Diaper Rash

[mvaughn3391]

What is the best thing to use for (diaper) rash on a 6 week old baby squirrel.

[Momma Squirrel]

OK gotta ask, why is the squirrel wearing a diaper :dono

I will let someone else give you the answer, but never heard of one wearing a diaper :dono

[hazel]

I assume that you're talking about urine scald. While no baby squirrel who is kept properly clean should have urine scald, it certainly shouldn't be happening in one this old. Can you tell us more about what is going on with this squirrel?

[thundersquirrel]

welcome!!!

yes, tell us more! that sounds unusual. could we have pictures? what's the story on this one? :)

[TexanSquirrel]

:Welcome We need you to help us help you! Can you post pics and more info please? :thumbsup

[mvaughn3391]

I will send pictures tomorrow.... I have been bathing his lower half with warm water only because I dont want to irratate it with soap and dont know what to use. At first I used vaseline, but I was afraid that it would make him sick. I stumbled upon your website and I am glad I did.....

My first guess was urine scald (I first called it biaper rash and was made fun of) He was only a few days old when a storm took him from his home. He had a sister that didnt make it. I have had him ever since he was just a pinkie with no hair. He has been on esbilac puppy powder with whipping cream since I have had him. He has been eating well and his elimination has been fine. I offer him apple, bananna, monkey biscuit, grape, twigs, alvocado, peanut, acorn, he will nipple or just play with it.

I think I went wrong somewhere I read that after they open their eyes they dont need to be stimulated. He was releasing himself but when I would pull him out of his sack (He has a ferret hanging sack he sleeps in) for feeding he would be wet. I did bath him once with Ivory Bar soap before the rash

Anyway I am keeping him as clean as I know how at this moment washing him and his bedding daily....and stimulating him again to keep him from getting wet.....this it helping alot. I was just wondering is there anything that I can put on him that would keep him from getting burned when he wets on himself? And is this normal? I have read about litter boxes....please tell me what kind of litter (cat litter, paper, etc.) I understand the box part but i have not read what you put in it.

I have raised and released or taken to rehab several squirrels, ratcoons, over the years but its been a while. I plan on releasing this one but will wait until spring as it is going to start getting cold and snow around his release age.

Please help I dont want him to get sick. Sorry I am not much of a letter writer, please keep the sarcasum comments to yourself about the (diaper) and help me with the baby.......Thank you I only said it because I read that they can get diaper rash just like a baby........so thats what I called it.

[LynninIN]

I've used a mild baby wash. One of those tear free hair and body for babies. Aleeno unscented gentle lotion can be use. The next question is was type of laudry soap are you using and are you adding facric sofenters.

[mvaughn3391]

Bag Balm I do have some thanks, I will get him so baby wash. Is it ok to bath them daily? Or how often? thank you

[hazel]

It sounds like you've been taking very good care of your baby :thumbsup Sorry to hear about his little sister. It's been a very rough year in squirrel land.:shakehead

I'm concerned about the fact that he is wetting himself often enough to cause urine scald. No, it doesn't seem normal to me at all, especially at his age. Do you think he has a normal activity level? At his age squirrels are usually on the move when they urinate and do so in a normal ''on all fours'' position, so they don't tend to get themselves wet.

This is really puzzling. Please tell us all you can about him, all the details about his diet, his housing and yes, pictures are always helpful. Hopefully we'll be able to figure this out.

In the mean time, definately continue to stimulate him so he stays drier. I agree with you about only using warm water to clean him. Vaseline won't hurt him, but should only be applied on skin that isn't damp. Bag balm, IMO, is way too aromatic to put on a small animal. If the skin is infected an antibiotic ointment can be used. I also like Rescue Remedy Cream, available at some health food stores.

Do you have a vet who would be willing to test a urine sample for a urinary tract infection?

[mvaughn3391]

I would try just wetting a wash cloth with warm water, wringing it out, wiping him off, and then drying him as best as you can. I wouldn't bath him anymore than necessary. The reason you were asked about the laundry detergent is because a lot of babies have reactions to them, and break out. You should only use ones that are free of perfumes and dyes, and no fabric softener sheets at all.


Although I have switched detergent since this has happened I buy what ever is on sale at the time. His laundry detergent at that time most likely had bleach and perfumes in it. I am washing with a milder detergent and giving an extra wash and rinse with just water. He is looking very good. I will send pictures later today.

[4skwerlz]

Can you tell us exactly what formula mixture you are feeding, how much, and how often? Also is he getting any other fluids? We had a couple of baby squirrels lately with excessive urination due to overfeeding.

[philomycus]

I think either a UTI or maybe he's damaged his bladder at a very yound age?? Did he fall out of a tree?

If it's a UTI some antibiotics could clear that up. If he's that old and wetting himself, I'd take him to a vet.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

:Welcome It does seem unusual that your baby is wetting himself at his age. He should be able to go without getting himself wet. I do have a squirrel with a similar problem though. I just got him on Sunday, he is about the same age, and he squats really low when he pees and ends up getting it all over his belly. I am able to dry him off right away since he only pees on the table when I get him out to feed him. I think he might have a back injury because he walks funny with his back legs up in the air. Is there any possibility that your squirrel has fallen and hurt his back? That is the only thing I can think of. Either that or UTI.

[mvaughn3391]

Can you tell us exactly what formula mixture you are feeding, how much, and how often? Also is he getting any other fluids? We had a couple of baby squirrels lately with excessive urination due to overfeeding.

I am mixing 1 part formula to 2 parts water and 1/2 to 1 part whipping cream. (I tend to go easy on the cream since his eyes have opened and he has started eating a little solid foods because i think he is big enough maybe too big) he is eating every 4 to 5 hours 12 to 15 cc's each feeding 5 times a day. He lets me know when he is done. Sometimes I think he is eating too much because he is too me a little fatty. I dont have a scale to tell you his weight but I do know that he is not under weight. He has a water bottle in his cage but doesnt like it i also give small dish of water...seen him drink a little of it this morning... I put a soaked monkey biscuit in this morning...he also gets hard monkey buscuit...he doesnt seem to care too much for them. Gave him apple and an acorn this morning, he loves apple and just bites on the acorn.....I have a rodent mixture of nuts, and seeds, etc. Katee brand....He has it if he wants it but doesn't care too much about it yet...I figure he will very soon. He also has a twig to chew on at all times...he likes his twigs...

When his rash started I was feeding him about the same as above and also avocado, grapes, tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, switching daily..... I keep thinking about the acid in the tomato he did like it but I backed off when he was getting worse.

His cage is plenty big for his age right now.....I do think that he is a little lazy and he gets scared easily. I have 3 almost grown kids but i don't let them handle him they pet him when I have him out....and talk to him at his cage....we love watching him grow they want to keep him forever but we cant we are not allowed in our state......

I know you need pictures I will as soon as I get off work....He looked really good this morning I hope that it isnt any worse than just a reaction to detergent or something minor.

OH I have seen him lay on his back sleeping and he would be peeing a little bit on himself......he is getting a little more active, and climbs sometimes...Am I feeding him too much?

[mvaughn3391]

:Welcome It does seem unusual that your baby is wetting himself at his age. He should be able to go without getting himself wet. I do have a squirrel with a similar problem though. I just got him on Sunday, he is about the same age, and he squats really low when he pees and ends up getting it all over his belly. I am able to dry him off right away since he only pees on the table when I get him out to feed him. I think he might have a back injury because he walks funny with his back legs up in the air. Is there any possibility that your squirrel has fallen and hurt his back? That is the only thing I can think of. Either that or UTI.

as a pinky he had just a few bruises, didnt act like anything hurt him moved around really well IMO . I have not really seen him squat to pee yet....I have seen him drag his belly like he is trying to wipe it off. I am going to set up a litter box for him today.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

If he pees while he is laying on his back, that would explain it. I haven't ever seen a squirrel do that. Silly boy! I guess just try to wipe him off when you see he is wet. What do you use to pittle him?

[mvaughn3391]

I'm not a rehabber, so I'll leave all the advice up to them. I'm thinking he is getting fed quite a bit, and you probably don't need the cream in his formula. That is usually used for babies that are having trouble gaining weight. However, this is just my opinion. :tilt I also wouldn't offer him any peanuts, or the seed mixture. Believe it or not, they really aren't good for squirrels. I'm really glad to hear he is doing so well this morning! :wahoo


He is not having any trouble gaining weight so I think i will back off the cream even more and more each time and take him off of it.... I was offering the seed mixture to see what he liked and what he didnt like..... I have read alot about the seeds and how they are not so good for them....thanks for the info..

[mvaughn3391]

If he pees while he is laying on his back, that would explain it. I haven't ever seen a squirrel do that. Silly boy! I guess just try to wipe him off when you see he is wet. What do you use to pittle him?

I have always stood him up and used a q-tip and kept his tail out of the way and let him do his business on to paper towels....at every feeding ..... do you think that I am feeding him too much and he is just being lazy. I worry at night that he is not getting enough because I have been letting him go 6 hours now at night... unstead of getting up every 3 hours when he was little.....Is this ok? can you tell me how you do your babys at this age at night....so I can make sure I am doing this right...

thank you so much for everyones help......

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I think your squirrel may be eating too much. My little guys are about 7 and a half weeks old now and I am feeding them only 11.5 cc per feeding and I only feed them 4 times a day. They go 8 hours sometimes longer at night without food. I don't think overfeeding would cause this problem though. I always use a tissue when I pittle my little guys, but I have heard others say they use a Q-tip, so that shouldn't be a problem.

[mvaughn3391]

I think your squirrel may be eating too much. My little guys are about 7 and a half weeks old now and I am feeding them only 11.5 cc per feeding and I only feed them 4 times a day. They go 8 hours sometimes longer at night without food. I don't think overfeeding would cause this problem though. I always use a tissue when I pittle my little guys, but I have heard others say they use a Q-tip, so that shouldn't be a problem.


:jump I am so glad to hear the 8 hours or longer. I worried so much about 6 hours... he was always fine but he jumped 8 cc to 12 cc in like a week and now 12 to 15 I started thinking I was starving him by letting him go 6 hours. Now I can get a little more sleep....lol

[4skwerlz]

I think your squirrel may be eating too much. I don't think overfeeding would cause this problem though.

I'd never heard of it either, but we've had several babies recently with excessive urination who turned out to be way overfed. This guy is getting 12-15 ccs x 5, that's a lot of formula, and all that fluid has to go somewhere. What do you think?

[hazel]

Hey MV-:wave123

How is everything?

[Mads]

wow...this has been an interesting post. Just more stuff to look forward to worrying about! I'm always worrying about how much is too much to feed, or too little...and I read about diaper rash with babbies too...anyway, I enjoyed reading these posts...:thankyou

[susanw]

I agree with philomycus, the only times I have seen a squirrel wet from urine was when they have bladder infections.

[TexanSquirrel]

:thankyou For taking care of this baby. I'm glad we're getting this sorted out.

[KimbleSquible]

Hi. Just saw this post. My little Squib has started wetting himself to. And he doesn't move around much unless I wake him up for a feed or he wakes up because he is hungry. I bathe him with Johnson and johnson no more tears shampoo every other day when he really starts to pong and sponge him off after feeding. His urine when I stimulate him starts off slightly cloudy and then clears as he carries on. Perhaps I should stimulate him more before a feed? He also doesn't like hard food but really really really(!) loves his Purity Carrots baby food. He stands in the stuff and ends up with barrot ALL over!!
Hmmm...