Help with 3 wk. old raccoon

[Ken Puckett]

I have taken in a baby raccoon that I've had for 2 wks. now. She seemed to only be 1 wk old when I got her. Her mother was shot by a homeowner that didn't want her in their attic. There were 2 babies and a friend took one and I took the other. I would have preferred her to try and keep them together but she didn't want to do that. I have raised 2 raccoons before and released them. But never one from a wk old. She is drinking her kitten formula well. I use a syringe and a nipple so that I can control how much she can have at a time. She is growing well but 3 days ago her hair started looking like it was getting thin and her skin is wrinkled. I called my friend that has the other one and asked her if the sister to mine was having the skin condition and she isn't. I washed her in some oatmeal bath and dried her. I am really worried that she may have the mange. I just don't understand why mine has the skin problem and the other one is fine. Mine is growing faster and is larger than the other one so I was wondering if maybe she just is allergic to something or is lacking something. She pees and poops fine and is really alert. She drinks her milk, I wash her face and then I take her and she sucks on my finger for awhile and then I place her back in her pet taxi that I have for her. And she doesn't cry until she is hungry again. My question is: Is it possible for a 3 wk old raccoon to have the mange already? My friend didn't see the mother raccoon so we don't know if she had the mange. Could she just be lacking some protein? I have changed her bedding frequently also. I have been upset all day today because it is heartbreaking to not know what to do to help her. I can't take her to the vet because where I live...vets won't see them and if I took her to a wild life person...I was told that they would put her down. So I want to do what I can for her and get her up old enough and release her like I have the other 2. I have raised 12 squirrels from babies and have released all of them except 1 and she has a birth defect that keeps us from releasing her. She has her own room in our house. If anyone can give me any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!!!

[island rehabber]

Hang in there, Ken -- I know we have members here who have raised many coonie babies and can help you. In the meantime have you tried Revolution on her -- if you can get a cat/kitten dose from your vet? That would treat the mange very well..

[Nancy in New York]

Hang in there, Ken -- I know we have members here who have raised many coonie babies and can help you. In the meantime have you tried Revolution on her -- if you can get a cat/kitten dose from your vet? That would treat the mange very well..

I sent a pm to Anne and Nature's Gift. :dono

[NaturesGift]

what kind of kitten milk replacer are you feeding?

raccoon fv is so much better. since i switched my kids do better.

do you wash the kiddos bedding? it may be the detergent

id get the revolution but cover all your bases diet and detergent...

is your house dry or humid?

[Mrs Skul]

Hi Ken Puckett :wave123
Have you ordered the FoxVally 40/25 for Raccoons?
I had no Problems when raising my 2 Raccoon Babies on this formula. Can you Post a picture so we can see what your dealing with? Do you have a weight on the baby? Do you have the Baby on a Heat source? :thinking
How often are you feeding the Baby Raccoon? If the fur is coming out. Where did it start coming out from? Is the Baby Scratching a lot? :dono Is the skin crusty looking? If you can post a Picture or Email one. It will tell us so much. :thumbsup5
It sounds like it might be Nutrition, and Stress related. What formula are you and your Friend feeding now? Are you feeding your Baby, the same schedule as your friend? (With the other Baby.) :dono
Hear is the Address to order the Raccoon formula. Call Nick he can help you with all your Nutrition Information. If you will be raising Baby Squirrels you might wont to Pick up some Fox Vally 32/40 All so. :D
Esbilac has changed the formula and we have been having trouble feeding it to Baby Squirrels. That might be the Same with Baby Raccoons. I hope I can Help you, along with the Information Posted. Good Luck. :grouphug
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/prod.asp

[Ken Puckett]

Thanks so much for all the replies!!! We are feeding her Hartz milk replacer for kittens. The only thing that is worrying me is that my friend that has the sister to this one says that her Hartz replacement does not have the additive "Taurine" in it. She came over yesterday to look at mine and she brought her baby over and her baby is alot smaller than mine. She looked at the milk replacement that I use and she uses the same one except she said hers doesn't have the Taurine in it. Could Taurine be the problem? I have to work today and I will stop by another Walmart and see if I can find some milk that doesn't have Taurine in it. I have always used Kitten replacer for my baby raccoons and puppy replacer for my squirrels. I've never had any problem before and they grew well. I have changed her pet taxi that I had her in to a wire cage. I've changed all her bedding but i have washed her bedding in laundry liquid. Maybe I should try a washing liquid that you wash baby clothes in. I also washed her yesterday evening in a puppy oatmeal shampoo trying to keep her skin from peeling. This morning she is still very alert and is moving all around in her cage and is even trying to climb. But her skin is peeling so bad and we are putting neosporin on the areas that are the worst. Hope that is ok? She still only has one eye open and there is no drainage from it. I have been so upset just trying to figure out what I have done wrong. I have raised so many wild babies but never seen this. I also have her on a heating pad on Low with a blanket over it. It is only on one side of her cage so that she can move to the other side to get off of it. I do have some Ivermectin but just don't know what dosage to use on her since she is just about 3 wks old. I asked my husband(Ken) to pick up some Revolution this morning at our vets office. How much Revolution should I put on her? I will see if we can put up some pictures of her this afternoon when I get home from work. Thanks goodness I am able to take her to work with me so I can feed her during the day. Oh.... someone asked about my house temperature...My house is most of the time cool...70 degrees but I keep her cage covered on the top and one end is covered. I have had cancer twice and been through chemo and radiation and the 2nd cancer was thryoid and I stay really hot all the time so my house is cool. When my husband get the Revolution, could someone let me know how much to put on her? Thanks so much for all the replies and I will get back with everyone this afternoon when we get home.....Pam

[Ken Puckett]

I forgot to tell you that she is crusty looking...almost like elephant hide.

[redwuff]

Hey Ken,

My little grey squirrel had a bad case of mites and she was very itchy, jumping out of her skin itchy, and lost most of her hair. Her thread is Buffy. If you put that in Search and then click on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and go to page 10, you will find a picture of her there. By this time I had treated her with ivermectin and she was no longer crusty and her skin was healing. Hope this helps

[Anne]

Hi Ken, yet another rehabber's advise! First, please do order Fox Valley formula for raccoons. Fox Valley is much cheaper in the long run and made just for these babies. Do get the Revolution for kittens and cats. Buy a small bottle of unscented laundry detergent. Get yourself a baby bottle and nipple, baby will soon be big enough to use it, and she should be taking about 2 or 3 ounces a feeding.
I will be emailing you a raccoon manual, please look for my address in your in box-snicklemom@gmail.com! 'Coons are more cat-like than squirrels and need a lot of bonding time with you. I will research the skin problem with you, we have a raccoon vet in the area and I will give him a call for help.
Here's a picture of my 3 guys- raccoons get into everything and everywhere!!!!:jump
172329

172330

[Anne]

Just saw that you do not want emails. Sorry can't send the manual:shakehead .

[DipityDane]

Hartz products of any type are horrid...I certainly agree that your problem may in fact be nutritional...order the Fox Valley raccoon asap...even KMR and Esbilac just aren't good for coonies. Also if I missed it I am sorry...but please make sure she has a heat source...single babies even at 3 weeks need it. Ultimately if her condition continues to worsen she needs to be checked out, especially if she starts scratching or YOU develope a rash.. Also if you intend to release her it would be ideal to find a rehabilitator with age similar peers to place her with. It is very hard to raise a single baby and accomplish a successful release. Often they are released and are never truly wild and become a pest and therefore a danger to themselves OR they are never seen again and the releasing party believes it was success when in actuality the animal never learned appropriate foraging and survival skills necessary for life and over time the struggle takes its toll.

[Ken Puckett]

These are the pictures of our baby raccoon. What does it look like to you? Thanks for all the help!!!

[Ken Puckett]

Hi Ken, yet another rehabber's advise! First, please do order Fox Valley formula for raccoons. Fox Valley is much cheaper in the long run and made just for these babies. Do get the Revolution for kittens and cats. Buy a small bottle of unscented laundry detergent. Get yourself a baby bottle and nipple, baby will soon be big enough to use it, and she should be taking about 2 or 3 ounces a feeding.
I will be emailing you a raccoon manual, please look for my address in your in box-snicklemom@gmail.com! 'Coons are more cat-like than squirrels and need a lot of bonding time with you. I will research the skin problem with you, we have a raccoon vet in the area and I will give him a call for help.
Here's a picture of my 3 guys- raccoons get into everything and everywhere!!!!:jump
172329

172330

I put up pics of our baby so everyone could see how the skin looks. What do you think and should we go ahead and put Revolution on her?:flash3

[Jackie in Tampa]

I believe that is mange...YES, almost positive.
if he were a sq, I would say yes to the Revolution, but I am going to leave that to the coon peeps...I have little experience with racoons.

Boosting his immune system is a good idea...

not sure you know about mange mites...so a brief summary for you,
most wildanimals are born with mange mites...they present them selves when host animal is stressed.
Each animal is different as are people, some stress easier...
my advise is the Rev since the coon people agree that it is safe...second advise is FV...
third is GET HIS SIBBLIING BACK TO HIM!!!!!

it's not fair:soapbox
he needs to socialize with his own kind...
tell your friend it's JUST WRONG!
they need each other!!!:Love_Icon
sorry to rant...I would bet seperation is causing anxiety and leading to the mange outbreak.



:grouphug it's best for the racoons to be together...

thank you for rescueing him....:bowdown

[DipityDane]

This baby needs a skin scraping to accurately diagnose mange. It does have the appearance AND I see some crusty areas that look like secondary infection. The only thing that does not fit is that unless I misunderstood...she is not itchy. Sarcoptic mange is VERY pruritic and I would expect to see some face rubbing and scratching even this young. Are her eyes open yet? If so be sure to get onto a deworming and vaccination schedule asap! For YOUR safety, hers, and any house pets you have.

[DipityDane]

Also...Karen Bailey, founder of the Kentucky wildlife center AND one of foremost raccoon experts in the U.S is about a state away from you...she could likely direct you to a knowlegable rehabber near you and in the mean time help you get this baby started on the care she needs. Here is the link to her page with contact info. http://www.kywildlife.org/

[Jackie in Tampa]

:thankyou Thank you DD!!:thumbsup

[Ken Puckett]

This baby needs a skin scraping to accurately diagnose mange. It does have the appearance AND I see some crusty areas that look like secondary infection. The only thing that does not fit is that unless I misunderstood...she is not itchy. Sarcoptic mange is VERY pruritic and I would expect to see some face rubbing and scratching even this young. Are her eyes open yet? If so be sure to get onto a deworming and vaccination schedule asap! For YOUR safety, hers, and any house pets you have.

She is not scratching at all or rubbing up against anything. I wormed her with Nemex yesterday for worms. I am going to put just a drop of Revolution for kittens on her tomorrow. I have to wait until tom. because I gave her a bath in 99% natural oatmeal shampoo this morning to get off the dead skin.

[Ken Puckett]

Hi Ken Puckett :wave123
Have you ordered the FoxVally 40/25 for Raccoons?
I had no Problems when raising my 2 Raccoon Babies on this formula. Can you Post a picture so we can see what your dealing with? Do you have a weight on the baby? Do you have the Baby on a Heat source? :thinking
How often are you feeding the Baby Raccoon? If the fur is coming out. Where did it start coming out from? Is the Baby Scratching a lot? :dono Is the skin crusty looking? If you can post a Picture or Email one. It will tell us so much. :thumbsup5
It sounds like it might be Nutrition, and Stress related. What formula are you and your Friend feeding now? Are you feeding your Baby, the same schedule as your friend? (With the other Baby.) :dono
Hear is the Address to order the Raccoon formula. Call Nick he can help you with all your Nutrition Information. If you will be raising Baby Squirrels you might wont to Pick up some Fox Vally 32/40 All so. :D
Esbilac has changed the formula and we have been having trouble feeding it to Baby Squirrels. That might be the Same with Baby Raccoons. I hope I can Help you, along with the Information Posted. Good Luck. :grouphug
http://foxvalleynutrition.com/main/prod.asp


Did You see the pic we posted of our little girl? I am getting ready to order some milk for her through you. We are also going to try putting one drop of Revolution on her tomorrow which is supposed to help with the mange if that is what she has. I washed her with some 99% natural oatmeal soap but maybe I should have used some Dawn dishwashing liquid. She did have one small flea on her. I was wondering if maybe some A and D oinment might help with the cracky skin. If you see the pic...let me know what you think!!!! Thanks...Pam

[redwuff]

hey ken,

how is your little coon doing?