catmom5
05-29-2012, 11:35 AM
I'm brand new to this board, but have come out of frustration trying to help my squirrels. I've been feeding them for years and have successfully treated them for mange in the past using ivermectin (from a local rehabber) in peanut butter on toast or saltines. However, I have a couple of younger squirrels now who have mange and refuse to eat the peanut butter - even after removing the regular food so that there was nothing else to eat!
One of the guys in particular looks pretty bad. He has a couple of patches on his side and it seems to be getting worse - reddish and sore looking. He does eat well here, but is very nervous when I'm around and will not take food from me directly. In fact, he frequently takes off when I quickly whip up a batch of peanut butter to try and get him treated when he's here.
Do you have any suggestions for treating a reluctant guy? I know how awful it can be because I came home earlier this spring to find a dying squirrel under the feeder. I was able to catch her and take her to a university vet clinic to be euthanized. She had hardly any fur and was either having tremors or seizures.
I really love my squirrels, but have deliberately tried to not get them too comfortable with me because there are a lot of really cruel people out there and I'd hate for something awful to happen.
Also, the ivermectin that the rehabber gave me was liquid and I'm to put 1 drop in a tablespoon of peanut butter. Is there ivermectin I can get that might work better? I always worry that it isn't mixed in well enough and that they aren't getting the dose they need.
Any other suggestions? I only feed sunflower seeds (cost is a factor) but would certainly spring for some good treats if it will help the squirrels. Right now everyone shares the same feeders (birds, chipmunks and squirrels).
Thanks for any help you might give me.
One of the guys in particular looks pretty bad. He has a couple of patches on his side and it seems to be getting worse - reddish and sore looking. He does eat well here, but is very nervous when I'm around and will not take food from me directly. In fact, he frequently takes off when I quickly whip up a batch of peanut butter to try and get him treated when he's here.
Do you have any suggestions for treating a reluctant guy? I know how awful it can be because I came home earlier this spring to find a dying squirrel under the feeder. I was able to catch her and take her to a university vet clinic to be euthanized. She had hardly any fur and was either having tremors or seizures.
I really love my squirrels, but have deliberately tried to not get them too comfortable with me because there are a lot of really cruel people out there and I'd hate for something awful to happen.
Also, the ivermectin that the rehabber gave me was liquid and I'm to put 1 drop in a tablespoon of peanut butter. Is there ivermectin I can get that might work better? I always worry that it isn't mixed in well enough and that they aren't getting the dose they need.
Any other suggestions? I only feed sunflower seeds (cost is a factor) but would certainly spring for some good treats if it will help the squirrels. Right now everyone shares the same feeders (birds, chipmunks and squirrels).
Thanks for any help you might give me.