IV. Baytril Antibiotic - VERY IMPORTANT vs secondary infections!
"BAYTRIL" is the brand name for a veterinary antibiotic that can be used for squirrels. It is prescription, not available over the counter. It does not affect the pox (which is a virus) but can be used if they develop a secondary infection (such as pneumonia) because they become debilitated from the pox. This is one reason to monitor their overall health, eating, breathing, activity level (and not only the number of pox lesions you see). So that other infections can be treated if needed. Each case seems to be different. Some that Jackie saw were quite mild, only a few lesions and not too much effect on activity. She also had more severely affected squirrels. And it ranges to the very very debilitated squirrels that Loopy has gotten.
VI. Erythromycin Optic (Eye Antibiotic Ointment)
VERY IMPORTANT IF EYE INVOLVEMENT!
Many squirrels have lesions on/around their eyes -- this is used to prevent, treat secondary infection, prevent scarring, to save their sight if possible.
VII. NutriFeron Supplement - to boost immunity
Wikipedia: Nutriferon is a dietary supplement manufactured by Shaklee Corporation. It claims to boost the body's natural interferon. Its ingredients include pumpkin seed extract, safflower seed extract, Asian plantain seed extract, and Japanese honeysuckle flower extract.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11806 [MADS]
REHABBER PM (partial):
Interferon is use in AIDS and other auto immune disease to strengthen the immune systems. The chemical form of interferon used in hospitals is ridiculously expensive and has many side effects. But Shaklee Corp has a plant based interferon patented under the name Nutriferon. It is also expensive but nowhere near so as the other. And it has been clinically tested to show none of the other's side effects. Shaklee does not promote their products for critter use. Nor does the general rehabbing community want to go there. But it HAS been used in critters (not necessarily for squirrel pox …) with good results. I can't promise it will help against the pox but it's worth a try.
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DOSING
Jackie - NutriFeron Tea:
I did not offer water, only the tea...no problem, they loved it. 3 tablets to gallon of water, I crushed tablets with spoon, and dissolved. I put in bird bath, their normal watering hole. I DO FEEL IT HELPED!
ORIGINAL DIRECTIONS:
Crush 1/2 NutriFeron tablet
Dissolve in 25cc of water. (25 cc = 2.5 teaspoons)
*DOSE is 1cc per pound of squirrel -- approximately.
(fyi, if this is a helpful visual: 1/8 teaspoon = 1.25 cc, so its slightly less than 1/8 tsp)
This is not exact. My source feels we can go on the light side and still get a good dosage in. Remember it's food based and very safe.
METHODS OF DOSING:
Syringe: Perhaps for your inside squirrels, you could give it this way. (?)
On Food: It could be a nut dipped in it or a piece of bread crust. Anything that works to get it into them is good. It could be flavored with a touch of fruit juice.
Drink: Possibly they would drink it – but it's such a small amount I don't see how you would do it. It seems too hard to control the dosage if you put it in a dish of water for them.
* In case you or the local rehabbers or vets want to know what the dosing is based on:
The dosage for an adult human is two tablets per day. Figured a human adult to be over 100 pounds. SO 1 tablet = 50 pounds. 1/2 tablet = 25 pounds. Dissolved in 25 cc so each cc= 1 lb.