My good boy Max was released in May. Overall, he has been doing well and is a regular visitor. He is low on the pecking order around here and he has to be fast and sneaky to get around the alpha yard squirrels and make it to me for an almond treat.
I started to notice some patchy hair loss about a 1.5 months ago. The hair loss was primarily on the back of his head and neck but there are a few thing areas lower on his back too. This is his first winter and we have had some brutally cold days/nights. He is slightly underweight compared to other wild squirrels. His ears look fine (not crusty or crispy) although there might be some slight thinning around his eyes? I do not really see reddish, irritated skin, it mostly looks like normal squirrel skin (although today I think it might look a bit pinkish?) I worry about his ability to find natural foods since this is his first winter.
I decided to treat him with Ivermectin 1.87% paste. I got a new tube since my old tube had expired. The new stuff was a clear, greenish gel instead of the older white, toothpasty looking stuff. He received 3 doses (7-8 days apart, 3/4 of an uncooked rice size). There has been no change, in fact it started to look worse.
I decided to toss the green gel Ivermectin paste and get another new tube of the white colored 1.87% Ivermectin paste. I waited about 2 weeks and started another trial with the new Ivermectin. He is clearly getting worse.
This is Max about a month ago.
This is Max today.
I am worried that this is fungal or the result of in inadequate diet? He get 4-8 almonds per day from me 3-4 times per week. He will absolutely not touch Henries Wild Bites or my boo balls (both of which he loved when he was being raised). I wonder about grinding up almonds, adding apple sauce and then adding some Henries Vit powder to get vitamins in his diet? Any other suggestions about treatment? If this continues, I am going to have to capture and bring him back inside for treatment and rest but I think he will HATE that. I think he is struggling a bit out there but he is always alert, active, cheerful, friendly and bright eyed.
Here is photo of him from about 2 months or so ago, you can see the hair loss starting on the back of his neck (but I like this photo because you can see what a swell squirrel he is).