Dry skin like dandruff

[Angiebabexd]

Just rescued a baby squirrel probably close to 8weeks old, we have had it for about a month now but until recently his skin is almost like dandruff and he is losing hair on top of his head and sides of his mouth. His ears and top of his head are crusty and starting to spread to parts of his body. I don’t know when to do , please help!

[stepnstone]

Just rescued a baby squirrel probably close to 8weeks old, we have had it for about a month now but until recently his skin is almost like dandruff and he is losing hair on top of his head and sides of his mouth. His ears and top of his head are crusty and starting to spread to parts of his body. I don’t know when to do , please help!
If you can post a picture it could be helpful but honestly it sounds like baby has mites, easily treatable with puppy/kitten Revolution.
Revolution is Rx, unless you have vet access to obtain it or maybe friends with dogs or cats that have any you could order it on line
without needing a script from *Joe's pet meds. You would want to purchase for puppies/kittens up to 5 lbs. You would only need 1-2
drops from a single pipette between the shoulders, repeat in 10 days from initial application.

*http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm (http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm)
(http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm)

[Angiebabexd]

I am sending a picture

[Angiebabexd]

he doesn't want to open his eyes or move much now, yesterday he wasn't like this

[Spanky]

He looks severely dehydrated. Rub some molasses on his gums.. if you do not have that, use honey, if not that syrup. Hopefully that will bring him around enough for you to start giving water / hydration.. it will probably be drop by drop for quite some time (as in all night) to pull him through.

Make sure he is warm before giving anything by mouth!

What have you been feeding this baby the last month?

[Spanky]

Here is a recipe for homemade hydration fluid (pedialyte) that you will want to start feeding.

1 tsp salt (teaspoon)
3 Tbsp sugar (tablespoon)
1 quart warm water
Mix all ingredients in warm water. Store in refrigerator.

When you hold this baby up to your ear does he "click" with each breath he takes?!?!?

[Angiebabexd]

he was eating puppy milk formula replacement, then he started eating almonds and strawberries. he would not like to drink water. can I give him salmon oil by naturevet for the dehydration?

[Angiebabexd]

when he breathes now he isn't making the clicking noise like he used to

[Spanky]

he was eating puppy milk formula replacement, then he started eating almonds and strawberries. he would not like to drink water. can I give him salmon oil by naturevet for the dehydration?

Was the puppy formula Esbilac (the powdered version)? They are not all the same a most are not suitable for squirrels.

No, do not give the naturevet, use that recipe that was posted.

[Angiebabexd]

it was liquid version

[Spanky]

when he breathes now he isn't making the clicking noise like he used to

Ugh! He should not have been clicking when he breaths, if he was that is Aspiration Pneumonia (AP) which is deadly for baby squirrels. You do not have much time... you need antibiotics for him. Do you have any antibiotics? You will need only one pill... Cipro (often used for UTI's in people), Augmentin... if you have any antibiotics, please tell us what and we'll advise if it will work for his AP. If not call family and friends and try to find something.

You do not have much time to save him I am sad to say...

[Spanky]

it was liquid version

The pre-mixed liquid version of Esbilac?

[Angiebabexd]

what are some names for antibiotics I could use, I don't have that one

[Angiebabexd]

the milk was milk replacer from petag

[Spanky]

Cipro (Human)
Baytril (Animal)
Augmentin (Human)
Clavamox (Animal)
Doxycycline
Amoxil... trying to list in order of most effective to least for AP.

What do you have (if anything)?

[Spanky]

If you have anything tell us what so we can advise if it might work... do you have a kitchen scale / do you know his weight? Meds are dosed by weight. We will help with dosing if you can locate some antibiotics that will give him a shot at beating this AP.. .

[Angiebabexd]

I have doxycycline 100mg capsule, what do I do

[Angiebabexd]

I don't have a scale but he weighs about a pound

[Spanky]

This is extremely important / critical: Doxycycline can become lethal after it expires so what is the date / expiration date on the doxycycline?

We need to know how much he weighs if possible.

[Angiebabexd]

it says discard after 5/25/19

[Spanky]

I don't have a scale but he weighs about a pound

That baby does not weigh a pound... that is what an adult squirrel would weigh (maybe not even that in Florida).

We need a better picture of him if no weight... next to a soda can or similar common item for reference and we'll have to estimate his weight.

[Spanky]

it says discard after 5/25/19

Ok, good. We are making progress.

Do you have a 1ML syringe? I am asking because you'll need to carefully measure this dose and follow some dosing instructions to make a suspension from the 100mg Doxycycline.

Doxycycline is not the best and it is slow acting, but better than nothing at this point. We'll get him started on this but I suggest afterwards you start asking everyone you can if they have any antibiotics...

[Angiebabexd]

he is waking up with the water recipe

[Angiebabexd]

he is moving and opening eyes and looking more water

[Angiebabexd]

should I still do the antibiotics too?

[Spanky]

This is terrific news. Did you use any molasses/honey/syrup?

Is that clicking sound present when he breaths? Hold him to your ear like a phone and listen.

[Angiebabexd]

I have a .5 ml syringe

[Angiebabexd]

yes still clicking

[Angiebabexd]

we only used the water mixture so far

[Angiebabexd]

how many .5ml syringes can he drink of that mixture?

[Angiebabexd]

This is terrific news. Did you use any molasses/honey/syrup?

Is that clicking sound present when he breaths? Hold him to your ear like a phone and listen.


should we get started on the antibiotics?

[Spanky]

If he is clicking, we want to start antibiotics. I will dose just as soon as you post a picture so I can estimate the weight.

A 0.5ml syringe is even better! Sooper terrific for dosing these wee little ones.

He can have 10 - 14 of those 0.5ml syringes (5ml - 7ml) if he will take them.

[Angiebabexd]

308677308678308679

[Spanky]

Any chance you can place her next to a soda can? A can of tuna? Something that will help me estimate her size compared to a common item that anyone would be familiar for reference...

[Angiebabexd]

308680308681308682

[Spanky]

Ok, poor little peanut. I am going to dose for 150gm... I am putting this in the thread so other experienced members can let me know if they believe my guesstimate is off.

Hang tight, I will write this up and send dosing instructions to you in a Private Message.

And I will update this thread with some critical info. For now, we need to that baby hydrated so keep giving the pedialyte.

[Spanky]

Ok, initial dosing info sent in a PM. We may need to adjust the dose.. .if you get a real weight we can definitely adjust it.

[Spanky]

Here is a link to some basic info on baby squirrel care. This is 6 pages long (there is a ">Next" in the upper right corner to get to the next page). A terrific primer. Page 2 discusses dehydration... this baby is dehydrated.

https://www.henryspets.com/1-basic-setup/

You need to switch the formula to the Esbilac powdered version, I know it is crazy but the pre-mixed liquid Esbilac is not the same at all. It causes diarrhea, failure to thrive and other bad things. Your baby is very small for 8 week old, but we can help you get him back on track.

Here is the correct formula you want to use:
308685

I cannot urge enough the importance of a scale... for both dosing meds and knowing proprer formula feeding amount.

Finally, the Doxycycline can help with Aspiration Pneumonia (AP), but it is slow acting and your baby has advanced AP. Sometimes Doxycycline is not effective, and I worry that this is an advanced case. Doxy is also doubly hard on tummies. I strongly encourage you to ask friends, family and neighbors for some Cipro (common med used for Uninary Tract Infections in people) or Augmentin. These are quicker acting and more effective on AP.

[Spanky]

High quality rodent block should always be the first solids they eat.. and nothing else until they are eating block well. I am an Henry's healthy block fanatic, nothing is better:
https://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Here is the healthy squirrel diet pyramid:
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels

Always good to give probiotics when giving antibiotics, 1 hour before or after the dose. I use just generic CVS probiotics. Just a tiny pinch from a capsule in some water.

[Angiebabexd]

wow you were such a great help! and with your help he is now able to survive. I am so thankful! I thought he was a goner :(

[stepnstone]

Just getting back on here and saw the picture and responses, good job Spanky! :clap


wow you were such a great help! and with your help he is now able to survive. I am so thankful! I thought he was a goner :(
He's not out of the woods by a long shot. Addressing the AP is the most important but he also has other issues that need to be addressed.
Looking at his skin issues in (below) picture could possibly be sarcoptic mange, it will definitely need to be treated.
Question... why is he wet looking, did you bathe him?

308687

[redwuff]

How is this baby this morning,

If he made it there will be important things for you to get. One thing is a scale that weighs in grams. A kitchen scale is the correct size. Please look for a better antibiotic. Like the ones that Spanky suggested. Spanky gave great info. You are in good hands! Prayers for your baby:grouphug

[redwuff]

Just getting back on here and saw the picture and responses, good job Spanky! :clap


He's not out of the woods by a long shot. Addressing the AP is the most important but he also has other issues that need to be addressed.
Looking at his skin issues in (below) picture could possibly be sarcoptic mange, it will definitely need to be treated.
Question... why is he wet looking, did you bathe him?

308687



His face looks like he has some formula burn. Make sure you clean the formula off his face after feeding. Step you are right on by saying he is not out of the woods yet.

[redwuff]

We have a lot of members in Florida. Would you like someone who has more experience take him? I know it is easy to fall in love with these guys, and you have worked really hard with him, but maybe right now he needs more help than you can give him. Just asking. If not we can talk you through but he is in pretty rough shape. He was on deaths door last night. Thank you for reaching out to find help.:grouphug

[Angiebabexd]

He is moving and drinks water, he eats in small amounts, he has more dandruff like scabs and more bald spots and losing hair. I just got a hold of amoxicilan 500mg, could he take this or no? I had been giving him the dosage you said every 12hrs which today makes 7th day

[Angiebabexd]

what can we do to treat the skin?

[Angiebabexd]

he is currently eating a strawberry, active

[stepnstone]

what can we do to treat the skin?

I realize he had other medical issues that took priority but I have mentioned it twice.
This baby has mites/mange, it will continue to get worse. He has to be treated!

Treatable with puppy/kitten Revolution.
Revolution is Rx, unless you have vet access to obtain it or maybe friends with dogs or cats that have any.
You can order it on line without needing a script from *Joe's pet meds. You would want to purchase for
puppies/kittens up to 5 lbs. You would only need 1-2 drops from a single pipette between the shoulders,
repeat in 10 days from initial application.

*http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm (http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm)
(http://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm)