Mange ( I think )

[squirel]

I have seen 3 squirrels this last days who seem to have mange .
The first looks very similar to a mange infected squirrel picture I saw with bald spots of skin . The skin is very light , almost white , with little spots of black fur . The skin didn't seen damaged but I was far away .
The second had a little part of his tail bald and another bald spot close to his tail . The spot is not big but the skin looks damaged .
The third one is the only I have seen before and he/she looks exactly the same in the last 3 weeks : he/she has a perfectly simmetrical bald line beginning between his/her ears and ending on his back . the line is about 3-4 cm long and 0,5-1 cm tick . The skin appears perfectly healthy and pink . This last one I would't think has mange , but I would like your opinions .
I hope to see them again and to be able to help .
It's really always so sad to see them not healthy ....

[farrelli]

Got pics? Do you already know how to treat?

[squirel]

I'll try the pics but I don't know this squirrels and they stay very far and appear for a few seconds only .
I doubt I'll be able to make pics but I'll try my best .
I have seen about mange treatment here on the board . I'm in Canada so everything is more complicated to buy .
I'm sorry to have so small information

[squirel]

No luck today ! I was around for a lot of time but couldn't get any pictures ...
I'll try again tomorrow . Could you tell me for what to look to understand if it is mange ?
I just hope to help them . it would be wonderful to get them back to health . I know you do it all the time but it makes me feel so good inside only to think to be able to make that difference :):):).

[Rhapsody]

Here is a thread on some of my squirrels that had mange --with PICS!!
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?27151-Possible-Mange&highlight=Mange

[farrelli]

Please tell us what you're using to treat. If Ivermectin, you need to be VERY careful as it's a potent toxin. Tell us if you are.

[squirel]

In this moment I'm just trying to understand if it's mange , before treating I would always ask for explications here on the forum .
These squirrels stay far far away , so I hope someone can understand if it's mange from what I wrote in post #1 .

[farrelli]

Mange tends to be more red and crusty. Yours sounds like it might be mites, but Ivermectin will do the trick. Is that what you plan to use?

[Charley Chuckles]

I am having some similar issues with my wilds, does it look anything like this???? Hope I am not thread jacking here, and again this is my wild :thankyou
223982223981223980223979

[squirel]

Thank you all so much for the answers :thankyou .
Still trying to see them better and be sure if it's mange . Two of them didn't show up today even if i was around for a long time .
If it's mites but not mange is it still so bad ?
Is it something that puts the squirrel at risk or something that happens normally in the wild , like fleas ?
Is it possible that the third one ( a nice grey colored male ) has mange or mites given that the bald spot is so simmetrical and didn't change in three weeks and has no crusts ?
CC no thread jacking at all , the pictures are very interesting and i hope they will heal very soon .
R thanks for the link
Farelli thankyou for all your dedication and attention , I don't know how you do it but you're always here to help .
Thank you all again

[farrelli]

Mange or mites, still good to treat, especially in cold climates where a lack of fur can cause frostbite and even death. It's also contagious, especially at this time of year when they share nests to keep warm. A pic would be good to see how severe it is.

[squirel]

I'm really trying with the pics but not sure if it will be possible . I'll try again today .
I have read a lot yesterday and have 2 questions .
If you use equine Ivermectin they say to mix it in a bowl before using : if you need to try more then one day to see the squirrel have you to open a new tube every day or can you use the mixed one for a few days ( just to know how much to order in case ) .
About the contagiousness I have read that the mites are normally on the squirrels and they get sick when their immune sistem is weak . Is it still very contagious ? How do they get it from each other ?
Sorry for the dumb questions , I'm just trying to understand .
:thankyou so much for the answers and the help .

[CritterMom]

I'm really trying with the pics but not sure if it will be possible . I'll try again today .
I have read a lot yesterday and have 2 questions .
If you use equine Ivermectin they say to mix it in a bowl before using : if you need to try more then one day to see the squirrel have you to open a new tube every day or can you use the mixed one for a few days ( just to know how much to order in case ) .
About the contagiousness I have read that the mites are normally on the squirrels and they get sick when their immune sistem is weak . Is it still very contagious ? How do they get it from each other ?
Sorry for the dumb questions , I'm just trying to understand .
:thankyou so much for the answers and the help .

You should be able to get the equine ivermectin - it is COMMONLY used on horses (every few months). It is 1.87% ivermectin. You have read about the bit the size of an UNCOOKED grain of rice, given at least 7 days apart, right?

When you get the little "tube" - it is actually a giant syringe - of ivermectin, pop the top off and squirt a little out. The chances are, what you will have is a CLEAR GEL. I have a horse and use this stuff a lot and haven't seen the creamy paste stuff in several years. The CLEAR GEL does not need to be dispensed into a bowl and stirred up. The paste used to separate so if you were dosing a horse it was okay - you shoot the whole thing down their throat - but if you were just using a little you needed to stir like crazy to make sure it was evenly distributed..

The gel does not separate, so you will just need to squeeze a little bit to take your tiny, rice piece from and put the cap back on. I would put the whole thing in a zip lock plastic bag in the refrigerator with DANGER!!! POISON!!! signs all over it. It will last for a long time, so you need only buy one tube for about 100,000 squirrels...:grin2

I can order this on the internet for $1.99 - I see it for anywhere from $7 to $12 at local livestock supply places, so even with the insane retail markup, it is a pretty reasonable treatment.