Rubbing his face everywhere

[MyLittleBlessing]

My little guy is acting really strange today, he is rubbing his face along everything. I thought it could be mites or something, but I don't see anything when I look. Is it possible they are that tiny? And if so, how do I tell if he has them? He's also acting a lot more skittish then usual. Can someone please help me? I don't know what to do, he isn't acting right.

[astra]

My little guy is acting really strange today, he is rubbing his face along everything. I thought it could be mites or something, but I don't see anything when I look. Is it possible they are that tiny? And if so, how do I tell if he has them? He's also acting a lot more skittish then usual. Can someone please help me? I don't know what to do, he isn't acting right.
they do rub their faces a lot... just hard to tell what's more than normal without seeing...

if you could get a video of that, it would help and if you could describe the frequency throughout the day as detailed as possible.

also, since you are new - WELCOME! - in order for our experienced rehabbers to make an informed suggestion, could you, please, give some history about him?...how he was found, how old, what his diet is like (as detailed as you could), what his daily activities are like etc etc etc.
Are there other pets?...
Is he a NR (non-releasable) or are you preparing him for release?

Please keep checking - someone experienced will be on with their ideas (but a video would certainly help and photos, too)

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 MyLittleBlessing
How Old is your little one, and how long have you had him ?

[Mrs Skul]

Squirrel Babies will hit a age where they discover Face Rubbing.
Newton will do it when he finishes Eating, after I Wipe his Face, after every other bit of food.
If he has not been on me or seen me for a hour or so. They do Sent Mark that way.
Does he go back and forth side to side flip and flop rubb rubb the Nose and the Mouth, the Side of his Face and even his Ears.
Then starts pushing with His Hind Legs and Push Drag all over.:D on your close, arm, shoulder, head, face, almost anywhere.:D
That is His way to mark You as His. I see Rockies Babies doing that to the new Nest Box in the tree and the 4 Trees that I call the Nursery tree. Especially after another Squirrel has just climbed in them.
PS
Mites are really really small. You will not see them until they have been feeding a little, or the Squirrel is Infested with them.
What to look for is LIKE Flea dirt BUT Just a speck/Needle tip size. :eek:
That is when they start out.

[MyLittleBlessing]

Thank you all so much!

He was worrying me a lot last night, because that is strange behavior for him. I think when I came home last night I smelt like a friend's dog, and he didn't like that too much. His behavior is better this morning though.

My little guy is about 3 months old, and I've had him since he was 3 weeks old. I found him outside after a hurricane, he was abandoned by his mother and he had practically broken his back legs. Since it was after a hurricane it took awhile to get ahold of a local rehabber, but she told me with his legs it'd be best to take him in. His legs are not broken, and they do not seem to bother him because he loves to run and jump. But, he doesn't have enough speed to be put back into the wild.

His main 2 caregivers are me and my boyfriend, he is our baby and we would do anything for him. He has a room all to himself and the biggest obsession with pecans. We recently had a MBD scare, and had to buy him calcium supplement to spray on his food. After the emergency calcium he has been doing much better.

Little Guy is my little blessing, because I got him when my life was very stressful. Pet therapy is supposed to help stress, and it definitely does. He's made my life so much happier just being involved. He loves people, but he looks at me to somewhat ask permission before running over to them. Squirrels are supposed to be wild animals, but it's amazing how tame he is.

[MyLittleBlessing]

Squirrel Babies will hit a age where they discover Face Rubbing.
Newton will do it when he finishes Eating, after I Wipe his Face, after every other bit of food.
If he has not been on me or seen me for a hour or so. They do Sent Mark that way.
Does he go back and forth side to side flip and flop rubb rubb the Nose and the Mouth, the Side of his Face and even his Ears.
Then starts pushing with His Hind Legs and Push Drag all over.:D on your close, arm, shoulder, head, face, almost anywhere.:D
That is His way to mark You as His. I see Rockies Babies doing that to the new Nest Box in the tree and the 4 Trees that I call the Nursery tree. Especially after another Squirrel has just climbed in them.
PS
Mites are really really small. You will not see them until they have been feeding a little, or the Squirrel is Infested with them.
What to look for is LIKE Flea dirt BUT Just a speck/Needle tip size. :eek:
That is when they start out.



How do squirrels get mites? Because with the weather getting colder, I barely ever take him outside. And, there are no other animals in the house.

[astra]

well, some mites live on animals (people, too, have their equivalents), but as long as one's immune system is strong and healthy, they do not "flare up". Once one's immune system weakens, mites begin to overtake and result in mange and similar issues.

You are so right about the dangers of MBD! :thumbsup And it's wonderful that you research and try to do what's best for your Little Blessing ;-).
Diet is very important for captive squirrels.
The best way to ensure captive squirrels are strong and healthy is to establish them on a solid diet with rodent blocks as their staple + good green veggies + some safe wild foods + occasional treats: a piece of fruit and a nut or two.
I am copying here what one of our very experienced and knowledgeable rehabbers posted in another thread about nutritional guidelines:

If your babies are eating rodent block, they do not need any extra calcium.
Too much Ca can be a problem.
Rodent block should be 80% of their diet.
The other 20% of the diet can be healthy veggies, fruit and occasional nuts. Yogurt is fine and good for them too.
BUT a word of caution on rodent diets. Be sure that your babies are firmly established on rodent block before offering too much else. If they taste other fruits and veggies first they will not want the blocks. I usually don't offer anything besides formula , block, and other very limited foods for about 3 weeks during weaning and after weaning to be sure they do not reject the block.
They can be little stinkers about not eating their block. TSB sees many cases of MBD or other illness and even death due to improper diet. If you make block 80% of the diet you will not need to worry. I will look for the link to the healthy diet for squirrels. Check out TSB nutrition section.

One of our TSB members owns the site www.henryspets.com that sells all kinds of very useful stuff for squirrel rehab. Among other things, she sells Henry's Healthy Blocks - developed specifically for squirrels. Recommended number per day - 2 blocks.
If you decide to use other rodent blocks: Harland Teklad, Mazuri, Kaytee forti for rat and mice (blue bag), Zupreem, then they have to constitute 80% of their diet.

If your little guy is very picky, please check out a sticky in the Squirrel Nutrition forum on How to Deal with Picky Eaters (removing all nuts and stashes helps a lot).:grouphug :)

HEre are guidelines on a Healthful Diet:
(Please do not hesitate to ask questions - ask away ;-))

Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels and Flyers

Your pet needs a balanced diet containing the right amounts of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet should include the following:
• Henry's Healthy Blocks
• A variety of healthy vegetables
• Wild foods from outside
• Limited nuts and treats


Henry's Healthy Blocks
These provide the essential nutrients: protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

A diet of nuts, seeds, and veggies alone is deficient in calcium, protein, and other nutrients like B vitamins. This can cause dull or patchy fur and lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD). Pets are much less active than wild animals, so they need a concentrated food like Henry's Healthy Blocks. It's the only way for your pet to get the nutrients he needs to stay healthy.

Healthy Vegetables
These add fiber, fresh vitamin C, and micronutrients. Variety is key! Don't let your pet get hooked on just one veggie.

artichokes
arugula
asparagus
avocado*
Belgian endive
bell peppers
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts

cabbage
carrots**
cauliflower
celery
chayote
cherry tomato
chicory
Chinese cabbage
cilantro, fresh

collard greens
cucumber
dandelion greens
escarole
fennel
green beans
kale
lettuce, all kinds
mushrooms

mustard spinach
okra
parsley, fresh
pumpkin**
purslane
radicchio
radishes
romaine
squash, winter**

squash, yellow**
sugar snap peas
sweet potato**
Swiss chard
watercress
zucchini


Wild Foods
These provide extra nutrients, amusement, exercise, and help keep teeth worn down.

acorns
antlers
bottlebrush flowers
branches*
carnations**
chrysanthemums**

dandelion greens
hibiscus, all parts
lambsquarters
magnolia cones
maple seeds
palm nuts & fronds***

pine cones
purslane
plaintain
roses**
rose hips

Other:

Tree branches, clean rocks, sea shells, and a box of clean dirt provide exercise, trace minerals, and help keep teeth worn down.

Before you feed an unfamiliar wild food, always make sure it's not toxic!

Treats
Treats are fun and can help with bonding, but should always be fed in small amounts.

Fruit:
apple
apricot
banana*
blackberries
blueberries
cantaloupe
cherries, sweet*

cherries, sour
crabapples
cranberries
grapefruit
grapes*
honeydew
kiwi
kumquat

lemon
lime
mango*
nectarine
oranges
papaya
peach
pear

pineapple
pomegranate*
raspberries
strawberries
watermelon

Insects:
Mealworms, moths, grubs

Nuts/Seeds:
acorns
almonds
hazelnuts
pecans
pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds


Also Important for Good Health:

Exercise.Make sure your pet has daily out-of-cage time to run and play; a selection of branches and other things to climb and explore; and at least one active play session per day. This will help keep her healthy and happy.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight. Being overweight causes many health problems and can lead to diabetes, especially in older animals. Healthy weights may vary, but in general, your pet should look sleek and well muscled and not have rolls of fat. If your pet is older, overweight, or less active, avoid foods that are high in sugars, starches, or fat.d for about 20 seconds) will work.rk.