Acyclovir for Pox Baby?

[mainemargaret]

Hi All - Hopefully there are two appropriately-sized photos attached. It looks to me like this wild baby (born late summer) has pox, but I would be very happy to hear if anyone thinks otherwise. S/he is almost to the point where I will be able to get meds on food to him/her. I have read everything here on TSB, and will check with my local rehabber to see if I can get acyclovir, but her vet may not be willing to dispense this. If not, does anyone have a source I can purchase from? Thanks for any leads or advice!

[island rehabber]

Poor sweetie :(
Ask around to all your friends, if they have any acyclovir (Valtrex) in the medicine cabinet. It's the number one treatment for herpes viral infections and also shingles....one little tablet can make enough solution to treat your little friend there for weeks....worth asking around!

[stosh2010]

Acylovir is used with good results by many.
Here is a thead to an alternate remedy , that worked for an inside squirrel.
may not apply to a wild.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27678&page=2

[astra]

Hi Margaret,

Do you think you could trap him and keep him for a few weeks to treat?

1. pox treatment should be consistent
2. the environment needs to be as stress-free as possible
3. dry and warm (vs. cold and wet outside right now)
4. good solid nutrition

I know it's very hard to keep a wild squirrel for treatment, as well as trap it...
So, of course, if it's not possible for you, then, definitely let's try and treat him in the wild...

:grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[NutmegsMommy]

Hey Margaret...did you read Walter's thread about pox? The only med he had was convenia...and that was just a back up to prevent the stress of a secondary infection, not to treat the pox. I did things to boost the immune system. You can also put the echincea tea outside for a water source to help the other squirrels and your pox baby build up immunity to fight the virus. Good luck. Walter and I will be praying for you.

[Jackie in Tampa]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15897&highlight=largo
this thread is how one woman treated in the wild..
lovely person, awesome dedication:bowdown
:Love_Icon Sharon:Love_Icon


It needs dedication 100%...
like others have said...boosting the immune system and keeping the stress away is very important..
feeding good quaility foods and providing easy access to shelter and water.
Stress can be as simple as a barking dog...
so if they do come into captivity...no loud noises etc...
calm and steady:thumbsup
I do not have overnight cash, but I do have meds to share and could send regular if you feel you want to try.:grouphug

Sending good vibes:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Jackie, I got this one - she lives near me - we are going to try to meet up this weekend...:thumbsup

[island rehabber]

Sent mainemargaret the meds info she needed, this morning! :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30104
this is a guessed protocol...I am still using the same treatment to date.
the acyclovir..I am dosing 10mg/kg...:dono

I like this thread/blog alot..
http://www.wildthingssanctuary.org/squirrel-pox.html
she also followed our protocol and did her own pros and cons:thumbsup

I also have pox sqs currently...babies...Cheech and Chong...
thank you TSB Dancing santas:D , IR and MM!:Love_Icon
:bowdown

[mainemargaret]

Squirrel people are the BEST! Thank you all. The pox is definitely spreading here in my little corner. The baby in the pics is the worst, but there are now 3 others that have a lesion or two. Have started meds. Plan to treat in the wild as everyone is active and functional at this point and I don't want to add to stress. A couple of additional questions:

I have echinacea to add to my 2 outdoor water bowls. I also have lysine, which helps my cats when they get flare ups of feline herpes. Any harm to adding lysine to the water also?

Since the meds are mixed in water, I could use "serving suggestions." Today I syringed some into half pieces of my homemade HHBs and smeared on a little peanut butter to increase the appeal. They won't always eat a whole or even half block, though. In addition to good ways to serve, are there any things the meds should not be mixed with?

[astra]

Squirrel people are the BEST! Thank you all. The pox is definitely spreading here in my little corner. The baby in the pics is the worst, but there are now 3 others that have a lesion or two. Have started meds. Plan to treat in the wild as everyone is active and functional at this point and I don't want to add to stress. A couple of additional questions:

I have echinacea to add to my 2 outdoor water bowls. I also have lysine, which helps my cats when they get flare ups of feline herpes. Any harm to adding lysine to the water also?

Since the meds are mixed in water, I could use "serving suggestions." Today I syringed some into half pieces of my homemade HHBs and smeared on a little peanut butter to increase the appeal. They won't always eat a whole or even half block, though. In addition to good ways to serve, are there any things the meds should not be mixed with?
HI Margaret,

I do not know of things that the meds hsould not be mixed with - will let the experts advice.

I;ll just say that it will be best to find smth that they will eat all, not just half because if they don't get the whole dose, then, the treatment won't be as effective, pox might end up progressing beyond the point of return.
Pox is a very stubborn thing, even captive squirrels do not always survive it.
So, it's very important that he gets each dose in its entirety.

Try mixing meds with smth they will eat for sure.

WHen I treated mange in my wilds, I mixed it with almond butter and put it on a piece of bread.
I noticed that squirrels eat the best part of whatever it is they get (unless it's a whole nut - then, the whole thing is the best part;-)). FOr instance, if I put a blob of almond butter on a nut, they will eat the nut and disregard the blob of almond butter.
So, when I mixed the meds with almond butter and put it on the bread, they sure ate the whole blob and discarded the bread.

Of course, it's always best to put the meds on a nut, but it's not always possible, esp. with liquid meds. That's why a nut butter blob would work best (and put it on something "inferior" like a piece of bread or something that will really make the blob "stand out" and more appealing).

[Jackie in Tampa]

empty peanut shell, fill with avacodo or peanut butter laced with meds
they're easy to throw