REALLY worried...

[ClimberSquirrel]

I have a baby squirrel (around 8-10 weeks old, I THINK), and I'm pretty worried about him. When I first had him, he had a small bald spot on his back. In one week, that spot covered an area about the size of a quarter, and his skin began to get wrinkly. His right eye also began to get red and puffy. Another week went by, and even more spots began appearing, on his hindquarters, paws, stomach, etc. A vet checked him for mites, and though he didn't find any under the microscope, he was pretty sure that's what it is, so he gave us some medicine. It hasn't helped, and the spots are getting worse.

He'd also been sneezing occasionally, but I noticed tonight that it's been constantly, and his breathing is somewhat squeaky. Anyone know what might be wrong with him? I'm posting pictures of his swollen eye, and of the spots on his back, paws, and stomach. The first picture is of him before his condition got worse. (Isn't he cute?)

213827

[Shewhosweptforest]

:bump aww poor baby ...he's really cute but sure is suffering...we've got some really good members in FL who may be able to help you directly...we just need to keep bumping you to the front again:thumbsup

[Rhapsody]

A vet checked him for mites, and though he didn't find any under the microscope, he was pretty sure that's what it is, so he gave us some medicine.
It hasn't helped, and the spots are getting worse. What medicine did he give him? --I am thinking maybe Skin Mange w/ poss mites, and for that we here at TSB recommend kitten Revolution.....
1 drop right between the shoulder blade, repeat in one month if needed.

Edit:
Prob need to get some antibiotic cream for the eye.

[kastillo]

Do yall think it might be pox? Doesn't look exactly like it, but it may manifest differently in indoor/kept squirrels. I don't know, just the first thing I thought of when I saw the eye. Echinacea supplement in the water couldn't hurt though.
Maybe a vet can do a skin culture to find out for sure.
Edit: if you have any other squirrels, I would keep him quarantined for now.

[farrelli]

That is really weird. I'd PM Jackie in Tampa to see if she's seen this before. She's raised a million squirrels.

[island rehabber]

This looks like mange -- typical mange -- and you need either Revolution or ivermectin, ASAP.
The wheezing and respiratory issues may not be related at all. If you have access to a vet, I would get this baby on antibiotics as well, either SMZ-TMP or Baytril.

[ClimberSquirrel]

Rhapsody: The medicine bottle says 'Ivomec oral'. (Is that related to ivermectin?)

Kastillo: I think the vet did do a skin culture.

I'll pm Jackie, and take the recommendations to the vet and see what he says.

[Anne]

Are you close to Tampa? If so Jackie will know what to do. Are you close to Daytona? Dr. Emerson at Ravenwood is wonderful. Are you close to Jacksonville? That's were I am and I have an unopened bottle of Baytril,and some other meds, would be happy to help anyway I can.

[ClimberSquirrel]

I'm about three hours east of Tampa, four hours south of Jacksonville, and two and a half hours south from Daytona. I live in Stuart, about an hour north of West Palm.

[Anne]

Know someone in Vero Beach, will see if I can get her here to read this.

[crazy4squirrels]

That looks like pox.

[ClimberSquirrel]

Anne, who is the person from Vero?

[Anne]

Her board name is jbillings. She lives in Vero-sent her a PM to check out your posts. I'd call her but I don't have her phone number.

[farrelli]

You might start giving immune boosters in case it is Pox. Just the kind you get at health food stores. I have to run but I suggest that you do a search on here for it. We have threads, and probably some stickies, which deal with Pox and it's treatment. All you can do is boost the immunity and hope for the best. And if it's not pox, the boosters can't hurt.

[farrelli]

Her'es a couple quick results:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?38915-What-saved-my-pox-squirrels&highlight=

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?42251-Anyone-know-of-an-immune-booster-to-fight-squirrel-pox

[Charley Chuckles]

Poor baby, praying for him :grouphug

[ALittleNutty]

Poor baby! Hope you get it back on the road to better health soon.

[Skul]

I suspect pox is the cause.
I'm not aware of any treatment to cure it, just to slow it down and allow the squirrel to fight it.
It just seems that Echinacea added to the water, does that.

[MollyBear361]

Poor baby...:Love_Icon

[MJS]

THIS IS ONE OF THE LINKS FARRELLI REFERRED YOU http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?38915-What-saved-my-pox-squirrels&highlight= I USE THIS DAILY FOR BOTH WILD SQS AND MY 'RESINDENTIAL' SQUIRRELS. 2 TABLESPOONS PER GALLON OF WATER...KEEP IN THE FRIDGE. ALTERNATIVELY, GNC ECHINACEA CAPSULES...EMPTY ONE CAP PER GALLON OF WATER...FRIDGE ALSO. NEVER HAD POX HERE SO I CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS OTHER THAN WHAT WAS POSTED IN THE ABOVE LINK, BUT IT SURE SEEMED TO WORK FOR THAT SQ. IF YOU THINK IT'S POX, I WOULD TRY IT.

[ClimberSquirrel]

Thank you all very much! I've written down your suspected ailments and recommended treatments, and will give them to the vet tomorrow and ask is opinion.

*insert really cool emoticon, because how much better can it get than Star Wars and squirels combined?* :starwars

[crazy4squirrels]

Try Silver water. It is natural and you can put is on the lesions and put it in the squirrels water. There are no side effects and it will not interact with any other meds. Def put on the lesions. You can buy at health food stores. please treat with the other suggestions this is just an additional boost. Silver water is an anti bacterial that has been used for eons

[Curliesmom]

That's a girl not a boy

[sid'smommy]

That's a girl not a boy

:thumbsup I was waiting to see how long it took for someone else to notice that! :grin2 lol

[sid'smommy]

UPDATE??

[ClimberSquirrel]

The vet says that the swelling is starting to go to his other eye now (vet said boy... I think the sores make it hard to tell, in addition to the fact that he won't stay still. I'll continue to refer to him as a boy until it can be confirmed once and for all.) The first eye is now swollen almost completely shut, and is oozing sticky white stuff that forms a crust in the fur around his eyes if I don't wipe it off. The other eye is starting to show signs of the stickiness, too. The vet says that it looks different from pox, and that it's more likely mange. He says that he's not trained to deal with squirrels, but he took pictures and sent them to his professor, who happens to be on The Squirrel Board.

Still not sure what to do for him? In between paychecks right now, so we can't order him any medicine until Friday, then it likely won't come until next Monday... :dono

[ClimberSquirrel]

I'll try to post updated pictures of him tonight.

[TubeDriver]

I'll try to post updated pictures of him tonight.

Any change in the "spots"? Any scabbing?


She is a cutie. Hope you can save her!

[SammysMom]

What medicine is going to be used?

[ClimberSquirrel]

Any change in the "spots"? Any scabbing?

I think more have appeared, and they may have increased in size. Slight scabbing, but I think that's from him scratching at them.


I wrote down everything that was suggested from this post and took it in to the vet. He said that any of the medications would be a good idea... So, I have nothing definite to work with. :sanp3

[CritterMom]

Boy, that sure does look like pox (fibroma) to me. We have seen several cases here on the board.

If they feel this is mange, the classic treatment is ivermectin, and it can be very easily and cheaply purchased at any Tractor Supply in a paste made for horses. We could help dose that. By cheap I mean less than $10.
Another treatment is Revolution, which is one of the "spot on" meds for dogs and cats that is applied topically between the shoulders. It also treats mange.

If it is pox, you need to get him on antivirals plus immune boosters. We have lots of people here who could perhaps help you out but we need to know what the vet is thinking first.

[CritterMom]

What is his weight?

[TubeDriver]

The larger areas of fur loss on the back look more like mange but paws and stomach look more like Pox? Worst case, it could be both Mange and Pox. I am no expert so take this with a grain of salt. Vet may be able to confirm Mange with microscope? Starting this squirrel on immune boosters (in case it is Pox) would not harm him in any way and might not be a bad idea. Poor little thing. :(

[MJS]

NOT REALLY SURE WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR HERE!!! THE FIRST POST ON THIS THREAD WAS A WEEK AGO AND THIS SQ IS STILL NOT ON IMMUNE BOOSTERS ALTHOUGH INFO WAS PROVIDED....THE VET 'THOUGHT' IT MIGHT BE MANGE BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE MANGE TREATMENT. NEITHER OF THESE TREATMENTS WILL HARM THE SQ IN ANY WAY, SO:

1. GO TO GNC AND PURCHASE ECHINACEA CAPS...EMPTY ONE INTO ONE GAL WATER. PUT IN HER WATER BOTTLE

2. ORDER THE LIQUID IMMUNE BARRIER ASAP...EXPRESS SHIPPING...2 TABLESPOONS PER GAL WATER

3. PURCHASE A TUBE OF IVERMECTIN AT YOUR FARM AND FLEET STORE...FOR HORSES...APPLE FLAVOR. SHOOT THE WHOLE TUBE INTO A CONTAINER. PUT AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF AN UNCOOKED GRAIN OF RICE ON A PECAN. FEED THE SQ. DO THIS ONCE A WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS

OR

4. HAVE THE VET PRESCRIBE A MANGE TREATMENT THAT WILL BE FASTER ACTING

IF YOU LATER FIND OUT ITS NOT POX OR MANGE YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANYTHING.

[MJS]

SORRY...JUST TO BE CLEAR...DO 1 AND 2 REGARDLESS OF WHICH MANGE TREATMENT YOU DO (IVERMECTIN OR VET PRESCRIBED.)

[TubeDriver]

NOT REALLY SURE WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR HERE!!! THE FIRST POST ON THIS THREAD WAS A WEEK AGO AND THIS SQ IS STILL NOT ON IMMUNE BOOSTERS ALTHOUGH INFO WAS PROVIDED....THE VET 'THOUGHT' IT MIGHT BE MANGE BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE MANGE TREATMENT. NEITHER OF THESE TREATMENTS WILL HARM THE SQ IN ANY WAY, SO:

1. GO TO GNC AND PURCHASE ECHINACEA CAPS...EMPTY ONE INTO ONE GAL WATER. PUT IN HER WATER BOTTLE

2. ORDER THE LIQUID IMMUNE BARRIER ASAP...EXPRESS SHIPPING...2 TABLESPOONS PER GAL WATER

3. PURCHASE A TUBE OF IVERMECTIN AT YOUR FARM AND FLEET STORE...FOR HORSES...APPLE FLAVOR. SHOOT THE WHOLE TUBE INTO A CONTAINER. PUT AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE SIZE OF AN UNCOOKED GRAIN OF RICE ON A PECAN. FEED THE SQ. DO THIS ONCE A WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS

OR

4. HAVE THE VET PRESCRIBE A MANGE TREATMENT THAT WILL BE FASTER ACTING

IF YOU LATER FIND OUT ITS NOT POX OR MANGE YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANYTHING.

:goodpost No matter what it is, the immune booster is probably a good idea. Mange treatment is simple too. This really is a situation where you have nothing to lose by starting treatment for mange and Pox (which are the most likely dx).

[farrelli]

I really hope that action has already been taken and there actually isn't a delay here. :shakehead

[Garden71]

It sure looks like pox to me.....
What are you waiting for to treat her.
As you can see the longer you wait it's only going to get worse.

[kastillo]

LIke Tubedriver said, it looks like both, but I am not an expert either. Ivermectin for mange would be the first thing I'd do, then there's a link on here for an immune booster: http://www.caoh.org/liqimbarecbe.html. I think the thread is called what worked for my pox squirrels, I thinks that's what it's called.
Update on this baby?

[TubeDriver]

LIke Tubedriver said, it looks like both, but I am not an expert either. Ivermectin for mange would be the first thing I'd do, then there's a link on here for an immune booster: http://www.caoh.org/liqimbarecbe.html. I think the thread is called what worked for my pox squirrels, I thinks that's what it's called.
Update on this baby?

I saw something I think from Jackie where she had some Pox squirrels die when she treated them also for mange. I think she thought that the Pox so suppressed the immune system that the mange treatment became toxic/dangerous?

Perhaps start with the immune boosters and hold off any Mange treatment until you can talk with Jackie to see if this is correct.

[ClimberSquirrel]

I just didn't want to do anything that could be the wrong thing to do. Now, just waiting for pay day.

Does anybody have anything to say about his eye(s)? Or his respiratory problem?

[island rehabber]

I just didn't want to do anything that could be the wrong thing to do. Now, just waiting for pay day.

Does anybody have anything to say about his eye(s)? Or his respiratory problem?

Unfortunately both the AB drops for eyes and antibiotics for respiratory issues are Rx -- not available over the counter.

[ClimberSquirrel]

Alright, I'll try another vet visit... Basically, the vet said to tell him what we need, and he'd get it for us.

[TubeDriver]

What type of Antibiotic is needed? Cipro?

[CritterMom]

I would get Cipro or Baytril for secondary infection, Acyclovir for pox and a small tube of kitten Revolution for what appears to be mange. I would also get the immune system boosters which don't require antibiotics.

If the doc can't dose this stuff we need to know the concentration of each and an accurate weight of the squirrel in grams.

[ClimberSquirrel]

He weighs 6 oz. Not sure what that is in grams... I'll try checking the scale again.

[TubeDriver]

He weighs 6 oz. Not sure what that is in grams... I'll try checking the scale again.

6oz = 170g

[ClimberSquirrel]

Alright, here are updated pictures of his condition. If you can't tell what one area is, just ask.

214687

[MJS]

THAT LOOKS LIKE POX TO ME...NO QUESTION. IS HE ON THE IMMUNE BOOSTER/BARRIER YET? ANY OTHER MEDS?

[farrelli]

Yes, please, for the love of god, if he's not at least on immune boosters yet, can you please see if there is someone on here who could take him to give him care?

[TubeDriver]

THAT LOOKS LIKE POX TO ME...NO QUESTION. IS HE ON THE IMMUNE BOOSTER/BARRIER YET? ANY OTHER MEDS?

That does look like Pox. :( Jackie can give you advice, please start immune boosters ASAP.

:Cry

[CritterMom]

This little guy - hey, we need his name!! - now has meds and immune boosters. :thumbsup Now we just have to hope they do their job...

[ClimberSquirrel]

His name is Pippin-- after Peregrin Took from the Lord of the Rings. Yes, he has meds and boosters. HUGE thank-you to Jackie for that!!

[SammysMom]

Pippin...TSB is sending prayers for you and your mama. This is a really hard and uncomfortable thing for both of you. Thank-you Jackie for always being there to help.:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[ClimberSquirrel]

I am sad to report that Pippin, the most wonderful squirrel ever, died yesterday.

I'm thankful for the brief time that I had her, for she did much in my life during that time. I never thought that a squirrel could change so much... She is missed. :Squirrel :Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

I am sad to report that Pippin, the most wonderful squirrel ever, died yesterday.

I'm thankful for the brief time that I had her, for she did much in my life during that time. I never thought that a squirrel could change so much... She is missed. :Squirrel :Love_Icon

My heart is just breaking for you.
You did so much for your little Pippin.
She knows she was loved and secure
with you.
Thank you for all that you have done.
You were her angel.

Rest in Peace
Precious Pippin 214936

[Unikorngrrl]

I'm so sorry... :sad :grouphug

[ALittleNutty]

:grouphug So sorry to hear this. It's amazing the effect one of these tiny creatures can have on us in such a short time. :grouphug

[MsOakley]

So sorry for you both. Pox is probably the worst disease we see in squirrels. Breaks my heart every time.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Love_IconPippin
:grouphug

[TubeDriver]

Poor Pippin. :( I am glad he had you to comfort and love him before he passed.
Gods Speed little Pippin.