Dry Skin Solution!?

[ClementineWoolysocks]

I've had Julius since July 26th and he is maybe 4-5 weeks old now? His skin has become dry and flakey and I was wondering what I can put on him? When searching, I've only seen baby oil mentioned, but when I went to the store, they didn't have any natural/organic kind. Can I use anything else? If not, then I'll buy the regular baby oil, though I'd prefer not to.

[Rocky1]

Not a rehab and unsure of something to ¨put on¨ the skin. However, my impression is that diet can play a role in dry skin and rehydrating skin. Avocado scoops* without the skin or seed. (*To my understanding, it is imperative that there is NO skin or seeds as those can be harmful to squirrels.) A recipe for a treat called, ¨boo balls,¨ is on here somewhere and it includes a small amount of coconut oil. Plenty of water.

[CritterMom]

4-5 weeks is still on formula. Are you keeping the baby in a cardboard box by any chance? Cardboard will really dry them out -it pulls moisture from everything around it - the air, baby squirrels...

Baby should be in a plastic sterlite-type container with plenty of ventilation, lots of fleece for bedding, and the entire container sat 1/2 on and 1/2 off a low heating pad. Since this baby already has dry skin, place a water saturated piece of sponge or crumpled wet paper towel in something like a coffee mug and place it IN the container on the heating pad side. The water in the sponge will evaporate inside raising the humidity, the mug is too heavy to be tipped over.

[ClementineWoolysocks]

I bought a really nice large heating pad just for him that has 6 settings and is made of a micro-plush fabric similar to the fleece. The upper part of the pad doesn't heat up so he can move if he becomes too warm. Inside of the sterlite container I have a fleece liner and an additional fleece blanket for him to snuggle in.

The dry area is just around his lower belly and legs. I'm thinking that when I relieve him, the swab is soaking up or removing his body oils from that area. I will try the sponge-in-a-mug solution and see if it helps, but I still would like to know if there is something I can rub on him also.

[ClementineWoolysocks]

I bought a really nice large heating pad just for him that has 6 settings and is made of a micro-plush fabric similar to the fleece. The upper part of the pad doesn't heat up so he can move if he becomes too warm. Inside of the sterlite container I have a fleece liner and an additional fleece blanket for him to snuggle in.

The dry area is just around his lower belly and legs. I'm thinking that when I relieve him, the swab is soaking up or removing his body oils from that area. I will try the sponge-in-a-mug solution and see if it helps, but I still would like to know if there is something I can rub on him also.

This is Julius and His Dry Skin Issue

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[stepnstone]

I bought a really nice large heating pad just for him that has 6 settings and is made of a micro-plush fabric similar to the fleece. The upper part of the pad doesn't heat up so he can move if he becomes too warm. Inside of the sterlite container I have a fleece liner and an additional fleece blanket for him to snuggle in.

The dry area is just around his lower belly and legs. I'm thinking that when I relieve him, the swab is soaking up or removing his body oils from that area. I will try the sponge-in-a-mug solution and see if it helps, but I still would like to know if there is something I can rub on him also.

I will repeat what CM said heating pad should be half off and half under the container baby is in.
Do not put him on it or in the container with him. Heating pad should be set on low.
You can use a thin light coat of neosporin or A&D ointment on his skin. No Vaseline.

[CritterMom]

Also, don't use soap or anything to clean him up after feeding. Just warm damp cloths - it may take a little longer but the last thing you want to do is leave residue on their skin.

[Rocky1]

Not a rehab and unsure of something to ¨put on¨ the skin. However, my impression is that diet can play a role in dry skin and rehydrating skin. Avocado scoops* without the skin or seed. (*To my understanding, it is imperative that there is NO skin or seeds as those can be harmful to squirrels.) A recipe for a treat called, ¨boo balls,¨ is on here somewhere and it includes a small amount of coconut oil. Plenty of water.

Disregard the above message I wrote. I was in a hurry and missed his age first time through. (There was a substantial storm over here with hail the size of nickels or quarters and I was in a hurry to make sure my wilds were safe, nests in tact. So far so good.)

[SammysMom]

I wouldn't use baby oil, but what I do is put a small glass container such as a baby food jar with a piece of sponge and water, into the bin on the heat to create moisture in the air around him.