Really bad mange - seems worse since treatment?

[Simmerpop]

Hi SB!

TLDR: Mange not improving, in fact getting worse, six days after second treatment. What to do?

Please help. I raised and released a brother and sister, Pignoli and Pepita, with the guidance of this board. They were released into my yard last July and I have just loved having them acclimate to the wild and still visit me daily.

A few months ago I notice the girl, Pepita, was losing fur around her nose. I thought it was some little rubbing, but as time progressed I noticed she lost patches on her flank too. As soon as I saw that, I started researching and got Ivermectin apple horse paste - but it took awhile to ship! In the meantime, I contacted my local rehabber and she suggested Capex, which I diluted and gave Pepita. No resolution.

Next time I saw Pepita it was way worse, she lost even more hair and she started to have wounds. Thankfully the Ivermectin had showed up. I read heavily how to dose and gave a VERY tiny amount, likely smaller than a grain a rice (maybe too small, I erred on the side of caution). 7 days later, which was 6 days ago, I gave her a second dose. I was more generous that time, but still stuck to the size of rice in a pecan groove. I went on a quick work trip and came back and she is so much worse. She is nearly fully bald, and still has open wounds, though they are new they seem less than before - but the hair loss is definitely worse. There's other signs of mange, crusty and her eyes are swollen now.

I had though after one treatment I should start seeing improvement. Maybe the first dose was too small but she's WORSE now after the second (which may have been the first). I'm giving her the third tomorrow but I really want to know when I can expect this to be better or what I can do. Any tips? Any suggestions? I have a picture from about eight days ago but I'll get another one tomorrow to show how bald she has gotten since then.

[squirrelfriend]

It’s hard to tell from the pic but how does the skin look? Is it scabby, red, inflamed or crusty? If so then it’s mange. If the skin looks pale there’s a chance she might just be shedding. Up here in Canada they all start showing up with no shirts this time of year. Not sure if they do there because of the difference in climate.

the ivermectin should work. Ive also used revolution for mange as well.

[Simmerpop]

It’s hard to tell from the pic but how does the skin look? Is it scabby, red, inflamed or crusty? If so then it’s mange. If the skin looks pale there’s a chance she might just be shedding. Up here in Canada they all start showing up with no shirts this time of year. Not sure if they do there because of the difference in climate.

the ivermectin should work. Ive also used revolution for mange as well.

The skin has scabs, open wounds and crust. I feel so bad for her. I couldn't get revolution but thought this would work. Are you surprised at all I'm not seeing any results after two doses? I was expecting some healing by now but it's definitely worse between first and second dose.

BTW: Revolution: https://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tic...-cats-dogs.htm Joe's is in Australia and shipping is several weeks, but they ship to the US without Rx.

[CritterMom]

I am extremely surprised. I treated one of my wilds with a big patch of mange and within 2 weeks the only way I could pick him out was that the fur was shorter in the patch than the rest and that was ONE dose.

You said you were being really conservative with the dose. That is a fox squirrel, isn't it? They are about twice the weight or more than the "1 pound" squirrel that ivermectin dosing is based on.

I would give him a bigger dose.

[Simmerpop]

Ok. Just gave her the third dose this morning and got some photos for the group. It’s so heartbreaking. I do see less crusting on her eyes and her skin seems dark grey, which I hope means new growth soon? She’s a fox squirrel, yes. But still on the smaller side compared to some of the others I see.

Any new thoughts based on these photos?I tried to capture it here but you can see sort of bite patterned scabs up and down her tail.

[CritterMom]

I think she is improving. Everything you see that is gray is new fur growing. It is hard to distinguish between "new fur" and the scaly skin, but in my experience, what looks awful one day suddenly exposes itself as new fur coming in a day or so later. The grayish cast the skin gets is from fur that hasn't yet erupted from the skin. I think the first dose was probably way too small and only killed some of the mites - the second one you gave likely was the thing that kick started the process. I bet she will be improving every day now. And I bet she feels a ton better.

[Simmerpop]

Thank you so much, Critter mom. Your words brought so much relief. Even though we’re in Los Angeles the nights are quite cold this time of year and I’ve been so worried about her. I don’t know if you can see in the photo but leaves are now stuck to her wounds. Do you think they’re primarily wounds from itching? Also, would you do a fourth dose (albeit it may be the third given the first was so small)?

[CritterMom]

Thank you so much, Critter mom. Your words brought so much relief. Even though we’re in Los Angeles the nights are quite cold this time of year and I’ve been so worried about her. I don’t know if you can see in the photo but leaves are now stuck to her wounds. Do you think they’re primarily wounds from itching? Also, would you do a fourth dose (albeit it may be the third given the first was so small)?

The sores are pretty much self inflicted. They get a tremendous amount of relief within even just a few hours of taking the ivermectin, because MOST of the itching is from being chewed on by the adult mites, and when they croak, no more chew. The healing wounds will itch because that is what the body does when wounds heal, but nothing like being actively chewed on! They heal of really fast.

I wouldn't NOT give another dose but wait the full 10 days this time and really evaluate how she looks. You may not need to.

[Simmerpop]

Here’s her this morning. I see wounds are clearing up and body is getting darker. I’m so happy! Do you agree she’s improving? Can’t wait to see fur. Thank you for your help.

[CritterMom]

Yes, she looks better. All the gray is fur under the skin - it simply hasn't erupted yet. She had a nasty case of the stuff. I think after 9-10 days one more dose might be a good idea.

[Simmerpop]

Yes, she looks better. All the gray is fur under the skin - it simply hasn't erupted yet. She had a nasty case of the stuff. I think after 9-10 days one more dose might be a good idea.

Excellent. I'll put that in her calendar and check in as she progresses. Thank you so much. I have been so worried. I can tell she's feeling better, and can't wait until she looks the part again too.

[CritterMom]

Well, except for the scabby places where she clawed herself open which are now probably itching some just because they are healing, she isn't itching anymore, and with her coverage almost every inch of her was itching. It kills off the adults pretty quickly so even though they still look horrible, they start feeling a LOT more comfortable as soon as you start treating them.