Skin Issues With James Need experienced opinions.

[ALittleNutty]

One of my releases, James showed up with a large knot and smaller ones the other day. Each one had a center spot but not as big as a bot would make except for the largest one. Most of the smaller knots have gone down and other than itching and hair loss from scratching he doesn't show any signs of them bothering him. Maybe a fight with another squirrel? Most are on the shoulder area and a few on his chest and belly. None on his head or rear flanks.

Today I managed to get antibacterial ointment on him and he drank some formula with Nutriferon added to it. He always has access to fresh water and food. Although he has been free for almost 4 months he still runs to me for cuddles or ignores me completely if he's busy nest building.

Since he will still come up, let me check him and seems to be as active as normal I don't think it would be best to put him back in the release cage at this point and further stress him. I won't hesitate to do it if he starts acting lethargic or showing signs of decline.

I am wondering your opinions on these spots and will try to get some better pics. This is from a few days ago. Today he looks much worse but I was more concerned with getting the ointment on him while I had a chance.

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[DaSquirrelMom]

The photo appears to be sarcoptes scabies. That is consistent with his hair loss and itching too.

[ALittleNutty]

The photo appears to be sarcoptes scabies. That is consistent with his hair loss and itching too.

Thank you.

[HRT4SQRLS]

The large bare spot is definitely a bot warble. Are you sure the small ones disappeared? It is VERY common to have many warbles in varying stages of development. During my horrible ordeal with Susie she had some exiting while others were quite small.

Sometimes they do have mange along with the bot warbles. Susie didn't, she just had bots. I think she holds a record of some type. She had 25 removed last year. :eek
We ARE in the bot season.

They do loose hair with bot warbles. Susie's entire shoulders and chest were bare. Each bot warble will have a hole that drains waste and serous fluid. This fluid loss is a big concern. They appear during the hottest season of the year. When they have many weeping warbles they can become dehydrated. A local rehabber brings in squirrels that have more than 6 warbles and removes them.

The pattern you describe is exactly where warbles develop... Shoulders, neck and chest (chin also).

[ALittleNutty]

The large bare spot is definitely a bot warble. Are you sure the small ones disappeared? It is VERY common to have many warbles in varying stages of development. During my horrible ordeal with Susie she had some exiting while others were quite small.

Sometimes they do have mange along with the bot warbles. Susie didn't, she just had bots. I think she holds a record of some type. She had 25 removed last year. :eek
We ARE in the bot season.

They do loose hair with bot warbles. Susie's entire shoulders and chest were bare. Each bot warble will have a hole that drains waste and serous fluid. This fluid loss is a big concern. They appear during the hottest season of the year. When they have many weeping warbles they can become dehydrated. A local rehabber brings in squirrels that have more than 6 warbles and removes them.

The pattern you describe is exactly where warbles develop... Shoulders, neck and chest (chin also).

The smaller ones didn't disappear completely but they have shrunken. They looked like a pea under the skin but have now flattened out and look to be healing up. I can get ivermectin paste today if that would be good. I have never had to deal with bots since none of my squirrels have ever hung around like James after release.

[Spanky]

The large bare spot is definitely a bot warble.

Looks like a bot to me too.

You do not want to treat with Ivermectin at this point, if the bot dies it will fester, decay and be a huge infection hazard. You can physically remove the bot (but you have to be sure to get it entirely out) or the best option might well be give it a couple weeks to run its course.

You need to treat with revolution or ivermectin in earlier stages of development, before the little bass turds form the warble. So that treatment would have needed to have occurred a month or two ago...

[lennysmom]

No, once the warbles are already inside the squirrel, you don't want to use ivermectin because it could harm the squirrel if they die inside of him. Once they are there, the only way to really rid the squirrel of them is to take him to a vet, but that can be very stressful on the squirrel, so most of the time unless there are too many or the squirrel is in danger from the location of one, you just let the warbles run their course and they will eventually come out on their own, as disgusting as it is to see.:yuck It does take a couple of weeks though. I would provide extra water and nurtriton to James if you aren't already while he battles those bots.

[ALittleNutty]

He has a huge bowl of fresh water and gets HHB in addition to his vegetables. He is eating wild stuff like mushrooms and green pecans and I am not sure what else. I will continue to offer formula since he will drink it.

I have one response that said sarcoptic mites and to treat with Ivermectin and others that think it's bots so no on the Ivermectin. I haven't actually observed the warble and he will let me feel around the large lump and there doesn't appear to be a solid mass inside which leads me to wonder if this is just an injury that has formed an abcess. I guess the best course at this time is continue observation and the antibiotic ointment. The Nutriferon should boost up his immune system for whatever it is we are dealing with.

[DaSquirrelMom]

The hairless area on his back/side seems excessively large to only be from the swelling of one botfly, BUT it's possible he has excessive inflammation which caused his large amount of hair loss.

Photo of botfly infestation:
http://s587.photobucket.com/user/irunyan/media/InfectedSquirrel_0293.jpg.html

Mange mites cause crusty scabbing and there is hair loss around the crusty scabs. There is not a very dark oozing circle. They frequently start itching behind their ears.

[ALittleNutty]

The hairless area on his back/side seems excessively large to only be from the swelling of one botfly, BUT it's possible he has excessive inflammation which caused his large amount of hair loss.

Photo of botfly infestation:
http://s587.photobucket.com/user/irunyan/media/InfectedSquirrel_0293.jpg.html

Mange mites cause crusty scabbing and there is hair loss around the crusty scabs. There is not a very dark oozing circle. They frequently start itching behind their ears.

This pic was from a few days ago and he has lost more hair around the area. He doesn't have anything near his face or ears. I have never seen a black center hole like the pics I have seen of bots. The center just looks white like after you pull a scab off. It is not recessed but it is oozing pus and darker fluid (blood?) from the edges.

He didn't come up this evening but that didn't surprise me since the hubby spent most of the afternoon washing his boat and truck and James hates the water hose. I'll try to get some new pics in the morning if he shows up.

[Daisey007]

The hairless area on his back/side seems excessively large to only be from the swelling of one botfly, BUT it's possible he has excessive inflammation which caused his large amount of hair loss.

Photo of botfly infestation:
http://s587.photobucket.com/user/irunyan/media/InfectedSquirrel_0293.jpg.html

Mange mites cause crusty scabbing and there is hair loss around the crusty scabs. There is not a very dark oozing circle. They frequently start itching behind their ears.

Are you sure that photo is of a bot infestation? It looks somewhat different to me... there doesn't appear to be wet oozing on that squirrel, or that I can discern anyway. BUT... thank God I'm not the expert on bots!! :klunk:eek:

[lilidukes]

That's a bot fly. I've seen the squirrels in
my yard scratch them until they are a
raw bloody mess.
I looks horrible, makes the squirrel very
uncomfortable but it doesn't last long
and bot will hatch and the squirrel will
heal quickly. The fur will regrow back
in a short time.
DO NOT TREAT!!!

[ALittleNutty]

Well James came to visit this afternoon. I am almost certain it's bots from the way he looks today. We had a good visit and he begged for butt and ear skritches. I think he feels miserable and just wants me to baby him again. He followed me and the hubby around the yard, inside the shop, and even came up on the back porch to sit with us. He is so spoiled! He's still eating good and moving as fast as ever except for stopping to scratch. I will be so glad when these things drop out and he gets back to normal.

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[DaSquirrelMom]

Poor baby. He scratched himself terribly on the left side. In the second photo, he either has a chuck of necrotic skin peeling off or his warble is protruding from the upper wound.

He's blessed to have you feeding and watching over him.

[ALittleNutty]

Poor baby. He scratched himself terribly on the left side. In the second photo, he either has a chuck of necrotic skin peeling off or his warble is protruding from the upper wound.

He's blessed to have you feeding and watching over him.

:thankyou So far his skin just appears raw but no necrotic yet. I think he has managed to scratch the upper spot to where it gapes open. Still healthy looking edges. I did manage to slather some ab ointment on it the other day just to keep anything secondary from starting up. The one area that concerns me is the large one near his penis. At least he will let me keep a check on him. He's more clingy since this started but I am glad he comes to me for help. We are blessed us with his presence!

[ALittleNutty]

:sad James didn't make an appearance today. It's not the first time but in his condition I guess I am more worried than usual. Hopefully he will show up tomorrow. It's been sort of a sad evening around here. I was washing dishes and saw my neighbor and his buddy put his yellow lab on the tailgate of the truck. I knew the dog's end was drawing close. He was about 14 years old and had been going down the past few months. Going to miss seeing him when I go use their pool. I guess I am going to try and get some :sleep for a few hours before I have to feed Sweet Pea and Chance. At least those two are gaining like champs.

[ALittleNutty]

Finally found James in the woods this morning and coaxed him to come to the yard and eat. Some of his spots are looking better but he's gotten pretty skinny. I have increased his HHB each day and still offering formula laced with Nutriferon to boost his immune system. Coat looks good and not spiky so at least he's staying hydrated. Fresh water daily in his bowl and he has access to a small creek that runs through the property. He's still eating food I put out and whatever he's finding in the woods. He's still as active as ever so unless he starts showing other signs of compromise or loses more weight I will continue to let him run free until these bots resolve themselves. Wish it didn't take so long.

[DaSquirrelMom]

These are the grossest of all earthy things, imo. Thank goodness there are currently no botflies in the USA that use humans as hosts. I'd lose my mind if I had to wait days/weeks for one to grow to a size where it could be extracted. (Hang in there, James!)

[ALittleNutty]

These are the grossest of all earthy things, imo. Thank goodness there are currently no botflies in the USA that use humans as hosts. I'd lose my mind if I had to wait days/weeks for one to grow to a size where it could be extracted. (Hang in there, James!)

Amen to that! Maggots are just one step down IMO. I hate these things!