Release following MBD treatment

[Freddie's mom]

Here is an update on Freddie. He has been doing quite well recovering from his mbd. However we did seem to have a little hiccup after almost 2 months on just 50 mg additional calcium. He experienced an episode very similar to his original MBD symptoms. When this happened, I immediately increased him back up to 100 mg additional calcium and kept him on that for about a month then dropped to 50mg additional for another month. Now we are a month+ out with no additional calcium. He seems quite well but I don't think he has the stamina of a normal wild squirrel. We have constructed him a release cage and I'm wanting to release him soon. He is about 11 months old now. I originally intended to release him at about 6 months old but due to the MBD I was not able to do so. I have not moved him to the outdoor cage because of the outdoor temperature being well over 105°F daily. I plan to keep his outdoor cage available to him indefinitely. I am a bit worried about him adjusting since he has been in captivity for nearly a year. We have been working on recovering from MBD now for 8 months. It has been a long process. The other concern I have before releasing him is that he started scratching again recently and I have not been able to stop it. It has resulted in him chewing on his tail. I need to get that resolved before placing him in his outdoor cage. I have examined him carefully repeatedly and can find no visible parasites. Any advice provided for the scratching or advice on releasing him would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[CritterMom]

Have you treated him for mange? You can only see those mites under a microscope.

It is getting hard to find Revolution (selamectin) without a prescription - the source I have used is no longer selling to the US. I found this - it is a generic so not called Revolution but is the same drug: https://www.canadavet.com/neovela-pu...to-5-5lbs-pink

Option 2 is dosing with ivermectin via the horse paste. It can be bought at places like Tractor Supply or any other place that livestock stuff is sold, and online. Like this: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...paste-187-608g

If you decide to try this, we will need to know which route you are going to take and we can help you with administering it.

[Diggie's Friend]

A close ratio of (Ca:Mg) vs. the high ratio, was found recently in lab research, to increase calcium bone density in rats.

With feeding the rodent block diet, add either to a wet food, or to homemade rodent block. Magnesium L threonate (Double Wood on Amazon.com 36 mg. per capsule) split fed daily.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Thr...&rdc=1&sr=8-10

[Freddie's mom]

Thank you CritterMom.
I have not treated for mange. Which of these products do you recommend? The ivermectin would be easier to obtain. Pretty sure I can get that from the feed store down the street or at a near by Tractor Supply but I am hesitant to use a horse product on the squirrel. How is that administered? My Freddie is a pretty wild fellow. Is one of these products easier to administer than the other?

[CritterMom]

Well, the Selamectin (Revolution plus a bunch of other names) is a bit safer than the ivermectin, and since you dose with the Selamectin once every 30 days where the ivermectin needs to be dosed once a week for at least 3 doses the Selemectin is more convenient. It is usually applied high on the back of the neck - 2 to 3 drops. The ivermectin is given orally. And of course the ivermectin is much less expensive. If you go that route, just make sure you get just 1.87% ivermectin. Some brands include other wormers in the formula but you want JUST ivermectin. They are all the same stuff so just buy the cheapest one.

Both products kill the mange mites.

[Freddie's mom]

Finally... the Selamectin has arrived. It is a long journey from Australia! Placing 3 drops on back of Freddie's neck today. Hope this works. Does anyone know where I can get good info for a successful release?
Once the itching is gone, that is our next step. Thank you.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Yes, TSB has good info and experience people who have done releases.