Squirrel Pox: Massachusetts

[Rocky1]

Can anyone recommend a wildlife rehabilitater near Boston who has been successful at treating a squirrel with squirrel pox?

[Rocky1]

Angel Memorial?
Additionally, has anyone had any experience with surrendering a squirrel to Angel Memorial? If I am not a rehabilitator, are they likely to do quality work and (if possible) release the squirrel back into the wild? (I know that I would be required to "surrender" a squirrel to them. So, I would want to be as sure as possible that they would be likely to provide quality care and not just euthanize.) Thanks!

[TubeDriver]

How bad is the case of Pox? I had 3 squirrels show up with minor cases of Pox and all three resolved on their own without any meds (just provided clean water and extra food).

[stepnstone]

Angel Memorial?
Additionally, has anyone had any experience with surrendering a squirrel to Angel Memorial? If I am not a rehabilitator, are they likely to do quality work and (if possible) release the squirrel back into the wild? (I know that I would be required to "surrender" a squirrel to them. So, I would want to be as sure as possible that they would be likely to provide quality care and not just euthanize.) Thanks!
If the laws in your State are like many others, unless one holds a license for wildlife the animal is required to be relinquished.
Many vets recommend putting the animal down as soon as the pox disease is diagnosed. Angel Memorial is a facility, as with
many facilities they would not risk a squirrel with pox and it would be euthanized upon intake.

[Rocky1]

How bad is the case of Pox? I had 3 squirrels show up with minor cases of Pox and all three resolved on their own without any meds (just provided clean water and extra food).

Photos are below.

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[TubeDriver]

All three of my squirrels has 1-2 Pox lesions on the ear and 1 lesion under the eye. All three squirrels healed on their own after about 2-3 weeks. Your two look a little worse, the 1st squirrel looks the worst to me. As was mentioned many places will happily take the squirrel from you and then euthanize it, they can't "waste" the resources and time it takes to heal them. At the very least, you can try to provide these two with extra treats/food and clean water. Change out any water stations daily. If they can stay strong, their immune systems may be able to beat the virus.



Photos are below.

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[Rocky1]

All three of my squirrels has 1-2 Pox lesions on the ear and 1 lesion under the eye. All three squirrels healed on their own after about 2-3 weeks. Your two look a little worse, the 1st squirrel looks the worst to me. As was mentioned many places will happily take the squirrel from you and then euthanize it, they can't "waste" the resources and time it takes to heal them. At the very least, you can try to provide these two with extra treats/food and clean water. Change out any water stations daily. If they can stay strong, their immune systems may be able to beat the virus.


The situation is that these two are the only sick ones in a park with dozens of other squirrels. Some of the other squirrels are precious wild pet squirrels and are not yet sick. Please let me know if this changes anything. I fear losing a pet if this spreads.

[Rocky1]

All three of my squirrels has 1-2 Pox lesions on the ear and 1 lesion under the eye. All three squirrels healed on their own after about 2-3 weeks. Your two look a little worse, the 1st squirrel looks the worst to me. As was mentioned many places will happily take the squirrel from you and then euthanize it, they can't "waste" the resources and time it takes to heal them. At the very least, you can try to provide these two with extra treats/food and clean water. Change out any water stations daily. If they can stay strong, their immune systems may be able to beat the virus.


The situation is that these two are the only sick ones in a park with dozens of other squirrels. Some of the other squirrels are precious wild pet squirrels and are not yet sick. Please let me know if this changes anything. I fear losing a pet if this spreads. Also I worry about sharing water, such as all squirrels drinking from the same bowl - will that spread disease? My "solution" was to try to provide watermelon and juicy single serving fruit.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

The situation is that these two are the only sick ones in a park with dozens of other squirrels. Some of the other squirrels are precious wild pet squirrels and are not yet sick. Please let me know if this changes anything. I fear losing a pet if this spreads. Also I worry about sharing water, such as all squirrels drinking from the same bowl - will that spread disease? My "solution" was to try to provide watermelon and juicy single serving fruit.

Hi Rocky1:
I just had a moment to "drop in" on TSB (I've been quite busy lately and have had little free time) and noticed your thread. I'll just give you my opinion about a few things but first of all, thank you so much for caring about these two beautiful little Squirrels.

Even if you could get them to a rehabber; I suspect that regardless of what they might say to you prior to you surrender of the Squirrels, they will euthanize them! While Squirrel Pox is spread by certain species of both mosquitoes and fleas, there is convincing evidence that the virus can be spread from Squirrel to Squirrel by direct contact with the lesions. A rehab facility could easily justify euthanization based upon their perceived risk of transmission to other Squirrels in their care. This Squirrel to Squirrel transmission, though, appears to require direct contact so in theory, they could relatively easily isolate your Squirrels but I doubt that they would!

Your Squirrels appear to be Grays and that is an advantage as Grays seem to have far more native immunity to the Squirrel Pox Virus and there may very well be a good chance the condition will not worsen and that they will make a spontaneous recovery. There is no definitive treatment for the virus that causes Squirrel Pox. It is not a Herpes virus and the common medications for treatment of Herpes virus infections, Acyclovir and Valacyclovir should not in theory be effective against a Pox Virus although there are accounts on TSB where one of the Herpes medications have been used. As these Squirrels are wild, this is probably a moot issue anyway as even if there was a definitive treatment for Squirrel Pox, there is no reliable means to ensure that the Squirrels while in the wild would be getting regular and full dosing of the medication.

I am in agreement with what TubeDriver has advised; "At the very least, you can try to provide these two with extra treats/food and clean water. Change out any water stations daily. If they can stay strong, their immune systems may be able to beat the virus."

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Rocky1]

Excellent news: "Squirrel 1" has recovered and is now alive and well!!!!

Thanks to everyone who helped!

Photos of recovery to follow.

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[island rehabber]

Great news, Rocky1! Thankfully this was a mild case of pox and your squirrel's immunity was strong. .

[Lighten-Up]

Rocky 1, that is good news.

A few years ago, I had about 6 squirrels in my backyard with lesions a little more advanced than your squirrels show. And one of them was my precious released squirrel, so I was a bit panicky about it. I had about 18-25 squirrels visiting the yard regularly. All the 6 pox squirrels recovered on their own, with no medication, just plenty of good fresh water, some good food and lots of kindly prayers and love for them, and no one else got it.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Great news Rocky1! Thanks for posting an update! Any news about "Squirrel 2?"
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel