Hi all,
I have a little one with what I think is pox. Heres the story. I picked him up at my rehabber to foster raise and he was sick with squirrelly sniffels. About a week after i got him I took him to the vet because he was feeling worse and he had a lot of snot coming from his nose. We put him on clavamox and a shot of steriods. This really helped him start to feel better. Any way that same night i finally investigated a crusty growth on his shoulder that seemed to be getting bigger. It didnt look right and I thought abscess....maybe this was why he felt so bad. About two days later I noticed a growth on his finger on that same side. Right about then the growth on his shoulder fell off. I thought great hes healing. Then the growth on his toe which looked very sore fell off. I thought great hes gonna be perfect. Unfortuantly, about a week later i noticed another growth on two of his toes. They grew fast lasted about a week or so then fell off. Now i have a sinking feeling...... Three nights ago this normally loving boy all of a sudden wanted nothing to do with me. I noticed a growth on his nose. All the growths have looked sore but i think this one is especially tender.He has been refusing his milkies and cranky to his cage mate. I gave some ibuprofen which seemed to help a great deal...he had his milk and was playing again.
I know if this is pox it is catchy but he has been with this girl since i picked him up and she has shown no signs. they both are very distressed when i put them alone into different cages. I figured if she was going to catch it she would have already had it.
I have been trying to get a pic ....but it has been very difficult. now he wont let me touch him, but the next time i medicate i will get a pic. The growths are crusty grayish and very attached to the skin and dry...not a scab. the margins are red and look sore.They grow rapidly by mostly gaining in height. Fall off after a week or two. Skin underneath is red and hairless.
Anyway my main question about this little one is: in a couple weeks I was going to take these little ones back to the rehabber for release( I live in central alabama)......so should he be released where he was found or should i overwinter him? I would normally over winter in a giant release cage outside, however i wont do that with him. I wouldnt want to risk infecting the squirrels here. so he would have to be inside.
What are your thoughts on what to do with this little one assuming he has pox?
Thanks,
Julia