.

I'm getting mixed advice: euthanize the wilds or just give supportive care and hope for the best.

Please chime in! What do you all think??? :thankyou

JMO, but it seems pointless to kill those two squirrels (unless they're really suffering); that would hardly eradicate the disease in your area. Plus, if they survive with your care, that will be two squirrels in your population that will never get the disease again, and they may well pass on immunity to their young.

Jackie and others have a nice protocol for helping backyard squirrels survive pox. The sooner you start, the better the outcomes.

Good luck.:grouphug

[island rehabber]

JMO, but it seems pointless to kill those two squirrels (unless they're really suffering); that would hardly eradicate the disease in your area. Plus, if they survive with your care, that will be two squirrels in your population that will never get the disease again, and they may well pass on immunity to their young.

Jackie and others have a nice protocol for helping backyard squirrels survive pox. The sooner you start, the better the outcomes.

Good luck.:grouphug

:goodpost I agree. I had good luck using acyclovir (Valtrex) on a very mild case of pox in a 7-wk old baby. Worth a try if you can get some.

[rozdow]

Thank you. I've been giving them the DMG in "wildbites".

[rozdow]

I'll ask my vet about getting the anti-viral. Should I be administering Capstar? This is maggot season!

[island rehabber]

I'll ask my vet about getting the anti-viral. Should I be administering Capstar? This is maggot season!

Capstar won't hurt them....it will take care of fleas and maggots in any open wounds. Might be a good idea if you have it. :thumbsup
One 500mg acyclovir tab can make enough solution to treat a squirrel for a week, so you don't need too many. Ask around if anyone has extra in their medicine cabinets -- anyone who's had shingles will have taken acyclovir. Ask any of the old fogies you know :D

[rozdow]

:thankyou