Self Inflicted Chew Wounds

[squirrel_mom]

Hello Everyone! I am posting in regards to my 4 year old Eastern Grey Female (Squillo). Quick back story: She seems perfectly healthy. She eats a very well balanced diet of Henry's blocks along with an array of safe veggies from the list on here and only nuts as treats on occasion.

Here's the issue:
for the past 2-3 years Squillo has been chewing herself RAW, in all different places. It started on her wrist and got worse and worse until it was so gaping that we had to make a cone for her neck that she wore almost a month until it completely heeled. She chewed it open again later and we had to do it all over. THEN she finally let up on the wrist and moved to her feet/ankle areas, and sometimes spots she can reach on her belly and elbow areas… It seems to only be one spot at a time. She goes at it for a while, then switches to a new spot. There is AWAYS an open, raw wound on her somewhere. Thankfully, so far we haven't had infection, but it worries me to no end. Is she bored? It's like she's over-grooming. And once it's raw, she won't leave it alone. Squillo has a Large cage with tons of toys. We let her out for hours every day, a few different times a day. We keep her confined to one room though, that is Squirrel Proof. She has a large Cat tower she climbs and plays on… I think she's happy. She always seems healthy, is playful and very routine. Any Ideas?

Thank you!!:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

Have you treated her with something like Revolution that would address any mites or internal parasites that might be causing this?

I know you said that you are feeding Henry's blocks and a good diet. While I could only really see MBD being a factor if she wasn't really eating them, or was eating them with a high phosphorus diet, but I also know that the beginnings of MBD apparently can start with tingling and numbness because we have seen this before in MBD squirrels. If I was dealing with Squillo I would treat with Revolution and boost her daily calcium intake and take a hard look at the phosphorus levels in her other foods to see if that is an issue.

[squirrel_mom]

Have you treated her with something like Revolution that would address any mites or internal parasites that might be causing this?

I know you said that you are feeding Henry's blocks and a good diet. While I could only really see MBD being a factor if she wasn't really eating them, or was eating them with a high phosphorus diet, but I also know that the beginnings of MBD apparently can start with tingling and numbness because we have seen this before in MBD squirrels. If I was dealing with Squillo I would treat with Revolution and boost her daily calcium intake and take a hard look at the phosphorus levels in her other foods to see if that is an issue.

Thanks for your response. We have never treated her for parasites or mites, I figured we would have seen them over the 4 years. She never goes outside and I see nothing in her stool. She did have a run with MBD a few years ago before we switched her diet to Henry's. Back then we were still feeding the approved veggies, but the Kay-Tee Rat blocks (which I guess weren't the best) and did a very lengthy recovery from MBD with constant calcium supplements that we slowly reduced over a year and a half. We still do give her doses of calcium every now and then just in case, but I suppose we cold up it?

[stepnstone]

You wouldn't see mites as they would be microscopic.
An animal does not need to go out for a parasite to find
it's way in. No harm, no foul, I'd treat her!
If she eats block and a healthy diet there should be no
need for adding additional calcium.

[squirrel_mom]

You wouldn't see mites as they would be microscopic.
An animal does not need to go out for a parasite to find
it's way in. No harm, no foul, I'd treat her!
If she eats block and a healthy diet there should be no
need for adding additional calcium.

Okay, Where can I get this Revolution? How much to give the squirrel? Is it a pill? If she actually Doesn't have parasites or mites will it be ok to give it to her anyway? Thanks!

[CritterMom]

http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm

You want the "puppies & kittens" size.

It is a prescription med but you can purchase it without from these folks - ships from Australia. I have ordered from them - it is the real deal and only took me a week.

It is applied TO THE SKIN in the back of the neck. You would use one to two drops. If re-treatment is necessary you wait 30 days to do that.

I would boost the calcium, too, especially given her history. I would imagine that recovered MBD squirrels are more susceptible to it than one that has never had it...

[squirrel_mom]

http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm

You want the "puppies & kittens" size.

It is a prescription med but you can purchase it without from these folks - ships from Australia. I have ordered from them - it is the real deal and only took me a week.

It is applied TO THE SKIN in the back of the neck. You would use one to two drops. If re-treatment is necessary you wait 30 days to do that.

I would boost the calcium, too, especially given her history. I would imagine that recovered MBD squirrels are more susceptible to it than one that has never had it...

Perfect, thank you so much! Say she has mites/parasites or both…besides chewing, would there be any other symptoms if a squirrel has had them for YEARS?

[CritterMom]

Perfect, thank you so much! Say she has mites/parasites or both…besides chewing, would there be any other symptoms if a squirrel has had them for YEARS?

One would think that you would see issues with her fur, but who knows? You can start the additional calcium now - do like you did with MBD - you can subtract what is in the HHBs she eats but I would start getting 500mg of calcium into her a day, TOTAL. If she suddenly stops chewing, you have your answer.

BTW, healing sores itch. They cause the body to release histamines. If you notice her showing signs of that, children's benadryl will help it - we would need her weight and could give you dosage info.

[squirrel_mom]

One would think that you would see issues with her fur, but who knows? You can start the additional calcium now - do like you did with MBD - you can subtract what is in the HHBs she eats but I would start getting 500mg of calcium into her a day, TOTAL. If she suddenly stops chewing, you have your answer.

BTW, healing sores itch. They cause the body to release histamines. If you notice her showing signs of that, children's benadryl will help it - we would need her weight and could give you dosage info.

PERFECT Thank you!! I will weigh her and post tonight!