Molting

[SammysMom]

Okay, am I crazy or is Sammy acting "off" because he is molting? Here are some pics. They are NOT good ones as they are cell phone pics. It is his fanny that he just wants scratched. Loads of fluffy hair is coming out when I do scratch him. He is just acting a little quieter than usual. Anyone else ever see this?

[Cleo_13]

Is the skin under the fur pink right there in the third picture, or is it just the picture quality?

[SammysMom]

It's the poor quality. It does get a bit pink from me scratching him, but otherwise it isn't...

[Cleo_13]

That's good. I hope he's okay.As I recall, Pola looked like that this time every year, but as a wild I never got to scratch her, and I don't know if she behaved any differently.

[SammysMom]

Anyone with a NR who has been weird during molt?:thinking

[Nancy in New York]

Anyone with a NR who has been weird during molt?:thinking

Geez, I just saw this.
Is his fur thin? Some of my overwinters fur is thinning it seems. They are eating well (Thank God) but I have noticed within the past couple of weeks their fur is thinning? I know that when they go outside they will start getting nicer coats.
Sammy goes outside, so I'm not sure what the problem is, if any. Ask CritterMom, I know that she was saying that once MR. P molted so bad she felt embarrassed to even put pictures up, and he is the poster child for a healthy squirrel.:D
Sammy don't be scaring your mama now.
Are you more concerned about him seeming a little weird or the molt?

[SammysMom]

I swear the whole thing is due to itching from loose hair. :shakehead All he wants to do is to sit on my lap while I scratch his fanny...:shakehead Which I of course do without question...:D
The fluffy undercoat seems to be what is coming out when I scratch. It is the center of his back that is thinnest.:sanp3

[SammysMom]

bump? Anyone?:thinking

[SammysMom]

Today I began to think that maybe this is mites or something from his encounter with the wild in his cage. Does anyone else think that maybe a drop of Revolution might be okay?

[Nancy in New York]

Today I began to think that maybe this is mites or something from his encounter with the wild in his cage. Does anyone else think that maybe a drop of Revolution might be okay?

Oh yes, I just gave Fluffer a dose as he has been doing a lot of "grooming" and itching himself. AND he is getting sparse in the groin area...:shakehead Same thing happened last year though, perhaps his was overgrooming.:dono

[SammysMom]

Did he stop itching? One drop, correct?

[Nancy in New York]

Did he stop itching? One drop, correct?

No he didn't. I think I have to dose again, but not sure how far apart.
Yes, I put one drop between the shoulder blades. It was difficult to see one drop, I had to pet him with one hand and then apply the med. It would have been easier with two people, but Rich could never touch him, or even get close to him.:nono

[SammysMom]

Thank-you Auntie! We will give it a shot when "someone" wakes up...:flash3

[Nancy in New York]

Thank-you Auntie! We will give it a shot when "someone" wakes up...:flash3
:thumbsup

[Milo's Mom]

I do not think the Revolution will hurt him, but wasn't it just posted the other day that Revolution does not work on mites?

Ellie had the fluffy under fur coming out (still does in some spots). Since she too loves her butt scritchies so much her butt is done molting. (I scritched it all out)

I do not use my nails on Ellie, just an open hand and pads of my fingers...more like a massage.

[SammysMom]

I am grasping at straws Betsy... His poor fanny has a big bump of hair that is not done falling out yet...:shakehead
Poor guy is scratching himself and he keeps coming onto my lap and jacking his butt up for scritches...:shakehead I started out scratching and today started the massage technique too. He has one pink spot that I am afraid I caused...:nono
I am also pushing the calcium just in case...:Love_Icon

[shellyb1018]

I believe Skeeter is molting also, but it is under her arms,actually her armpits and her belly. She seems to be quieter lately also, wanting more love and hugs. Last night she squeaked when I went to put her down. Had to finish cleaning her cage. :shakehead
Other than that, she seems normal, she is eating, peeing and pooing..and running crazy when I do play with her.
Weirdest thing though, she has been wiping her but, like a dragging of her but, but only on my sons flannel in her room. I have never really experienced any different behavior from her due to going into heat. Maybe that is a sign of it I just dont know, she is a year and half, so she had to have a heat sometime or another, but I never noticed a change in her at all. So maybe, the molting, extra loving, quietness is all wrapped up into 1 thing?????:dono
Either way,I think she is healthy and doing good. She also gained a couple grams, lol. She is now at 640 grams.
Maybe its just the time of the year. Not sure if this shed any light or just made you feel you're not alone with it. Also....have you just tried brushing him with a softer brush? Maybe it wont cause reddness and still satisfy him??
I also know when I give Skeeter cherries, her fur becomes a lot nicer, but I have to wait for them to be in season....

[SammysMom]

:thankyou Shelly and everyone else who weighed in on this issue. I did end up using Revolution last night and he improved within hours. Today he is almost 100% and his fur feels silkier already.
I cleaned out his nest box that goes inside and outside daily with him. I felt like a real crumb pulling apart all of his hard work...:shakehead but I feared that the wild "visitor" he had last week might have left him some itchy gifts...:sanp3 He had that bed just perfect with shredded tissues. I gave him his box with a piece of fleece already in it and a fresh box of tissues this morning. When I got home today, he had the box of tissues almost empty and was napping in his box.:thumbsup
I think the boy is better, but his swings really do drive me crazy...:shakehead :Love_Icon :shakehead