Adult male genital sucking

[mm7271]

We have an almost 6 year old male squirrel who will not stop sucking on his genitals. This recently started happening. He got a bad respiratory infection which he has recovered from. He started doing this when he got sick and now we cannot get him to stop. I've read through all of the forums I could find so hopefully someone has more suggestions since nothing seems to work. I have used preparation H to help with the swelling, Neosporin, and AD&D diaper rash ointment. Anything we have tried to use to cover it he takes off since he is a master escape artist. I tried the sugar cast also. Anything we put on he just licks off and then goes back to sucking. He is eating well and behaving normally other than this issue. I have not tried yuck but since he doesn't mind the taste of the other ointments I'm not sure this will work.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

We have an almost 6 year old male squirrel who will not stop sucking on his genitals. This recently started happening. He got a bad respiratory infection which he has recovered from. He started doing this when he got sick and now we cannot get him to stop. I've read through all of the forums I could find so hopefully someone has more suggestions since nothing seems to work. I have used preparation H to help with the swelling, Neosporin, and AD&D diaper rash ointment. Anything we have tried to use to cover it he takes off since he is a master escape artist. I tried the sugar cast also. Anything we put on he just licks off and then goes back to sucking. He is eating well and behaving normally other than this issue. I have not tried yuck but since he doesn't mind the taste of the other ointments I'm not sure this will work.

Hi MM7271:
Thanks for finding the Squirrel Board! What is your Squirrel's name? How long ago was this illness? Is there an pen wound, redness of the skin or drainage of pus, blood or fluid. Is the swelling quite extensive or is it minimal?

I suspect that while he was feeling ill, he found he could derive added comfort from sucking on his genitals. My suggestion would be to give him some controlled, safe and healthy means to continue this "nursing" and hopefully it will stop relatively soon. Squirrels are never too old to nurse and if you can obtain some safe Squirrel Formula such as Fox Valley 20/50 or Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer Powder and mix as directed and warmed (here is a link to the Baby Squirrel Feeding page on Henry's Pets website as it may have been 6 years since you have done this:
( https://henryspets.com/3-how-to-feed-a-baby-squirrel/ ). I would use a 1cc syringe and safe feeding nipple and let him do some safe sucking of the nipple and get some nutrition to boot!

Also, he might benefit from from some additional interaction with you and/or a new but safe toy of sorts.

As far as applying anything to his genitals to curtail this behavior, I would suggest against this for several reasons. The Squirrel may actually like the taste of at least some of what you are applying and this may encourage him, he may begin to associate the application of the "stuff" with sucking himself and this will enforce the behavior. Other issues are that he will be eating whatever he has applied to his genital and this may have some adverse effects such as casing diarrhea or changing the normal bacterial makeup in hi intestines.

Another very important concern I have is about one of the substances you are using and that is Neosporin. The ads for this "medication" imply it's safe and prevents or treats infection while none of this is really true! Neosporin contains neomycin which is an antibiotic. Of all of the topical (applied to the skin) antibiotics, Neomycin is one most likely to result in allergy or skin sensitization and the results can be difficult or impossible to differentiate from infection by looking at it!

Please provide updates on your Squirrels condition and behavior!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[mm7271]

Hi MM7271:
Thanks for finding the Squirrel Board! What is your Squirrel's name? How long ago was this illness? Is there an pen wound, redness of the skin or drainage of pus, blood or fluid. Is the swelling quite extensive or is it minimal?

I suspect that while he was feeling ill, he found he could derive added comfort from sucking on his genitals. My suggestion would be to give him some controlled, safe and healthy means to continue this "nursing" and hopefully it will stop relatively soon. Squirrels are never too old to nurse and if you can obtain some safe Squirrel Formula such as Fox Valley 20/50 or Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer Powder and mix as directed and warmed (here is a link to the Baby Squirrel Feeding page on Henry's Pets website as it may have been 6 years since you have done this:
( https://henryspets.com/3-how-to-feed-a-baby-squirrel/ ). I would use a 1cc syringe and safe feeding nipple and let him do some safe sucking of the nipple and get some nutrition to boot!

Also, he might benefit from from some additional interaction with you and/or a new but safe toy of sorts.

As far as applying anything to his genitals to curtail this behavior, I would suggest against this for several reasons. The Squirrel may actually like the taste of at least some of what you are applying and this may encourage him, he may begin to associate the application of the "stuff" with sucking himself and this will enforce the behavior. Other issues are that he will be eating whatever he has applied to his genital and this may have some adverse effects such as casing diarrhea or changing the normal bacterial makeup in hi intestines.

Another very important concern I have is about one of the substances you are using and that is Neosporin. The ads for this "medication" imply it's safe and prevents or treats infection while none of this is really true! Neosporin contains neomycin which is an antibiotic. Of all of the topical (applied to the skin) antibiotics, Neomycin is one most likely to result in allergy or skin sensitization and the results can be difficult or impossible to differentiate from infection by looking at it!

Please provide updates on your Squirrels condition and behavior!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

He recovered from the respiratory infection a couple of months ago but then he got a runny nose/sneezing again a couple of weeks later so I treated him with another round of antibiotics to be safe. I did give him some probiotics after the antibiotic treatment was over. Last night was my first try with the sugar cast and it was looking less swollen today but I've been treating it in the morning and at night for 3 days now. He's sleeping now but I will get a picture in the morning. It is still sticking out and really red. One thread I was reading said to keep putting the diaper ointment on it at least so it does not "dry out" the Neosporin and preparation H were suggestions on other forums I read. When he was sick the vet gave us some formula to feed him but he will not take from a syringe and force feeding him with a syringe stresses him out. I've been adding it to the mixture I feed him (teklad, walnuts, baby food - recipe I found on this site). He is definitely a lot more picky about what he eats since he got sick. I have been feeding him Henry's blocks (we have tried all the flavors) for a while but he doesn't seem to like them as much as he used to.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

He recovered from the respiratory infection a couple of months ago but then he got a runny nose/sneezing again a couple of weeks later so I treated him with another round of antibiotics to be safe. I did give him some probiotics after the antibiotic treatment was over. Last night was my first try with the sugar cast and it was looking less swollen today but I've been treating it in the morning and at night for 3 days now. He's sleeping now but I will get a picture in the morning. It is still sticking out and really red. One thread I was reading said to keep putting the diaper ointment on it at least so it does not "dry out" the Neosporin and preparation H were suggestions on other forums I read. When he was sick the vet gave us some formula to feed him but he will not take from a syringe and force feeding him with a syringe stresses him out. I've been adding it to the mixture I feed him (teklad, walnuts, baby food - recipe I found on this site). He is definitely a lot more picky about what he eats since he got sick. I have been feeding him Henry's blocks (we have tried all the flavors) for a while but he doesn't seem to like them as much as he used to.

Hi MM7271:
Thanks! I definitely wouldn't force feed him the formula! My goal with the suggestion of using formula was to help rechannel your Squirrel's sucking away from his genitals and to the nipple and not really for the formula although many adult Squirrels love to partake a bit of formula again. I guess that's for "old times sake!" What is the formula you have available? How is he doing today? What is your Squirrel's name?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel