Can human catch mange/scabies from scratch?

[fxano]

Hi there is a female who is quite mangy in the park, I've been trying to feed her cracked corn and walnuts to strengthen her immune system. In feeding her today she accidently scratched me & I'm afraid I could catch the mange. Do you know if this is possible? Kind of worried. I am new to helping squirrels. Thank you. - Ann in Chicago

[astra]

Hi and welcome!:Welcome

You cannot really get mange from being scratched.
Mange is tiny microscopic mites on skin. She scratched you with her nail and mange mites do not feed on hard nails. So, technically, you cannot get mange from a scratch.

However, sometimes you can get mange from handling a mangy animal, be it squirrel, dog or anyone else.
There are all kinds of mange mites, some of them can be contagious to humans and others - can't.
Most of the time, even if you accidentally get mange mites from a mangy squirrel, you might feel itchy for a couple of days, but then, it usually goes away by itself because those "squirrelly" mites do not really live on humans.

Again, I will repeat that there are different mites, some are zoonotic (i.e., contagious to humans) and some aren't.

As for your squirrel, if she is quite mangy, then, most likely she needs extra help. Usually, when mange does not progress too far, they can often recover on their own, but if mange progresses very far, it's hard for them to recover on their own.

What you could also do is get horse paste ivermectin (at tractor supply stores, horse stores). It often comes as apple flavored (or no flavored).

Get the tube, squeeze everything out into a container, mix it (it is recommended because sometimes the paste and its liquid part separate in the tube).
Then, put a dose the size of an uncooked rice grain on a walnut half and give it to the squirrel. Just make sure that the dose is the size of an uncooked rice grain (not bigger than that, or it will be toxic).

Dose once per week for 3 weeks.
Make sure there is no less than a week between doses. it can be longer than a week - say, 8-10 days (but no longer than that), but not shorter.
So, for instance, if you dose her on Sat, the next dose should not be earlier than the next Saturday.
:grouphug

[fxano]

Thank you, Astra, for the welcome and the very quick reply! I was worried because I see her scratch herself and then when she scratched me, she broke the skin and I thought the mite could go from under her nail into my bloodstream...I was all the way in the park and couldn't get home for a good 10 minutes to clean it out...but I'm relieved by your reply. I will try to find that paste you speak of. There are a about 8 to 10 squirrels that nest close together in these 2 trees that are near each other. I see signs of mange starting in a couple of them. Then there's another one on the other side of the park with it too, with bald patches on top of back. I am scared that I will not find the same squirrels to give them proper timed dosage. But I think they kind of stay in the same area. They are just the most wonderful little creatures and beings. Thank you for your good advice and I will make sure nothing larger than a grain of white rice as a dose. Do you think the mange can come back since it might be in their nests?

[astra]

Thank you, Astra, for the welcome and the very quick reply! I was worried because I see her scratch herself and then when she scratched me, she broke the skin and I thought the mite could go from under her nail into my bloodstream...I was all the way in the park and couldn't get home for a good 10 minutes to clean it out...but I'm relieved by your reply. I will try to find that paste you speak of. There are a about 8 to 10 squirrels that nest close together in these 2 trees that are near each other. I see signs of mange starting in a couple of them. Then there's another one on the other side of the park with it too, with bald patches on top of back. I am scared that I will not find the same squirrels to give them proper timed dosage. But I think they kind of stay in the same area. They are just the most wonderful little creatures and beings. Thank you for your good advice and I will make sure nothing larger than a grain of white rice as a dose. Do you think the mange can come back since it might be in their nests?
Hi Ann,

you are most welcome.

As for their mangy nests.... you know it's hard to say...

mange is not just about mites, it's about compromised immune system.
Those mites live on squirrels' skin (just like humans have their own "mites" , too), and those mites begin to overpower them when the immune system is compromised and cannot keep those mites in check.

So, yes, on one hand, the nests might be mangy, but on the other hand - healthy squirrels do not usually get mange - their immune system fights them off.
I also remember seeing mangy squirrels nest with healthy squirrels, and I thought that now the entire squirrel population would be mangy, especially, those who shared the nest, but no - only that little guy ran around mangy.

And I have also seen squirrels, who share a nest, get all a bit mangy.

So, again - hard to say.

But one thing is for sure - if they recover from mites, their immune system will be stronger (mange is not just about the fur loss, severe mange affects their entire organism, leading to anemia that can kill them).

Also, they often have more than one nest, so they can and know when and how to relocate.


Yes, you will need to find a way of keeping track of whom you dose, at least for that day, so that you don't dose the same squirrel twice - ivermectin can be deadly when overdosed.

So, at least for the dosing day make sure you know whom you are dosing, so that you don't dose the same squirrel twice on the same day.


As for you and mange... again, there are zoonotic types of mange and there are non-zoonotic types... most likely, nothing will happen for you, but I can't guarantee, you know :).

One thing I know is that when, I remember, someone got mange from an animal, it went away fast.
Although, there is one rehabber who got mange pretty bad once (don't remember which animal), but it was bad in the sense that it was very itchy. Other than that - nothing else.
But again - she is a rehabber and has been handling and treating mangy animals. SO, that's a bit different.

And as far as I remember, it is easier to treat it topically in humans ;) - so, EVEN IF you get something, your treatment should be fairly easy.

It's hard with wild animals - you cannot apply anything topically.
So, most of the time people use this ivermectin horse paste.

Please keep asking questions!!!
It's wonderful to have people like you, who care and how can appreciate these amazing creatures.:):grouphug

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Mange is species specific so you aren't going to get a long lasting case of mange from contact with a mangy animal. The mites can live on your skin for I think up to 48 hours so you could get itchy, but ultimately they can't survive on you. So, no need to worry. I've handled many mangy squirrels with full blown mange, no fur at all except on the tail and scabs and crusty skin everywhere and I did wear gloves, but I got scratched up and am sure I came in contact with the mange mites and I never had any issues, I didn't even get itchy for a couple days or anything.

[iwonka]

Are you sure it's a mange? Maybe it's only a spring molt ?

:thinking

[fxano]

Thank you, Astra, for your good information on the mange mite. Wish those critters never existed to bother our furry friends...but they have their place on Earth too I suppose. I don't know when I'll get to a Farm N Fleet store to get some Ivermectin...and there are certainly no tack shops here in the city of chicago, but if worse comes to worse I have a very very nice vet and I'm sure she would have no problem getting some for me. Last night i stayed up so many hours reading about Rata Roto? I got to page 35 where it was obvious that the Costa Rican squirrel had worms. Sounds just like what I went through with my 2 cats and Yorkie. I don't know if you kept up with that story, but do you know if the squirrel was ever treated for worms? I hope so, cuz that could be why it dragged his butt. This is a wonderful site and I feel like I made a few new friends. Just got back from feeding about 20 of them in the park. I may have more questions once I pick up the Ivermectin. It just is a matter of getting it as it's not close to pick up. Thanks again for your kindness! :)

[fxano]

Hi SquirrelsNBunnies,

Thank you for your information and experience about mange. Good to hear if it does happen to me, you and Astra have calmed my nerves. I don't want weird little buggy things crawling all over me. I've taken like 10 showers since the other day! haha

[astra]

Rama Rota? ;) - he is doing very well, thriving and ruling his kingdom.
Don't remember about the worms, because it's been about 2 yrs ago and I don't remember all the details, but as I said - he is well and happy and owning two humans. So, keep reading - it's a great thread!

If you have a good trustworthy vet that can help you with ivermectin, that's wonderful.
Just keep in mind that often vets offer liquid ivermectin (not a horse paste), and liquid ivermectin is dosed differently from the paste.
So, if that's what your vet gives you, get FULL info on its name, concentration etc and experienced ppl here will help you dose that.

are you able to take pics of your squirrels?...
if you could take good pics, we could try and see if that's mange or just molt.

And yes, keep asking whatever questions you might have ;) :grouphug

[fxano]

Are you sure it's a mange? Maybe it's only a spring molt ?

:thinking

Hi Iwonka,

I'm pretty sure it is mange as they had scabs around the ears, back, etc. I assume that mange is accompanied by scabs / crusty skin and molting is just losing fur, like fur thinning out but you can tell new fur is growing? I don't know. Just trying to apply common sense. Perhaps you can correct me.

[fxano]

are you able to take pics of your squirrels?...
if you could take good pics, we could try and see if that's mange or just molt.

And yes, keep asking whatever questions you might have ;) :grouphug[/QUOTE]

Hi Astra,

Good to know that it comes in 2 different forms. Wow, you all here are like Squirrel-encyclopedias!

I have the cheapest phone, it's made from recycled plastic that cost $9, so no fancy camera. I will have to see if I can dig up my old digital camera and see if I can capture them. I swear, I can just sit down on the bench and watch them for hours. I'll give my vet a ring next week and ask her about the Ivermectin. I'm a little worried as the female/mother that has it real real bad (scabs, scars, her neck is completely exposed, balding back, etc.) -- well I haven't seen her in 2 days...Then I saw a squirrel carcass that a dog must have gotten. Unfortunately some people think it's "cute" when their big dog off the leash chases the squirrels. I get agitated with these people and ask them how would they like a big beast with sharp teeth chasing them. They look at me like I'm crazier than a box of frogs. lol. That's ok. Mother Earth needs her tiny defenders (IMO).

[astra]

oh, so agree about those off leash dogs.

I said a couple of times to people, but it's hopeless...
Dogs are not natural predators and should not be killing and injuring wildlife like that. Dogs have no place in the wild.
Squirrels have enough of their natural wild predators (raccoons, hawks etc) and they do not need additional stress of dogs chasing them. They have enough stress in their tough wild life.

And yes, I agree - I could watch them for hours if I could. Amazing intelligent little creatures.

Yes, if she has bare skin and scabs - that's definitely mange and pretty severe.

Well, fyi ;) ivermectin also comes in tablet form, but most vets have the liquid form. So, just so that you know.
Definitely, check here with the dosing, because overdose can be lethal and insufficient dose will be ineffective.

:grouphug

[fxano]

Hi Guys,

It's been a while since I've logged in and left a message. Here is what has been happening. Someone I believe is poisoning the squirrels. Those 10-15 I would feed occasionally are all gone from the area, and one is left. She has some mange but looks like she's getting better. However, today, when I went to her nest, she barely moved. She did come down and take 10-15 nuts from me and I noticed she kept "washing her hands" and when she went up a branch above me, I noticed she had blood coming from her vent area. I don't think it was the anus, I think it was the other place where urine comes out. Also, today I saw 2 female ducks acting "odd" with nodding their head left to right. There is a huge article in the paper that just north of here, 3 dogs have died from eating squirrel poisoning, which breaks my heart for both animals. What is wrong with people. Anyway, what does blood coming from that area on a female mean? Maybe she has her menstrual cycle? I also looked up rat/squirrel poison and it seems (although I can't find the specific symptoms) that it is a blood thinner Warfarin and the animal would bleed from its mouth and nose. Her mouth and nose were fine. Any info from you good people would be appreciated.

[Kristal]

Even if you do get scabies, it's not a big deal, and it can be treated easily, so no worries. It's like lice. Sometimes there are little outbreaks of them and everyone has to get bug killing shampoo/lotion.

[Kristal]

Hi Guys,

It's been a while since I've logged in and left a message. Here is what has been happening. Someone I believe is poisoning the squirrels. Those 10-15 I would feed occasionally are all gone from the area, and one is left. She has some mange but looks like she's getting better. However, today, when I went to her nest, she barely moved. She did come down and take 10-15 nuts from me and I noticed she kept "washing her hands" and when she went up a branch above me, I noticed she had blood coming from her vent area. I don't think it was the anus, I think it was the other place where urine comes out. Also, today I saw 2 female ducks acting "odd" with nodding their head left to right. There is a huge article in the paper that just north of here, 3 dogs have died from eating squirrel poisoning, which breaks my heart for both animals. What is wrong with people. Anyway, what does blood coming from that area on a female mean? Maybe she has her menstrual cycle? I also looked up rat/squirrel poison and it seems (although I can't find the specific symptoms) that it is a blood thinner Warfarin and the animal would bleed from its mouth and nose. Her mouth and nose were fine. Any info from you good people would be appreciated.

Eww, how awful if someone is doing that! Damnable humans...

When a female is in season her vulva gets swollen and enlarged and she expresses a bit of blood to advertise her fertile status. Let's hope that's all it is! Probably if a female is in season and kicking up pheromones like that she will have a large crew of suitors, though. :dono I hope your little friend is ok :Love_Icon :grouphug