What is Squirrel Pox

[kcassidy]

Okay yesterday I noticed that the first and last toe on both front feet are really swollen. I was panicked that I had allowed string or something around her toes, but 4 all at once and I'm keeping her on fleece, receiving blankets.

I just was searching the forums and saw you guys talking about Pox. Now that I went back and looked at her first photos I do see some redness around her front paws.

I have Baytril, should I start giving it to her? Do you all want photos?

Is this contagious? I have that OP in my area bringing her two pinky's to me and I was going to put them all together. Obviously I won't til I know what is going on.

She is eating great, no aspiration issues and she is putting weight on good.

Jackie, I hear you are the expert, thoughts?

[Jackie in Tampa]

Okay yesterday I noticed that the first and last toe on both front feet are really swollen. I was panicked that I had allowed string or something around her toes, but 4 all at once and I'm keeping her on fleece, receiving blankets.

I just was searching the forums and saw you guys talking about Pox. Now that I went back and looked at her first photos I do see some redness around her front paws.

I have Baytril, should I start giving it to her? Do you all want photos?

Is this contagious? I have that OP in my area bringing her two pinky's to me and I was going to put them all together. Obviously I won't til I know what is going on.

She is eating great, no aspiration issues and she is putting weight on good.

Jackie, I hear you are the expert, thoughts? ha, no expert on anything... got pics???

[farrelli]

Pox is highly contagious, so on the off chance that it is Pox, don't put them together. Also, antibiotics can't help as this is viral. I think the best you can do is immune boosters. Jackie can tell you which are good.

[Jackie in Tampa]

oh, you will need ABs if it's pox... but let's see first.
It is contageous.. the vectors are mostly fleas and skeeters...
however it is believed that close quarters is also a avenue for body fluids to transfere the virus.
Florida is humid... alot of bugs alot of pox cases... hate it..

[kastillo]

If it is pox, I've read somewhere on here where someone used this medicine successfully.

http://www.caoh.org/liqimbarecbe.html

I just can't remember the thread right now. I'll check back after work.

[Jackie in Tampa]

that may have been rippie...
let me see if I can find her thread.

[kcassidy]

I'm very upset by this I feel like I'm hurting her and I don't know why.

I do have a rice buddy in with her, could they be doing something to her?

I do have the baby food jar with the water/sponge.

:(

[farrelli]

How does an antibiotic treat a viral infection?

[Jackie in Tampa]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38915
rippie's thread

[farrelli]

Oh, poor baby! Are you making sure that the rice buddy has no hot spots before you put it in?

[kastillo]

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38915
rippie's thread

Thanks Jackie!

[kcassidy]

Rice Buddy is 1/2 on the side of the container that is on top of the heating pad and 1/2 off. After feeding she cuddles up to it, later she moves away. RB is not being heated in the microwave.

I can take a photo of the setup if you all need to see it.

This has happened in under 24 hours. Yesterday AM she looked great, no peeling skin, no swelling, then at the 3pm feeding yesterday, it started looking like this, but one toe. I put her under a magnifying glass but could see no threads, string, nothing. By this morning this is what she looked like.

thanks for that link Jackie, just to have it handy I'm ordering it. Also where can I get Cipiro, my vet?

[Jackie in Tampa]

How does an antibiotic treat a viral infection? so far from what I have seen ... the sqs that pass away do so from secondary infections...or so it appears.
It gets really funky in the respitory system and their lungs fill.. I know, two types of pnuemonia also, bacterial and viral...
hence I use anti biotics and anti virals
I am no expert, but have tried to keep up my reading on any info I find out there... pox is a demon.
I feel, the sooner it is identified and treatment starts the better the chance to thrive and overcome..
I also think DNA, and prior history in an area helps with immunities ...
all speculation, different strains etc...
alot of unknowns.

[farrelli]

Has she had any contact with chemicals, cleaning agents, etc?

[kcassidy]

No nothing, I use baby detergent on the blankets, I wash my hands with locally made, organic soap before handling her.

I switched all the blankets out this morning and have pulled the RB out just a few minutes ago

[Jackie in Tampa]

just saw the pics... looks more like a fever was in that hand..
and you said you looped it/ magnified, and saw no thread...????
I say watch it carefully, too soon to think it's pox...
I do not see a pox red flag and hopefully won't...
fingers crossed..

[kcassidy]

just saw the pics... looks more like a fever was in that hand..
and you said you looped it/ magnified, and saw no thread...????
I say watch it carefully, too soon to think it's pox...
I do not see a pox red flag and hopefully won't...
fingers crossed..

Yup no thread and what are the chances of recieving blankets having enough threads to damage 4 toes on two separate hands? I also think her hind feet look swollen.

What do I do? I only have Baytril and Doxy on hand.

[Jackie in Tampa]

oh...it's not just one hand...ugh...okay, more concerned.
still not convinced it's pox, but it's gotta be something huh?
:thinking
mind is racing..need more info.. there are more babies? and no one else has anything going on? any other boo boos anywhere else?
wee small pimples? any raised areas...cat contact?
no way she was burned?

[kcassidy]

oh...it's not just one hand...ugh...okay, more concerned.
still not convinced it's pox, but it's gotta be something huh?
:thinking
mind is racing..need more info.. there are more babies? and no one else has anything going on? any other boo boos anywhere else?
wee small pimples? any raised areas...cat contact?
no way she was burned?

yes both hands, no way she was burned that I'm aware of.

No babies... YET. OP that posted here the other day has changed her mind and wants to give me her two babies who are one week older than Button.

I do have a Duck in the house (female Mallard) could she have a disease? I have been giving her meds, but wash my hands between animals.

No shared syringes.

Bedding is all washed and clean before putting Button on it.

Bedding is washed with baby detergent, chemical free, no perfumes or dyes

I don't wear perfume..... hmmmmmmm I do put Gel in my hair, I wonder if I fed her after doing my hair, would that do it?

Her skin has been looking great, now it is peeling in the joints of her legs, a little scaly on her head.

I do "lick" her whole body with a cotton ball, cuz I figured her mom would do the same, is that bad?

I have a baby food jar filled with watered sponge in the container on the heating pad to help with humidity and as I said I removed the Rice Baby this AM.

I'm stumped should I change the title of the thread so I don't mislead later viewers on Pox?

[LeilaNami]

While most of my experience were in other rodents other than squirrels, could this possibly be bumblefoot if not pox? I've seen it affect only one or two toes on different feet and sometimes the entire foot swells. She looks like she has a couple lesions around the base of her toes. Usually it's contracted by small cuts on the feet getting infected. Are squirrels prone to getting that at all? :dono

Also if it is pox, Baytril is a gram-negative antibiotic which is what my text book cites to be generally used in secondary infections like those in the respiratory system and several squirrel sites recommend Bayril in a combo with anti-inflammatory drugs. Baytril is hard on the kidneys though.

[island rehabber]

kcassidy I truly don't think this is pox. I had a pinky last year who had two toes that looked identical to this. I was SURE it was a hair or a thread and drove myself nearly blind trying to find it. Finally, I coated her little paw with Silvadene Cream -- silver sulfadiazine (sp?) and it disappeared within a day or so. I still have no idea what caused this but it looked the same.

[SammysMom]

She isn't getting Pedialyte with salt anymore right?

[Nancy in New York]

patjones had a little one that had ONE toe that looked "something" like this.
I believe that it eventurally fell off.
Here's the thread, I did not read the whole thing, I just remember seeing the picture.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33374

[kcassidy]

Have to go look up Bumblefoot

I have Silvadyne (spelling) use it in horses feet for thrush, will go dig it out tomorrow.

Sammy's Mom - she has never been on Pedialyte.

Nancy - I'll go read this thread, thanks for the link.

[farrelli]

Can't you dig it out tonight? I would hate to see her loose toes, or be in pain longer than necessary.

[kcassidy]

patjones had a little one that had ONE toe that looked "something" like this.
I believe that it eventurally fell off.
Here's the thread, I did not read the whole thing, I just remember seeing the picture.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33374

Yup I remember this, Pat's squirrel had an injury at the nail, Button's toes are funky at the part where they join the hand.

Ugh, I hate this.

[Nancy in New York]

Yup I remember this, Pat's squirrel had an injury at the nail, Button's toes are funky at the part where they join the hand.

Ugh, I hate this.

Do you have a vet?

[kcassidy]

Yes I'll go over today, thought you all would know what it is. I'll update you later.

[Nancy in New York]

Yes I'll go over today, thought you all would know what it is. I'll update you later.


Oh no, I was just asking, not that he should go.
I was going to offer mine if you didn't.
How does it look this morning?

[kcassidy]

Oh no, I was just asking, not that he should go.
I was going to offer mine if you didn't.
How does it look this morning?

Both fronts - whole foot looks "red" and the toes are still swollen, but not as much anymore. I've given her Baytril yesterday and will today as well, I also put the antibiotic ointment on her feet thru the night feedings and this AM.

Overall though she is doing great, up to almost 3cc's a feeding, feisty, peeing/pooping and sleeping :)

[Nancy in New York]

Both fronts - whole foot looks "red" and the toes are still swollen, but not as much anymore. I've given her Baytril yesterday and will today as well, I also put the antibiotic ointment on her feet thru the night feedings and this AM.

Overall though she is doing great, up to almost 3cc's a feeding, feisty, peeing/pooping and sleeping :)


Fantastic update. Like Maura said she has had that with a squirrel, and it ended up clearing up.
I am just thinking out loud, but I wonder if a dose of benedryl would help?
And remember you can always give infant ibuprophen if you think she is in pain.

[Jackie in Tampa]

how are Buttons toes today? any new pics?
could it be celulitus?
if so the baytril will help.
get better baby buttons:Love_Icon