Possible pyoderma/staph infection

[Minaluvri]

I have an almost 5 week old baby that I have had since he was 1 week old. A little backstory: He has been extremely hard to get to gain weight since day one, he weighed about 19 grams when I got him, dropped to 16 grams within the first day or so when I was rehydrating and has been slowly gaining weight ever since. Even now at almost 5 weeks he is only 60 grams, which seems extremely small for a gray (he is a gray). He was originally on Esbilac powder formula with pre and probiotics, although I have recently switched him over gradually to Fox valley 20/50. He is on a heating pad under half of the container and has his fleece cleaned regularly. The reason for this post is that I have recently (about 4-5 days ago) noticed a bunch of tiny pimple like bumps on the sides of his belly and back. He has had dry skin for most of the time that I have had him. He is NOT dehydrated, he has good skin turgor and eats regularly and I spent quite a bit of time giving him extra hydration between feedings, but he kept getting flaky dry skin. I've been using all natural coconut oil to moisturize and have a jar with holes and a wet cotton ball which I change regularly to humidify his bin. Anyways, the skin colored bumps began to spread all over on his back and have recently scabbed and look like white pustules within the last day or two. I am extremely concerned and am using triple antibiotic cream on it to try to prevent/treat any infection. I've never seen anything like this before so I am at a loss for what to do. I will try to take and upload a good picture as soon as possible but I was wondering what your guys thoughts were. After looking through the board I'm thinking either it was an allergic reaction to Esbilac and I'm hoping it gets better really soon, or it is a case of pyoderma with staph that I need to treat ASAP. This little guy has been through a lot and I want to catch this now before it takes a turn. I'm planning on continuing warm baths and rinsing with betadine like I started tonight, but am considering starting antibiotics now too. I have most of the different AB's used for squirrels available, so I would appreciate any input on which one to use and dosing. Thanks!

[stepnstone]

A picture will be helpful to try and assess the condition.
I wouldn't start an Ab without an idea of what you would
be treating for.

What were the conditions as to how this baby was found?

[Minaluvri]

He was found in the rain and had fallen from very high when I got him. When the finders discovered him, there were two others alive and one dead baby. A second baby died before they called me, and the last sibling besides him died that night a few hours after I picked them up. His sister, poor baby, (the only other one that was alive when I got them) was very pale, had internal injuries, and was exhibiting agonal respirations for the time that she lived, and had fluid coming out of her nose. All babies including my little guy still had their umbilical stump, were small for age and were dehydrated and cold. Baby boy has been eating, pooping and peeing well since I got him, has never exhibited signs of internal injuries, and only had one tiny abrasion wound on the back of his head, which healed quickly with no complications. His only issue has been slow weight gain, and now this skin ordeal.

I will hold off on the oral AB's until further discussion, but there is no contraindications for the betadine rinse and topical antibiotic ointment correct?
I'll be taking photos shortly, at his next feeding tonight.

[stepnstone]

I will hold off on the oral AB's until further discussion, but there is no contraindications for the betadine rinse and topical antibiotic ointment correct?
I'll be taking photos shortly, at his next feeding tonight.
I just hope you realize the Betadine needs to be diluted to the consistency of weak tea even if using as a rinse.
Don't see a problem with the topical antibiotic.

[Minaluvri]

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Yes, I have been diluting the betadine. Good catch. It’s hard to get a good picture of it, I wiped him down with some warm water to help keep him clean and so that it was easier to see the bumps under his fur. He has lost fur on the sides of his belly as you can see, this is where the scabs are the worst. There are also a good amount of closed bumps under the fur down the center of his back, which I can feel but are hard to see in pictures. If he looks alarming shiny or his fur looks weird in some of these photos, it is because I have applied antibiotic ointment. His head, tail, underbelly, and extremities are unaffected.

[stepnstone]

I believe you are correct about it being pyoderma which can be common with babies.
Using the betadine on it is recommended and I would definitely allow it to dry on the
skin before using the coconut oil. I'd have to question if a AB cream wouldn't be better?
If an antibiotic is necessary staph infections are sensitive to Cephalosporin antibiotics,
Clavamox, and Clindamycin.

[island rehabber]

Agree with stepnstone here. AB ointment should work but if not the baby may need a course of antibiotics orally.

[cava]

Have you considered Mupirocin ointment?

[Minaluvri]

I am not familiar with Mupirocin, is that something I can purchase over the counter?
I am not using coconut oil anymore, I was using it when I thought it was dry skin, but once I noticed it was a rash or infection I switched to AB cream.
Thank you for all your guys suggestions. Currently I am giving him warm baths with just water (should I use a gentle soap? I considered using baby soap or dawn), rinsing with diluted betadine, and applying a topical Triple antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin zinc, Polymyxin B sulfate, Neomycin Sulfate). If there is another AB ointment that you guys think would be better I am open for suggestions, but can't get a prescription ointment as vets won't treat squirrels in my area. I have AB's available including clavamox, what do you all think about starting it? Would 48 hours be a good idea to see if the topical AB ointment and Betadine alone shows improvement? I don't want to start this little guy on an oral AB that's going to be hard on his stomach if he doesn't need it, but I also don't want to wait too long and allow an infection to get out of control.