One squirrel is licking the other's wound! What to do?

[mgee76]

Some of you might remember... had a cage that was stupidly too big with the spacing between the bars, and one of our little girls was trying to chew her way out. In the process, she rubbed a small part of her scalp bald! We came here for help, and found a different cage with much tighter spacing. Can't tickle their bellies through the cage anymore, but feel good that she would be on the mend.

Well, since getting in the new cage, the amount of hair around the bald spot on her head has increased, and we recently just witnessed the other squirrel licking, or cleaning, the injury. We worry that this isn't good! We have another cage that we can split them up into... how should we proceed?

Should we take the one with the bald spot to the vet? She is pretty feisty when she wants to be, but we can manage this. What would be the treatment or approach? In all other aspects, she seems perfectly fine. A little less energetic than the other one, who is a little bit bigger, but more than game to play or chase or chew or fight for a nut. We are worried about her!

Any thoughts or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[BigNibbler]

I would set up a situation where they can be together, but not all the time.
The dominant one could monopolize all the food.
Some grooming is good.
Too much grooming not so good.

Maybe they need more stuff to do .

I believe most people underestimate the amount of wood and sticks and branches and variety they need.
What is the size of the cage they are in , and whats in it.
Pictures please ?

[mgee76]

The cage is roughly 4' tall, 2' deep, and 3' wide. It has multiple levels, a hammock, some toys, and tons of sticks and branches sticking all around it. I'll try to get some pictures later. We give them plenty of time outside of the cage, and keep the occupied with a varied diet and lots of sticks that we find for the to chew on.

How are we supposed to judge when it is a good time to split them up? I will try to get a picture of the head wound. Thanks.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Yes, I remember you. That's a little confusing to me. You said bald spot but then you said 'licking' the injury. Those aren't the same to me. Is there a wound? Yes, a pic would be good. How old are they? I wouldn't separate them unless it's necessary.

Are they going to be released in the spring? Sorry for so many questions. :tilt

[mgee76]

They are about 4 months old. It's a bald spot... with a slightly 'raw' looking center. It hasn't always been like this... we think it might be the result of the licking? I would say it's probably... like... 3/8 inch around? With a tiny dot in the center that is red. The amount of hair loss has increased since we put them in the new cage. I'm not sure why.

They will be released in the spring, yes. We don't want to separate them, because they get along so great and snuggle, etc. But we worry so much about this little girl... she has been through a lot. Pneumonia, traumatic upbringing, etc. She's kind of a runt and we're really sweet on her. We just want the best for her. Should we put a little hat on her head? Gosh we just look at it and grow concerned. I will try to take some pictures!

[mgee76]

Help! What are the downsides to separating them for a few days while the wound heals up?

[Shewhosweptforest]

Hi mgee :Love_Icon I don't think there would be a problem separating them for a few days...I would still let them have their run time together....hopefully the other won't groom as much during that time. Also, are you putting anything on the wound? There is a product called Dermagel...it works amazingly well...and it may even deter the other squirrel from licking....the good thing is licking it should not hurt the squirrel...it says you can put it on lactating females....so they know babies would be exposed. It's a great wound healer and might get her over the hump. I order it on line....it's about 25-28 dollars a tube. I highly recommend it :great try not to worry...move their cages next to each other and let them have run time together. Since you don't have the dermagel right now...maybe put some polysporin on her wound...she won't be able to mess with it:great

[mgee76]

Thanks! I will try these things.

Side question: this squirrel with the bald head... she cracked open a nut a while ago, but hasn't done so in a few weeks... she tries to eat them, but ends up just burying them. Should we be concerned that she is unable to crack open a large shell?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Have you checked her teeth?

I agree with everything Sweeper said. It won't hurt to separate them for a little while until the wound heals. I'm assuming it's not bad. I would let them play together though. If you separate them too long, they might not want to go back together as one takes possession of the primary cage. Then they would fight. It's much better to release them together.

I wonder what is the fascination with the head. It sounds like the licking might have caused the baldness...right? :dono

[BigNibbler]

They should be able to play a bit together during the day and sleep at night together.
If they are separated one or both might be heard whimpering at times.
You may not know why.
But when you rejoin them, that will definitely stop.
If you won't be near them at night, you may not hear them.

IN the past year I have done a huge amount of testing with woods.
They could have wood, but not be interested, cause its old.

Some woods are more tasty to them than others.
You could try splitting, cutting, and possibly wetting various of the woods they have.

Also, the gauge of the wood, how thick it is, from slender to very thick will cause different interests and results.
I could have a room full of woods but the new one is the one that they will want to chew on.

ALSO, if you interact with them and GIVE Them a branch to chew 3-5 times, they will chew it more than if you just leave it in their world.
Very much like a human response.
"Here, try this?
No, don't want.
C'mon, you will like.
Its OK.I don't want.
Its really good, just give it a bite.
awlright, I'll try it....Hey! Its not bad!"

IF you grasp a walnut firmly in your hand fingers and let her grab it, if she can open her mouth FULLY to take the nut in and hold it in her teeth, that is a marginal way of checking her teeth.
If she has difficulty holding it and holding ONTO it as you try to take it back, that could be indication of teeth too long.

Almonds are nutritionally the best nuts.
They also offer the most variety of shapes to grab.
And they are relatively soft.
Does she bury a nut that is out of the shell too?

[kcassidy]

Almonds are nutritionally the best nuts.
They also offer the most variety of shapes to grab.
And they are relatively soft.
Does she bury a nut that is out of the shell too?

Off topic a little, I've always understood Almonds to be the least nutritious of the nuts and that Walnuts are the most. I do feed almonds in the shell when I introduce nuts for the first time as the shell is soft, just like you said.

Where did you get your information on the nutrition?

Thanks BN

[BigNibbler]

Almonds have the best calcium phosphorus ratio.
Period.
Walnuts have much more phosphorus.
Bad for sqs.
They are great prizes for burying cause they have trice the nut meat.
and are BIG.