Genital Rash

[teddyflory]

I have a severely emaciated young western gray tree squirrel that came in to me about a week ago. He was eyes closed but opening at 76 g, with both genital suckling wounds and a butt caked in old stool. It’s very obvious he had been orphaned, and the wounds on his penis seemed to heal up but the scraping wounds on his scrotum started scabbing, and then hardening, and now the scabbing and irritation seems to be spreading. Is this just diaper rash? Possible yeast or bacterial overgrowth? Or something more sinister like pox or mange... my first inclination is that it is the former not the latter but I don’t want to put my other patients at risk of something potentially more contagious. He is housed separately and fed alone, but is in my squirrel nursery not isolated. He has not displayed agitation, problems with urination or defecation, seems to have stopped self-suckling, has gained good weight and is eating and very perky.
Just hoping for other’s opinions to get perspective! I’ll be taking him in to the vet for a visit but our vet’s often know less than the collective knowledge of the squirrel board!
Thank you for your help with this little guy! 309379

Teddy

[TubeDriver]

Looks more like urine scald and not Pox or mange. You can take a diluted (10%) Betadyne solution and wipe down the area 2-3x per day. Is his penis tip open and flowing freely?

[CritterMom]

I would wipe the area down with diluted betadyne (mix 20-25 drops 10% betadyne with water and wipe the area down) and then rub some silvadene cream on the sore areas. Don't slather it on, you just need to use a small amount and rub it in. Silvadene is prescription use and most vets keep it on hand. If not, we can send you someplace you can order it.

Also, you need to do something to keep this baby from laying in his urine. When feeding, potty him before and after - you are trying to empty his bladder before he goes back. Also, get him on something absorbent. The polarfleece is nice but it holds water in puddles. The commercial paper beddings like Carefresh work; paper towels work.

[teddyflory]

Thank you all!
I started the betadine and silver cream and it does seem to be helping, but I’ve also noticed he has a small bump on his face where his whiskers are growing in. As far as my research goes, it seems like western grays can’t contract the pox virus but I guess never say never.

He has no scabbing on his penis anymore and has been able to urinate freely and on his own, but I’ve been stimulating him still so he doesn’t pee on himself or in his carrier. Before he came in, the man who had found him fed him water he mixed table salt into, could this have messed up his Ph balance that could cause his urine to scald him that way? I always keep my babies on absorbent pillowcases that have been washed in fragrance-free sensitive detergent, and change them out regularly, but have added paper towels just in case.
Teddy

[Mel1959]

It looks like scald to me, too. I suppose if the finder used a lot of salt it could upset his urine PH, but you’ve had him awhile, I’d think his urine would be diluted by now. Have you offered plain water to dilute his urine further?