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Thread: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

  1. #1
    Musha Guest

    Default My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    I've been feeding him just peanuts ,raisins and broccoli before stumbling apon this forum yesterday. I think it may just be a Calcium deficiency but due to it being really rough (in staid of soft like the rest of his body)so that also leads me to believe he has mange but only in his tail. I first found him outside near my pond crawling up my pants leg and I've had him for a fue months now. His tail having not fluffed out at all is fritening me quite abit. So if anyone has any information on how to help my little fuzz ball he and I would gratefulty appreciate it
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  2. #2
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    Default Re: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    His tail issues are absolutely diet related, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it takes a long time for their tails to reflect improvement in their diet -- maybe six months -- but if you change his diet now for the better you will at least see him get a nice fluffy tail for the fall!

    The broccoli was the only healthy thing he was eating -- peanuts and raisins are garbage for a squirrel. Get some Henry's Healthy Blocks and give two per day. Get him a high-quality rodent block for every day, as much as he wants: Oxbow, Teklad or Zupreem. Do not feed him hamster food or gerbil food or ANYTHING made by Hartz Mountain.

    A squirrel's tail is the mirror of his health.....you will see it improve!
    Island Rehabber
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  4. #3
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    Default Re: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    I have seen this before and your baby's tail is indicative of a nutritionally poor diet and a possible calcium deficiency. I would start on increasing calcium and a radically different diet. He absolutely must have a nutritionally balanced rodent block. The most common one is Henry's healthy pets block. You can order it online at www.henryshealthypet.com. You can also order calcium powder there. You will also find the healthy diet pyramid on that site.

    Please tell me what formula he was on when you first got him. How old do you think he was when you first found him?

    Thanks for coming to the squirrel board and looking for help with your little one. Please no more peanuts or other nuts till he can get on a healthier diet. Nuts only rarely as a treat.



    Thanks IR, just saw you posted. We were thinking the same thing!

  5. 4 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to UDoWhat:

    cava (06-18-2017), Grinderhead (06-18-2017), stepnstone (06-18-2017)

  6. #4
    Musha Guest

    Default Re: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    Thank you guys so much I will defanently change his diet completely (exempt for his broccoli) I love this little guy and couldn't let anything happen to him and I've even been letting him play outside so he can run to go play in trees and when he's all done he comes back to my lawn chair and crawls up my leg.

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    Default Re: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    [QUOTE=Musha;1222755]Thank you guys so much I will defanently change his diet completely (exempt for his broccoli) I love this little guy and couldn't let anything happen to him and I've even been letting him play outside so he can run to go play in trees and when he's all done he comes back to my lawn chair and crawls up my leg.[/QUOTE



    DO NOT let him outside like that. I am saying this to you in love, but it is going to sound harsh. There has been damage done by a poor diet that right now is showing up in a scraggly tail. It has most likely also effected his bones. Think of osteoporosis in people. He needs time on a good diet to heal his body. He also is too young to take a chance on something scaring him outside and you losing him. There are many stories just like that on this board where people took young squirrels outside and they never got them back. If you plan to release him in the future, we can help you do it properly.
    redwuff
    State Licensed
    Master Wildlife Rehabilitator

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  9. #6
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    Default Re: My squirrls tail is kinda rough and patchy need help

    Quote Originally Posted by island rehabber View Post
    His tail issues are absolutely diet related, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it takes a long time for their tails to reflect improvement in their diet -- maybe six months -- but if you change his diet now for the better you will at least see him get a nice fluffy tail for the fall!

    The broccoli was the only healthy thing he was eating -- peanuts and raisins are garbage for a squirrel. Get some Henry's Healthy Blocks and give two per day. Get him a high-quality rodent block for every day, as much as he wants: Oxbow, Teklad or Zupreem. Do not feed him hamster food or gerbil food or ANYTHING made by Hartz Mountain.

    A squirrel's tail is the mirror of his health.....you will see it improve!
    My squirrels tail looks like that I've been worried I will get those blocks

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