Fleas or Mites or What?

[junebug]

Something is biting my squirrel friend and also biting me! How can I safely de-bug my squirrel? I cannot buy Revolution without a prescription. He is 7 months (more or less) old.
junebug

[stepnstone]

Something is biting my squirrel friend and also biting me! How can I safely de-bug my squirrel? I cannot buy Revolution without a prescription. He is 7 months (more or less) old.
junebug

You can bathe with liquid unscented dawn for fleas. Squirrel fleas are unlike dog and cat, they can't jump.
However it's most likely mites and you need a med that covers that spectrum also which would be Revolution
or Ivermectin. You can purchase Revolution from Joe's without script. http://www.joespetmeds.com/
Ivermectin can be purchased at places like tractor supply in a tube paste form. Whichever you decide to use
come back here let us know and we can tell you how to dose.

[4Puddles]

Something is biting my squirrel friend and also biting me! How can I safely de-bug my squirrel? I cannot buy Revolution without a prescription. He is 7 months (more or less) old.
junebug

Where are the bites on you? Are they little red raised itchy bumps around your ankles and waist?

[junebug]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to order Revolution from Joe's Meds. I would appreciate your advice on how to use it to treat my little Rocky. I don't want to do anything to harm him.

[junebug]

Where are the bites on you? Are they little red raised itchy bumps around your ankles and waist?

I am having trouble figuring out how to respond to my responses, but it's a lot of fun to talk to other squirrel lovers.
The bites are pretty big red bumps, almost like hives, and they can be anywhere.

[stepnstone]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to order Revolution from Joe's Meds. I would appreciate your advice on how to use it to treat my little Rocky. I don't want to do anything to harm him.
When ordering make sure to select: (Size of breed) Puppies and Kittens up to 5lbs. :great

[junebug]

When ordering make sure to select: (Size of breed) Puppies and Kittens up to 5lbs. :great

Uh oh. I ordered the one for cats under 15 lbs because I understood cat and dog Revolution was different formula. Can I use this or will it be too strong?

[Nancy in New York]

There are two different strengths of Revolution.
As long as the one you got is 60mg/ml you are fine.
Remember just ONE drop between the shoulder blades.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Revolution/i-gjKJxJw/0/5a01fc7f/L/Capturerevolution-L.jpg

[junebug]

There are two different strengths of Revolution.
As long as the one you got is 60mg/ml you are fine.
Remember just ONE drop between the shoulder blades.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Revolution/i-gjKJxJw/0/5a01fc7f/L/Capturerevolution-L.jpg

Thank you so much. I will check that when it comes, and if it is too strong I will order the smaller dose and give the stronger one to my daughter, who has cats.

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you so much. I will check that when it comes, and if it is too strong I will order the smaller dose and give the stronger one to my daughter, who has cats.

I think you may be alright if the one you got is blue.
We will just double check before you dose, ok?

[junebug]

Where are the bites on you? Are they little red raised itchy bumps around your ankles and waist?

They are mostly around my waist. They itch but fade after a few days. Are they squirrel fleas/mite?

[cava]

I found this article that may interest you...http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/FastFacts/pdfs/acariasis_F.pdf

Information on mange v. scabies (also mites).

If you suspect you have scabies, you will need medicine from your doc to treat. He/she may also do a skin scraping to confirm.

Good luck.

Here's a photo (google) of scabies:

298882

[ScrappyDo]

They are mostly around my waist. They itch but fade after a few days. Are they squirrel fleas/mite?

Do you wake up with them? I've personally used diatomaceous earth. Food grade. Just rub it on and it kills everything. I use it for my dogs when the neighborhood cats come around and bring fleas. Used it on 3 squirrels successfully as well.

[junebug]

I think you may be alright if the one you got is blue.
We will just double check before you dose, ok?

The strength of the medicine was as you described, so I treated him with one drop and he had no ill effects. (Of course I worried about him all night first!) How often can I use this? Thank you so much for your expert advice.
junebug

[Jaramee]

Anything I can do for an itchy wild squirrel? Can’t really catch him or reach the nest to treat it, but the little guy’s always scratching and I wish I could help.

[stepnstone]

Anything I can do for an itchy wild squirrel? Can’t really catch him or reach the nest to treat it, but the little guy’s always scratching and I wish I could help.

Many squirrels have been treated in the wild for fleas, mites, etc.
If you can get him to come to you for a nut (away from others)
you can lace it with a dose of either Revolution or Ivermectin.
Depending on which we can tell you how to dose it.

[Mialouise]

Where are the bites on you? Are they little red raised itchy bumps around your ankles and waist?

Curious what you think would cause this? I had bites exactly like the ones you describe (same location- specifically only on my ankles and waist which I thought was especially odd) that I suspected were caused by something my wild friends brought indoors. They went away eventually but they itched like crazy. I've always wondered what they were!

[Andylove1]

Many squirrels have been treated in the wild for fleas, mites, etc.
If you can get him to come to you for a nut (away from others)
you can lace it with a dose of either Revolution or Ivermectin.
Depending on which we can tell you how to dose it.

Where can these meds be purchased?

[stepnstone]

Where can these meds be purchased?

Revolution is Rx (prescription) prescribed by Vets, If you have no access to one
it can be ordered on line or by phone legally without needing a script from Joe's pet meds
linked below. You would want the (pink) one for puppies/kittens up to 5 lbs.

I will direct another member here to suggest where Ivermectin can be purchased
and it's use if you were to go that route.

Joe's Pet Meds:
This one ships from Australia:
https://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tic...-cats-dogs.htm (https://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm)

Stronghold is Revolution, this one ships from the UK.
https://www.joespetmeds.com/item/stronghold-flea

[Jaramee]

Many squirrels have been treated in the wild for fleas, mites, etc.
If you can get him to come to you for a nut (away from others)
you can lace it with a dose of either Revolution or Ivermectin.
Depending on which we can tell you how to dose it.

Oh, great! Idk Revolution looks more complete?

[stepnstone]

Oh, great! Idk Revolution looks more complete?
............................:yeahthat

Revolution is the better alternative, it also covers more types of mites then Ivermectin.

[TubeDriver]

As Step said, Revolution is safer to use and would be my first choice. However, Ivermectin can also be used and is inexpensive and easily available.

If you decide to try Ivermectin, you are looking of for Ivermectin paste at 1.87% strength. You can find it at feed stores and also order it online for about $7:

https://www.amazon.com/Ivermectin-Paste-Dewormer-6-08g-Flavor/dp/B000HHLWPI/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2UUS7RH4KK18L&keywords=ivermectin+1.87%25+paste&qid=1580314671&sprefix=ivermectin+1.87%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-7


The way I have dosed it with otherwise healthy, adult squirrels is to give an amount of half of a piece of rice or about the amount needed to fill this circle "O". Spread the ivermectin paste on a piece of pecan and they will eat it. You can give a second dose 7-9 days later and that should do the trick. A third dose can be given after another 7-9 days but often this is not needed. Ivermectin is a powerful neurotoxin so do not give too much or too often. Also, if you are treating a baby or a neurologically impaired squirrel, I would really go with Revolution. I do not treat females that I suspect are pregnant with Ivermectin either. There are more precise ways of dosing this but I have treated healthy adults this way and never seen a issue. It clears up mange and will certainly kill fleas and ticks. It also kills some types of internal worm parasites as well.

[Chirps]

As Step said, Revolution is safer to use and would be my first choice. However, Ivermectin can also be used and is inexpensive and easily available.

If you decide to try Ivermectin, you are looking of for Ivermectin paste at 1.87% strength. You can find it at feed stores and also order it online for about $7:

https://www.amazon.com/Ivermectin-Paste-Dewormer-6-08g-Flavor/dp/B000HHLWPI/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2UUS7RH4KK18L&keywords=ivermectin+1.87%25+paste&qid=1580314671&sprefix=ivermectin+1.87%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-7


The way I have dosed it with otherwise healthy, adult squirrels is to give an amount of half of a piece of rice or about the amount needed to fill this circle "O". Spread the ivermectin paste on a piece of pecan and they will eat it. You can give a second dose 7-9 days later and that should do the trick. A third dose can be given after another 7-9 days but often this is not needed. Ivermectin is a powerful neurotoxin so do not give too much or too often. Also, if you are treating a baby or a neurologically impaired squirrel, I would really go with Revolution. I do not treat females that I suspect are pregnant with Ivermectin either. There are more precise ways of dosing this but I have treated healthy adults this way and never seen a issue. It clears up mange and will certainly kill fleas and ticks. It also kills some types of internal worm parasites as well.
That's its purpose, as a broad-spectrum wormer for equines. We discovered its effectiveness on external parasites by accident. A zillion years ago we got Mom a donkey for Mother's Day. My sister bought him from this outfit that was hosting a weekend trail ride. Anyway when she got him here I noticed he had lice. We were worming him anyway since we didn't know his backstory and just because. The lice disappeared like magic.

[Jaramee]

As Step said, Revolution is safer to use and would be my first choice. However, Ivermectin can also be used and is inexpensive and easily available.

If you decide to try Ivermectin, you are looking of for Ivermectin paste at 1.87% strength. You can find it at feed stores and also order it online for about $7:

https://www.amazon.com/Ivermectin-Paste-Dewormer-6-08g-Flavor/dp/B000HHLWPI/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2UUS7RH4KK18L&keywords=ivermectin+1.87%25+paste&qid=1580314671&sprefix=ivermectin+1.87%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-7


The way I have dosed it with otherwise healthy, adult squirrels is to give an amount of half of a piece of rice or about the amount needed to fill this circle "O". Spread the ivermectin paste on a piece of pecan and they will eat it. You can give a second dose 7-9 days later and that should do the trick. A third dose can be given after another 7-9 days but often this is not needed. Ivermectin is a powerful neurotoxin so do not give too much or too often. Also, if you are treating a baby or a neurologically impaired squirrel, I would really go with Revolution. I do not treat females that I suspect are pregnant with Ivermectin either. There are more precise ways of dosing this but I have treated healthy adults this way and never seen a issue. It clears up mange and will certainly kill fleas and ticks. It also kills some types of internal worm parasites as well.
...and bugs are gone! Thanks again. It's great to see folks who care about squirrels.

[RockyPops]

Thanks for the update.

[Littlefern]

Do you wake up with them? I've personally used diatomaceous earth. Food grade. Just rub it on and it kills everything. I use it for my dogs when the neighborhood cats come around and bring fleas. Used it on 3 squirrels successfully as well.

I have food grade diatomaceous earth. Would you recommend using this before trying the revolution? How much would I rub on her? She's about 5 weeks do think it'll be okay to use at that age? And do I need to wash it off or brush it off after or just leave it in her fur? Thanks!

[CritterMom]

I have food grade diatomaceous earth. Would you recommend using this before trying the revolution? How much would I rub on her? She's about 5 weeks do think it'll be okay to use at that age? And do I need to wash it off or brush it off after or just leave it in her fur? Thanks!

Liittlefern, this is an old thread - 2018. I don't know if the poster still comes here.