Squirrel Pox this late????

[Lady Squirrelly]

The set up

I have 3 baby grays(two boys and a girl). They are just now 7 weeks old. I have had them since they were about 1 week old. They are having issues with smelling. They eat more and don't move off to pee. I change their bedding 2-3 times a day. I have also started bathing them every other day. I know it is something they will grow out of, so no problem. There is also a fair amount of sucking going on if they get hungry so I am very careful to make sure they stay well fed.

The problem

I bathed them this morning. When I got to school with them, my usual crew of squirrel loving former students came to visit. When I lifted Bruiser (the biggest) [OK so he isn't just big but rolly polly fat] up I noticed about 14 little white bumps on his lower belly. Two are on the left side, two on his penis, and the others on his right side. Most of them are about the size of the head of the straight pin. I did not notice them this morning when I bathed him.

The other two are fine, no bumps. I have sinced seperated them. They are all very upset but calming down.

The question

Could this be squirrel pox coming on this late? I have had them 6 weeks. Does it take this long to show up???? I cannot get picture to you now but could try at my sisters later tonight (I know these would help). Could they be just some ingrown hairs?? I have no resources at school (medicine) so I have just put some vaseline on them.

Should I wait it out?? Get him to the Vet (broke until Friday)??

Advice please??

[Lady Squirrelly]

Thanks for the links. I had found the last two but not the first one.

Those seemed to look flesh colored before they crusted over.

Bruiser's are white. Like grease bumbs we get under the skin.

[Mars]

My first thought is to give it 24 hours to see if it resolves on it's own. It may just be a reaction to something. Have you changed soaps, laundry soap or bedding lately?

[4skwerlz]

Right off the bat, doesn't sound like pox to me. All the pics I have seen it was never white. Also the pox lesions are usually irregular in shape.

A skin reaction from all the peeing or all the bathing maybe.

Over the summer here on TSB there were a number of babies with excessive urination, causing them to "smell." The causes were usually 1. overfeeding of formula (all the fluid in the formula has to go somewhere....) or 2. mixing the formula with something other than plain water (distilled water, pedialyte, etc., are all big no-no's), plus sometimes 3. feeding a lot of watery first-foods like grapes or watermelon.

Keep us posted.

[Lady Squirrelly]

Mars, I will wait. It will sure help my pocketbook if hes need to go. I just paniced because he is the most loving of the 3. He is the biggest and the only squirrel that I have ever raised that was not on the lean size. He is a round pudge (like his human mom :) ). So soft and cute. He feels like a marshmellow when you pick him up. The other two are well fed but on the muscular side. He reminds me more of the plumpness of a foxer. If mom had raised them, I have a sneaking feeling that the other 2 might not have made it because he eats so much. I have not changed anything.

4skwerlz, you are right I am sure. I only use tap water and they are not interested in food yet even thought it is offered in small amounts. They are already turning their nose up at the rodent block.:dono If I feed them less they start sucking each other and poor Bruiser gets the worst of it. I would seperate them completely, except I have to bring them with me to school and that would be a big problem because of the number of cages/tubs to deal with.

They sleep together pilled on top of each other so I know there is a big pee issue. That is why I change the bedding so often and try to keep them dry and clean. If I try to move them so they do not sleep in a pile, they grunt, growl and just crawl back.

I will just wait it out.
Thanks for the ideas.

[4skwerlz]

Maybe it's time to introduce solids.

They sound ADORABLE!

[jules]

Im not sure if squirrels get this, but by your description and the fact that he is lying in his urine, I think it could be Thrush! (candidiasis)....infection of the Candida fungus....occurs particularly in moist areas such as mouth, genitalia and skinfolds.
Thrush can also be a symptom of poor health. Is he okay with other areas of his health?

If it is Thrush, you will need to take him to the vets to get some ointment. Over here it is called Clotrimizole, usually 1%.

The other possibility is to contact Mars, our resident homeopathist. Im shaw she will be able to advise you about a remedy!

Good luck!:thumbsup

Jules. :Love_Icon