Peeling Skin on 2-3 week olds

[peej]

Help! Been caring for 5 pinkies (3-5 days old when rescued) for 14 days now, and they have been doing very well until now, because they are developing PEELING SKIN! Would anyone have advice? It is possible that their box has been a bit too warm (sometimes the thermometer has read 105 degrees) and too dry.

I have added a wet cloth in a little container with holes to the box to add some humidity, have dabbed their skin with avocado oil. I am very attached to each little personality now and worried! Not an easy condition to find info on

[CritterMom]

It is likely from low humidity. Make sure they are in a plastic box - one of the Sterlite containers work well -- and not cardboard, which will pull moisture OUT of your babies. I like to put a heavy coffee mug with saturated paper towels in it and set it in their box on top of the heating pad area to make a little "sauna" for them. Pinkies aren't strong enough to tip it over and the open top and bottom heat allows for more humidity. You may also want to give them a bit of warmed water in between their formula feedings.

[peej]

Thank you so much for that...yes, they have been in a cardboard box with finely shredded cotton ball and toilet paper bedding (I unroll the cotton balls before cutting into pieces to be sure that there are no long strands to get tangled in).

[Mel1959]

Did you move them from the cardboard box to a plastic bin? T shirts, old blankets and fleece make great bin liners.

[Krystal711]

I am having the save problem! I do have her in a plastic bin and have a little cup with damp sponge. When I do the skin test she doesn’t seem to be dehydrated. Been giving her 1/2 pedialyte 1/2 water in between feedings just in case. Peeing and pooping normal. But her skin is so dry and peeling everywhere! I bought some 100% organic coconut oil and dabbed some on her and it helps a little but once the oil dries it almost seems worse. The bin I have her in doesn’t have a lid could that be the problem? Hellllp! I feel bad for her but she doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable

[CritterMom]

Yes, the lid contains the moisture from the evaporating water/sponge thing. Obviously they also need air, but you are sort of trying to make them a little sauna. Also, change your rig up a little. Take a lightly crumpled paper towel and put that in your container instead of a sponge, and saturate it. Not damp - WET. Put the whole thing over the heating pad. The paper towel has more surface area to evaporate water than the sponge. Do a fresh towel and water daily.