Flying Squirrel hair loss

[mauston]

Hi,
New member, first post.
I am raising 3 flying squirrels after the mother was killed by a cat. I have had them for 3 weeks and think they are around 6 weeks old. They have been eating very well, about 3cc per feeding, they also eat sweet potatoes, apples, broccoli, walnuts, carrots etc. A couple days ago 2 of them started scratching and have now lost the hair on about half of the top of their head. I have not found any fleas or lice on them and using a magnifying glass cannot see any mites, although I don't know if they are large enough to be seen. They are all still very active and eating well but I need to address their problem before it affects their health. Any suggestions will be well appreciated.

[ALittleNutty]

Hi,
New member, first post.
I am raising 3 flying squirrels after the mother was killed by a cat. I have had them for 3 weeks and think they are around 6 weeks old. They have been eating very well, about 3cc per feeding, they also eat sweet potatoes, apples, broccoli, walnuts, carrots etc. A couple days ago 2 of them started scratching and have now lost the hair on about half of the top of their head. I have not found any fleas or lice on them and using a magnifying glass cannot see any mites, although I don't know if they are large enough to be seen. They are all still very active and eating well but I need to address their problem before it affects their health. Any suggestions will be well appreciated.

Exactly what formula are they eating? Anything added to it like cream or yogurt?

Are they getting blocks and if so what kind?

What type of housing do they have?

What are you using for bedding?

At this age all they should be getting is a good formula and blocks until you are sure they are eating all their blocks. Nuts should be rare treats.

My boys are almost a year old and this is what I had them on at that age.
Henry's Healthy Blocks

2 Tablespoons FV powder
4 Tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
1 Teaspoon Yoplait Vanilla Yogurt Original (red label) or Thick & Creamy(orange label)

Have you changed detergents? Are you cleaning all the formula off them after feeding?

Sorry for all the questions but we need to know as much as possible. Pictures would help a lot too.

[mauston]

Exactly what formula are they eating? Anything added to it like cream or yogurt? I am using Esbilac puppy milk replacer with nothing added

Are they getting blocks and if so what kind? Have not used any blocks, actually didn't know about them.

What type of housing do they have? At the moment they are in a 15 gallon fish tank with branches to climb on.

What are you using for bedding? I have pine bedding in the bottom and am using flannel fabric in their nest box.

At this age all they should be getting is a good formula and blocks until you are sure they are eating all their blocks. Nuts should be rare treats.

My boys are almost a year old and this is what I had them on at that age.
Henry's Healthy Blocks

2 Tablespoons FV powder
4 Tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
1 Teaspoon Yoplait Vanilla Yogurt Original (red label) or Thick & Creamy(orange label)

Have you changed detergents? Are you cleaning all the formula off them after feeding? I have washed them with cotton balls using warm water and a small amount of Dawn dish soap. I have not placed them in the water. I just wipe them with a damp cloth after feeding. I have also put a little coconut oil on the areas without hair, using a Q-tip.

Sorry for all the questions but we need to know as much as possible. Pictures would help a lot too. Will try to post pictures later today, after I figure out how to post pics on the forum.

[mauston]

I have pictures but can't seem to be able to post them. Where can I get instructions on how to post pictures?

[farrelli]

When you reply, there's a Manage Attachments button, you use that.

[mauston]

Attached, I hope, are pictures of squirrel hair loss.

[ALittleNutty]

Not sure what it could be but diet plays a VERY important factor in flyer health. Can you answer the questions in my previous post. The more detailed the better in order to try and figure out what is going on with your babies.

[mauston]

Sorry. I did answer your questions but I added the answers at the end of each question in the post. I'll answer again here.
I am feeding them Esbilac puppy replacement formula, about 3 to 3.5 cc 4 to 5 times daily.
I have not fed them blocks, I didn't know about them until now. They have been getting apple, carrot, sweet potato,
broccoli and some walnut. They also have some leaves and branches that they chew on.
Presently they are kept in a 10 gal fish tank with pine bedding and some branches to climb on. Their nest box has flannel inside that I change every 2 days. They seem to be coming out to go to the bathroom so the nest box is staying clean.
I wipe them off with a wet cotton ball after feeding
I have cleaned them with warm water and a couple drops of Dawn, then dry them and lightly brush them. I have not put them into the water.
I have put a light coat of coconut oil on the hairless area with a cotton swab.
They are eating well and are very active when I have them out. They jump and maul each other when the cage. The one in the picture with the smallest bald area is a male and he is larger then the other 2, he has been puling on the hair of the small female so I have separated them. The third one is a male about the same size as the female and he has no hair loss at this time.

[flyer girl]

It could be ringworm I have had rehabs that have had ringworm.. Your babies could be playing to rough that can also cause bald spots..:grin3

[flyer girl]

another thought pine is not good as the can have allergy's to pine.. carefresh is the best thing to use..:thumbsup

[SQUIRRELSAREME]

Are you feeding meal worms or wax worm? My flyers sometimes get these bald spots on there heads also but they seam to clear up really fast. I was told that some times the worms bite them. I know that flyer have to have worms for protein. You must give them every night.

[mauston]

I haven't fed them any worms, just the items I posted. I ordered the blocks yesterday and will start feeding them as soon as they arrive,

[mauston]

Just an update the the babies health. I have had them 6 week and they are now up to 2 oz. and healthy. They have regrown all their hair and are looking great.

[flyer girl]

That is created news...:thumbsup

[pixiepoo]

That is wonderful! I just thought I might mention that you probably shouldn't use pine. I have always been told that it causes respiratory distress in small animals. carefresh or even Aspen is much safer.

So glad they are doing better. They are SUCH cuties!