Male esatern grey loosing hairs on tail

[Trooper]

Hi there: My 4 months-old grey Trooper has recently (noticed on December 1st) been experiencing some tail hair loss, mostly upon grooming or brushing. Hair will come loose from its roots (not break) in loosely spaced (not tightly clumped) bunches of 5 to 10 hairs, now about 1 to 1.5 inches long.

The area is towards the last third of the tail end. Diet-wise he eats very healthy: artichoke, sweet potato, kale, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, belgian endive, fresh garbanzo beans, avocado, dandelion, purslane, rose hips, turnips, radishes, raspberries, fresh chestnuts, fresh corn and wild safe tender branches.

Nutwise; he has pecans, walnuts, black walnuts, filberts, almonds, pumpkin seed, squash seeds, sesame, macadamia and occasional sunflower seed and Brazil nuts.

Quantities of each good and marginal foodstuff is controlled in quantity and along with BBalls, and Kaytee rodent block, he gets as much variety as possible. Is there a definite pattern of molting on greys, that will start with the tail hair loss? Do greys molt or change their coat regularly? He still living indoors in his extra large cage, so I don't think the mild western winter is the cause.

Any thought of wisdom????

Thanks, Trooper

[Trooper]

Just about two to three, but he needs to be coaxed or put on a schedule, otherwise he'll wait for the veggies.

[momma2boo]

I was wondering the same thing 4skwerlz asked. I didn't see any mention of a bock. What kind?

You will see in the healthy diet that the squirrel should eat its block first before the other things since they will hold out for the other stuff if they know you are weak and will eventually cave. :)

[pappy1264]

He said he gets boo-balls and blocks. Greys do molt. I had three of my four overwinters loose a good amount of fur on their tails (no where else). They all ate a very good, balanced diet and in the spring when they went outside, they all grew beautiful tails (although it began growing in before they went outside and their diet had not changed). I believe lack of sunlight has a something to do with it, if the diet is a good one. (provided there is no redness or scabbing. they will itch with molting, though.)

[momma2boo]

He said he gets boo-balls and blocks. Greys do molt. I had three of my four overwinters loose a good amount of fur on their tails (no where else). They all ate a very good, balanced diet and in the spring when they went outside, they all grew beautiful tails (although it began growing in before they went outside and their diet had not changed). I believe lack of sunlight has a something to do with it, if the diet is a good one. (provided there is no redness or scabbing. they will itch with molting, though.)

Thanks Mary ... I totally missed that. The pain meds must be kicking in. :dono

Yes, my grey has molted before. Meggie had the most pittiful tail when she went through her first one. She was between 5 and 7 months old.

[pappy1264]

Yup, that is the age my guys did it, too. Poor Precious, her tail was almost bald......but it did eventually grow in beautifully! Wintering over 6 this year.....we will see if any of them suffer tail fur loss! (And I just reread my post....didn't mean to sound like a snot....rough night, friends glider passed tonight while I was on the phone with her....not easy.)

[Trooper]

Thank you to all that replied. I guess I got my answer in reference to the molting. His diet and my watchful eye on getting him the right Calcium to Phosphorous ratio, sunlight and natural vitamin D as well as varied diet, I would have been more inclined to a parasitic, fungal reason if it were not for the molting scenario, for which I had no reference data.

His hair loss is so slight that when brought to the attention of others they think is probably a natural loss. Yet knowing Trooper as I do, I certainly realized something was amiss.

Thank you all for your time and devotion to these loving creatures!

Trooper