Nugget also has ringworm apparently, itchy

[squirrelfairy]

So on top of all this, we used a woods lamp and it looks like his rashes are ringworm.....he can't tolerate much more right now due to his lung condition, but what is the best and safest treatment for ringworm? I have some topicals here, but don't want to throw too much more at him, until he is better, but want to give him some relief....thank you...

[Mel1959]

You can try any of the over the counter anti fungal creams. They do contain different ingredients according to brand so if one doesn’t work try a different one. Coconut oil also has anti fungal properties but I’m not sure if it will work to knock out ringworm.

[CritterMom]

Anything that works for puppies and kittens will be safe for your squirrel. I would imagine your vet's office can hook you up with something.

[Diggie's Friend]

From Ratguide.com:

Treatment of symptomatic animals should include not only the presenting lesions, but the elimination of the fungal infection itself. The reason being is that even though the infection is often self-limited, clearing on its own in several weeks, the animal can continue to harbor the infection only to have it reoccur when conditions are again met. Other household pets residing in the home should be checked as well, and treated as necessary. Also important in the prevention and treatment program is for pet owners to remember to wash hands and materials that have come in contact with an infected animal.

In addition, pet owners (often those who are immunocompromised, or those with an open scratch or cut) who come in contact with this fungal infection usually see symptoms within 4 to 7 days. It is not dangerous and is often easily cured with over the counter anti-fungal creams applied twice daily for 2 to 4 weeks. Owners should check with their own physicians regarding appropriate treatment for themselves.

https://www.afrma.org/med_ringworm.htm

If it isn't too much trouble, can you share a photo of the effected areas of his skin here?

[Shawndra]

So on top of all this, we used a woods lamp and it looks like his rashes are ringworm.....he can't tolerate much more right now due to his lung condition, but what is the best and safest treatment for ringworm? I have some topicals here, but don't want to throw too much more at him, until he is better, but want to give him some relief....thank you...

I dealt with a chronic case of ringworm with a puppy that I rescued. The only thing that I found to actually work was colloidal silver. 500ppm would be the best and I would put it on your baby as much as you can and cover the area if possible. You could even mix it with the cream and cover. Using a black light to see where the fungus is located also helps because it will glow bright green. Our pup had it on her back leg and before we knew what it was it transferred to our other dogs. We tried everything to get rid of it, creams and shampoo but nothing worked for her until we tried colloidal silver. It literally was a life saver.

[island rehabber]

I have successfully used Desitin or tinactin in the past for ringworm on both kittens and baby squirrels --oh yeah, also on me. :eek

[Shaena]

Apparently there is a squirrel specific version of ringworm not transmissible to people that tends to be the most common on them. It hits when their immune system is low so especially during molt or low vitamin D and nutrients at end of winter or other illness or often mites that allow the secondary issue. Apparently if you deal with the immmune issue along with religiously washing their linens in hot water and surfaces with something antifungal daily(and rinsing after!!! Toxic!!) not bringing in sticks from outside that may be spreading the fungus, throwing out and replacing everything in cage you cannot wash on high heat after the first week of treatment like wooden things, along with adding more fat and sunshine time (outdoor cage or screen window 15 min a day)/ (put olive oil on their blocks) it can help if you also do a properly weight measured dose of revolution and then twice daily skin rinse with an antifungal rinse like chlorhexidrine, which is watered down to safe oral rinse levels, you leave on 5 min and rinse off ( we had to use wet cotton pads to daub off with water because the rage against being wet was too great) followed by and I kid you not canesten vag cream (lower dose version) on the visible fungal areas for about a week or two. They will lick and get a mild antifungal internally but it is made for internal and all the different parts should help it come together in two weeks, drop the medical washes and cream and switch to coconut oil on skin for another week. It got worse before it got better for us ( my experience with a vet dealing with it)

[Diggie's Friend]

Wrong link?

[Diggie's Friend]

Common to aged rodents, there are a number ofr possible causes of the crusty lesions in rodents.

In ringworm, it is hard to see the ring that develops under the coat. Parting the fur around the area outside of the lesion, you may be able to see the redness of the ring. Be sure to take precautions to wear gloves when doing this incase this is a zoonotic form of ringworm. Where you see no telltale ring, means that this likely it isn't ringworm. In case that the infection doesn't respond well to the present treatment for a fungal infection; taking your squirrel to the vet to have the lesions tested is advisable to determine if the infection is truly ringworm, or another cause.

Crusty lesions in rodents also may be caused by mite infestations; which also causes itching which promotes scratching and over grooming.

Ulcerative dermatitis is most commonly seen in elderly rodents, may also be caused by a staph infection.
AB treatment for staph infections depends upon the form of Staph as to what would be effective.

Crusty lesions from a very rare form of skin lymphoma, has been documented to occur in the E. Gray squirrels.
This is the least likely cause cause of skin lesions in elderly squirrels.

[squirrelfairy]

Yes I will do, I was away and have not been able to do it, try to download tomorrow



https://www.afrma.org/med_ringworm.htm

If it isn't too much trouble, can you share a photo of the effected areas of his skin here?

[squirrelfairy]

Here he is, eating now at least, thinner, orangy brown wet jelly poop.............you can't see the hair loss but its better, and yes I totally remember him getting little rashes every spring, this is the first year it became so itchy for him, but its better, I just need to get some weight back on him and clear up the diarrhea. His breathing is better, but he is fragile. My POOR BOY.........

[Diggie's Friend]

In the area without furt on his lower abdomen, do you feel anything like a raised area there?

Is his groin area enlarged from that which it was prior to the fur loss?