My Wild Squirrel Friend Is Looking Real Bad and not sure what to do??

[garymulti]

Hello, I just joined the site today to see if anyone can help me. I live in Michigan on a very wooded parcel of land. I feed the turkey and squirrels and have grown fond of a very small squirrel named Sweety. She has beed losing her hair and is constantly scratching herself and rubbing her body up and down some wooden timbers. I can tell she is in need of help and the temps are below freezing and am worried she will freeze to death? Any suggestions on how I may help her?
Thanks in advance!
Gary

Here is a pic I took of her today sitting on an old birdhouse trying to sun herself.http://i.imgur.com/F4coRP9.jpg

[stepnstone]

She obviously has mange, there is treatment for this.
Do you feed the wilds and will she come toward you
if you were to give her a nut?

[garymulti]

I feed them but she is skittish..............I don't think she would come right to me and take a nut.

[stepnstone]

There is a med (Ivermectin) that is very successful with treating mange in the wild.
It entails a small rice size drop placed on a nut but you would need to know she is
the one getting the nut.

[garymulti]

Would it be wise to try and live trap her and feed her the nut and then release her?

[stepnstone]

Would it be wise to try and live trap her and feed her the nut and then release her?

If that is the best you can do then I'd say yes.
The problem is she would likely need to be treated twice
within 10 days of each other.
Trapping is stressful to them, doing it once can happen
but getting them in the trap twice could present a problem.

I'd have to take a shot at it either way, she's not going to
make it out there like that. Not only can it present other
health problems, other squirrels will pick on her in her
compromised state not to mention it makes her more
visible to other prey.

[garymulti]

Ok, I will attempt to trap her and give her the medicine. I will find out where I can get some locally. I will let you know how it turns out and thank you for the help!

[Saverywood]

Aw...poor little darling.
My fingers are crossed that you can help this poor little squirrel.
Around here you can buy ivermectin at the feed store.
Good luck!

:Welcome

[California Squirrel Lover]

hi garymulti! I just sent you a private message, offering to send you some ivermectin, if you need it. I ordered two extra packages of it, so I've got on hand. Let me know if you need it, and I'd send it to you today. Good luck with helping him, poor sweety.

[farrelli]

Be sure not to give anymore than the dab about the size of an UNCOOKED grain of rice. Ivermectin is very effective, but it's a very potent toxin. If you catch her, are you going to keep her for awhile? So cold out there in MI without fur. If you keep her, we'll need to know.

Ivermectin should be available locally though because there's a lot of farm supply shops in MI. Tractor Supply is also there, I think.

[island rehabber]

hi garymulti! I just sent you a private message, offering to send you some ivermectin, if you need it. I ordered two extra packages of it, so I've got on hand. Let me know if you need it, and I'd send it to you today. Good luck with helping him, poor sweety.


CSL, gary just replied via the TSB Admin email, so I forwarded it to you!
Thank you so much for helping him. :thankyou

[California Squirrel Lover]

IR, thank you so much!! I'm sending the ivermectin out today!! :grouphug:grouphug

[stepnstone]

IR, thank you so much!! I'm sending the ivermectin out today!! :grouphug:grouphug

:thankyou CSL :thumbsup

[California Squirrel Lover]

OK, just got back from post office, I wanted to go down to the main one downtown, I figured it'd be faster. Sent the ivermectin 2 day priority. Also ordered some healthy block food from Henry's, being shipped to you directly. I hope you don't mind?? :grouphug:grouphug I thought the extra vitamins and nutrients would help her, too. :grouphug:grouphug

[California Squirrel Lover]

If that is the best you can do then I'd say yes.
The problem is she would likely need to be treated twice
within 10 days of each other.
Trapping is stressful to them, doing it once can happen
but getting them in the trap twice could present a problem.

I'd have to take a shot at it either way, she's not going to
make it out there like that. Not only can it present other
health problems, other squirrels will pick on her in her
compromised state not to mention it makes her more
visible to other prey.

I hope this doesn't sound like a silly question, but I really don't know, so I'm going to ask. Is she in danger, just being out in the cold, with so much fur loss? Does she need to be kept indoors until the fur starts growing back?

[farrelli]

I was wondering that too. I was also wondering if the questions has been asked about her being a nursing mother. If so, no capture and no Ivermectin.

[California Squirrel Lover]

I was wondering that too. I was also wondering if the questions has been asked about her being a nursing mother. If so, no capture and no Ivermectin.

farrelli, no, I don't think that's been asked, but I don't know for sure. I PM'd garymulti earlier today, to let them know I'd mailed the ivermectin. I said I thought we should come back on here, to this thread, to get more insight as to whether Sweety should be trapped or not, since I'm no expert, I wanted input on here. I haven't heard back or seen a reply on here yet, but I'm hoping they come back on soon.

[TubeDriver]

Garimulti - take a close look at Sweetie and check to see if her nipples look enlarged? If so, she may have babies and trapping would NOT be a good idea.

If not, then Ivermectin can be used. Will sweetie eat a shelled walnut that is place on the ground in front of her? If so, you may not need to trap her. Just make sure she eats the treated walnut and then repeat this in 10-14 days.

Is it starting to get warmer where you are?

[stepnstone]

I hope this doesn't sound like a silly question, but I really don't know, so I'm going to ask. Is she in danger, just being out in the cold, with so much fur loss? Does she need to be kept indoors until the fur starts growing back?


Hello, I just joined the site today to see if anyone can help me. I live in Michigan on a very wooded parcel of land.

Not a silly question at all...
Being naked out in these frigid weather patterns we've been having
is dangerous for any species...

I'm all for treating in the wild due to the stress factors, however if gm don't feel
they could get close enough to be successful then their other alternative is
better then doing nothing.
This squirrel needs the help now.

[garymulti]

I will check to see if she is a nursing mother and I will try to give her the medicine without trapping if possible. The weather is starting to get warmer, but they are calling for rain the next few days. Thanks to everyone for all the help and input!

[stepnstone]

gm, if you were to start "baiting" her by tossing her nuts now for the next few
days until the Ivermectin comes in, she may look forward to the handouts and
make it easier when it comes time for the laced nut.
I would be careful not to draw in other squirrels around her as she is in no
condition to ward off injury fighting over food.

[garymulti]

Stepnstone,

That sounds like a great idea. I will give that a try starting today.
Gary

[farrelli]

Btw, I don;t think anyone gave you the best option for the dose nut, it's a pecan. You can put the get in between the grooves and cover it up with peanut butter. Works like a charm.

[California Squirrel Lover]

postal tracking shows the ivermectin's supposed to arrive tomorrow!! :thumbsup

[garymulti]

CSL, I received the package today and am on my way to buy some PECANS! I will keep you all updated on my quest to get Sweety medicated!!!
Thanks again for everything!
GM

[California Squirrel Lover]

GM, I'm so glad it arrived on time!! :thumbsup Expect something else to arrive tomorrow, check your private messages!

[TubeDriver]

:thumbsup


Do you have dosing info? Is this Ivermectin prediluted or full strength (1% solution)?

Just want to make sure you give the correct amount, Ivermectin is toxic and an overdose is dangerous.

[California Squirrel Lover]

TubeDriver, thank you! It's this one: http://www.durvet.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=85:ivermectin-paste

[TubeDriver]

TubeDriver, thank you! It's this one: http://www.durvet.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=85:ivermectin-paste

Ok. If you have have the weight we can calculate an exact dose. You will need a small amount of propylene glycol to dilute it (will not mix in water).

Or

Many people have also treated with a rough approximation. This dosing calls for a single drop of Ivermectin paste to be given orally. The amount should be a small drop about the size to fill this "o". People will often say to use an amount the size of a piece of uncooked rice but I think that may be too much for the average 500-650g adult squirrel.

Wait 2 weeks and then treat again a second time (single drop of Ivermectin). You may need to treat a third time, this would be after another two week wait.



The first treatment kills adult mites, the second dose two week later kills any recently hatched mites (ivermectin will not kill mite eggs). The third and final dose is for any mites left over in her nest that try to bite her.

Good luck! :thumbsup

[California Squirrel Lover]

Thank you TubeDriver! :thumbsup This particular ivermectin's the only one I've ever used, and it worked very well. I used a toothpick to get what I call a "dot" out of the tube, like you said, the size to fill that "o", or sort of like the size of a half grain of uncooked rice. Once when I had an adult wild female with a severe case of mange, like Sweety, I may have dosed a tiny bit more, but still less than the size of a full grain of uncooked rice (she was a large adult). She was in bad shape, but recovered beautifully with the ivermectin. I understand, though, how VERY careful you have to be to NOT overdose on the ivermectin!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon Sweety!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[garymulti]

I was able to get Sweety to eat a few Pecans this afternoon! I plan on trying to give her the medication tomorrow and understand the dosage.I will make sure I don't give her too much and hope it will help bring her back to normal. Thanks again!

[garymulti]

CSL,
I am excited to try the treats for Sweety. I tried to send you a pm reply but am having trouble........not sure what Im doing wrong. I understand what you wrote and will follow your instructions! Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow will be the start to Sweetys recovery!
Thanks for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TubeDriver]

Good Luck!:thumbsup

[California Squirrel Lover]

CSL,
I am excited to try the treats for Sweety. I tried to send you a pm reply but am having trouble........not sure what Im doing wrong. I understand what you wrote and will follow your instructions! Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow will be the start to Sweetys recovery!
Thanks for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No problem, I'm so happy to try and help her!! I'd be so excited if she ate the blocks, I think they'd do her good. If not, there's always ways to try and make them more appealing, but I'm hoping she'll love them. :thumbsup:thumbsup

[garymulti]

To all who replyed to my thread......I was able to get Sweety to eat the medicated pecan today! I also have some good healthy treats (thanks to a kind soul) to start giving her tomorrow. I look forward to seeing her get healthy again!
Thanks again!
GM

[MJS]

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

[SammysMom]

Wonderful news!!! Good job!!!:Love_Icon

[California Squirrel Lover]

I have a couple questions for the experts. How long approx does it take for the ivermectin to start working? Is it pretty fast? The other question, did you guys say Sweety will need three separate doses of it? I was wondering if three doses is definitely enough, even if the squirrel has it as badly as it appears Sweety does, based on her pic? Or does the severity not matter, and is the standard three doses no matter what? Thanks everyone!

[farrelli]

Three doses is generally the rule (one week apart). Usually that's all that's needed. You should see hair growing back fairly soon. Just keep us updated about what you see.

[CritterMom]

I have a couple questions for the experts. How long approx does it take for the ivermectin to start working? Is it pretty fast? The other question, did you guys say Sweety will need three separate doses of it? I was wondering if three doses is definitely enough, even if the squirrel has it as badly as it appears Sweety does, based on her pic? Or does the severity not matter, and is the standard three doses no matter what? Thanks everyone!

The three doses with the 7 days between is designed to kill the adults, and then the ones that hatch from eggs laid by the adults. It doesn't kill the eggs so the subsequent 2 doses catch them as they hatch.

[California Squirrel Lover]

:Love_Icon:Love_Icon Sweety :Love_Icon:Love_Icon