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View Full Version : Huey losing hair. Please help.



morganlove
07-20-2014, 08:09 PM
Huey (three years old, blind in one eye) is losing lots of hair all over his back and sides, though the skin underneath looks normal. I took him to a vet who gave him a skin test for fungal infections that turned up negative but said that he had a lot of bacteria on him. He prescribed Baytril to put in his water and also gave him something to put on his neck to prevent mites. Then Huey began picking at the place where the skin test was and chewing the scab off. I was panicking about this and even ordered him a tiny e-collar from Henry's site but after putting Cordaid on it every day it seems to be getting better but the hair loss is worse than ever. There was a place where it had grown back but it fell out again. The vet said that he wanted to see him again if it didn't improve but I don't know if I can afford it. Even taking him the first time was a financial blow.

He stays on a screened in back porch during the day, though I don't know if this is direct enough sunlight. We've started moving his cage outside for a certain amount of time each day. He eats his rodent blocks and healthy blocks (he usually gets two a day but I've increased it to three now) but he's always been really picky about vegetables. I always put a bunch in there but most of it is ignored. I've been going down the veggie list provided here but the only ones he consistently likes and eats are tomatoes and peppers. He's responded to carrots, peas and brocolli and I provide them to him but he'll only eat them sometimes. He loves fruits and nuts but I know they're just treats. Would calcium supplements help him? I'm planning to order this: http://www.henryspets.com/mbd-treatment-kit/ on our next payday. Is there anything else I can do? I've felt sick the past few weeks. He's acting normally otherwise but I'm so worried about him I just want to cry.

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CritterMom
07-20-2014, 08:18 PM
My perfectly healthy squirrel has this happen periodically and I know I am overdue in replacing his UV lamps. His setup is such that I cannot move it to a sunny area, so I have to use the lamps. I think that YOU are on the right track in getting him a LITTLE sun (be very careful to avoid heatstroke/sunstroke - don't do this on super hot days. I think some squirrels need this - I know mine does.

If he is eating the Henry's Healthy Bites he likely does not have MBD unless you feed him lots of bad stuff like corn and sunflower seeds along with them. I think this is just an abnormal molt. My guy did this on his stomach one year - perfectly smooth baby skin - no bumps, no rash - I would kill for skin like that - but naked! And then it grew back.

morganlove
07-21-2014, 11:09 AM
My perfectly healthy squirrel has this happen periodically and I know I am overdue in replacing his UV lamps. His setup is such that I cannot move it to a sunny area, so I have to use the lamps. I think that YOU are on the right track in getting him a LITTLE sun (be very careful to avoid heatstroke/sunstroke - don't do this on super hot days. I think some squirrels need this - I know mine does.

If he is eating the Henry's Healthy Bites he likely does not have MBD unless you feed him lots of bad stuff like corn and sunflower seeds along with them. I think this is just an abnormal molt. My guy did this on his stomach one year - perfectly smooth baby skin - no bumps, no rash - I would kill for skin like that - but naked! And then it grew back.

Thank you. This makes me feel a lot better. The only treats he gets are an apple slice everyday. And he LOVES his healthy blocks and scarfs them down. I'd give him more if they weren't so expensive. About how long do you think I should I expect him to be bald?

CritterMom
07-21-2014, 11:26 AM
I think there are times of the year where they are really actively growing hair...so it kind of depends. If they go bald right before hair growing time - fast - if not, it might take a while.

In addition to the apple, does he get healthy veggies and such?

farrelli
07-21-2014, 12:28 PM
Have you seen the healthy diet thread?

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels