Loosing fur?? Almost given up!!

[Floppysquirrel04]

For over a year now my flyer has been bald on his stomach and sides. It's not completely bare or red, but a little bit of stubble is left. I asked you guys a couple months ago and you didn't give good answers to what it might be. I did some more research and it sounds like a fungus thing to me. I live in northern ca, in the Bay Area. I read coconut oil helped, so I've been giving it to him on his veggies for the last few months, and it sort of worked. It started growing back, then it stopped. I just don't know what to do anymore. Please help!!!

[cava]

My squirrels got ringworm from outside dirt this winter and had large bald spots. I put the coconut oil ON the actual bald areas, not in or on their food. It cleared within three weeks. Good luck!

[Floppysquirrel04]

I've had ringworm before and it didn't look like his skin. I've put it on him before. Thanks!

[cava]

Did you post a bunch of photos before? You probably did, but if not it would help to post clear, in focus, well lit photos of the alopecia.

[Floppysquirrel04]

Yeah I did. It's on this same place/section, and it has a similar title

[HRT4SQRLS]

Floppy, I just went back to your other thread. Are you still feeding the Kaytee Bird mix? If you are, I think that is likely your problem.
We need to talk about the diet. I have 2 flyers and I have never had a hair loss issue. I've read about 'molt' which is presumable a normal hair loss pattern but mine have never even done that. What you have is definitely not molt. For now, one more question, does your flyer groom the belly a lot?

If it was fungus, the skin would be scaly, itchy or irritated. The skin looks completely normal to me other than the hair loss. You're right... this is a problem... not normal at all.


Edit... Don't give up!!!

[Floppysquirrel04]

No he gets veggies and some fruit and 2 nuts, some outside food and mealworms.

[Mel1959]

Have you treated for mites?

[Floppysquirrel04]

No but even thou I want to so bad I cannot go to the vet here because flyers are illegal in ca, but I didn't know that before I moved here from Louisiana. But I don't think it is mites, it doesn't look like it to me

[HRT4SQRLS]

Floppy, you can treat for mites without a vet but I do NOT think this is mites.
One 'tiny' drop of Revolution for kittens would treat for mites.
The fact that the hair started to grow back 'just a little' with the coconut oil tells me that this is nutritional.

I would highly recommend that you try the Henry's Picky eater blocks. I know they seem expensive but one bag would last a couple months. Create an account and save 10%. My boys are healthy and I have even started giving 1/2 of a block per day. They are packed with vitamins and minerals. If this is caused by a nutritional deficiency, you should see improvement of the condition and hair regrowth. A flyer would never get more than one block per day. Like I said, I give half of a block. They are more likely to eat the half block than stash it. There is a block specifically for flyers but my boys won't eat it so I don't recommend it.

During this period of intensive treatment I would buy live mealworms. I would mix it up and give WaxWorms also. They really LOVE WaxWorms.

I would reduce the 2 nuts. A flyer has a very tiny stomach. They could literally fill up on 2 nuts. I give 1/2 of an almond 4-5 days per week after they eat their other foods. I give the 1/2 almond in the morning as I leave for work. I would also limit the fruit to a tiny piece.

Avocado is a food they love. My boys are not crazy about any type of leafy green although they do get some every night. They prefer hard squashes like butternut or acorn. They like sweet potato. Flyers need mushrooms for Vitamin D.

If you try these suggestions I am hopeful that you will see hair regrowth.
I know it probably seems that I said to limit everything that he likes. True! :peace Limit nuts, limit fruit and no seeds.
Think of the picky eater block as his daily dose of vitamins and minerals. He needs it.

[HRT4SQRLS]

One other question while I'm at it... What type of bedding are you using? What type of cage does he have?
It's odd that the hair loss is only on the abdomen. :thinking

[Floppysquirrel04]

Thank you so much! Yes I already do all of that EXCEPT for the block. places like janda exotics and squirrel refuge say that if you think the prices are too high, (and I do!) then you can get RepCal powder for sprinkling on his food and vitamin drops for his water. They have all the vitamins blocks do, and are inexpensive. If they were wild the wouldn't eat blocks, so ace doesn't, because he can get all the vitamins and minerals the blocks have. He uses fleece mostly and the critter nation cage, but this fur loss is on his sides now, too.

[Floppysquirrel04]

Thanks for all the help guys. But I still haven't gotten an answer that will help him. His diet is actuaslly what most people feed their flyers, and have no problem. He has everything except the block, but he gets all his vitamins and minerals in many different forms. Please help me. I love him and I really need help.

[cava]

Would you even consider the block? Just in case he is allergic to something in the vitamins/supplements?

I think I would if I had ruled everything else out. Best wishes for that sweetie.:Love_Icon

[SammysMom]

The picky blocks for a flyer work out to about $2.50 per week for one flyer. It looks expensive by the bag, but when you put it into the daily cost and the health of your baby, it may be worth it.
You are getting a lot of great information from VERY knowledgeable people (not including myself as I am not an experienced flyer person) here so I do hope some of it helps. Try not to discount it because it sounds similar to something you have tried. Most issues with squirrels we see here are from injury or diet. Yours is not injury, so it is very likely dietary.

[Floppysquirrel04]

Ok I will try it and see if it improves. Still don't know what it is and I know a lot of you have years of experience. I'm away right now and he is being watched by a very good friend of mine, but I will get them as soon as I get home. If that dosent help, idk what to do.