ITCHING AND LOSING PATCHES OF FUR

[Purple67]

Please help her. I have a 9 to 10 week old baby squirrel. I found her at 4 weeks, her mother did not return for her. She is eating squirrel formula 10 to 15 cc per feeding and is starting to eat solids. Weight 175 to 190 grams. She is playful. But she is scratching herself raw. I have tried to bath her in a mild kitten flea/lice shampoo. This did nothing. I have call nearby veterinary clinics and no one will sell me revolution they will not see wild animals. She can’t wait to order it from over seas (which is crazy why we can’t get it here). Please what else can a use.

[Charley Chuckles]

I'm trying to think of something that can help or why it's happening.
First off where are you keeping her? If your using fleece blankets are you washing in unsented detergent? I'm not sure if it could be related to diet?
This will bump your thread and others will be able to give you advice

Please keep us posted and keep checking back in👍

[CritterMom]

Can you get some pics of the sore spots so we can see what you see?

[Purple67]

. I don’t see any bugs just some red skin. I did put some coconut lotion. Which she seems to like. Thanks

[Purple67]

And her skin feels bumpy where she scratches a lot.

[Icemouse]

And her skin feels bumpy where she scratches a lot.

Hiya,
That looks very similar to the marks my wee Hamy had as he had conifer mites.
Hamy got them from a pinecone. Usually I freeze everything coming from outdoors. Minus 21 degrees celcius for at least 48 hours. That time I just didn't think... Hamy got a pinecone wrapped up for xmas. I gave it to him and found out well after xmas that Hamy ended up with conifer mites.
If its mites you will have to desinfect all areas your baby was visiting. His cage, all carpets, his bedding etc. Washing it will not do the trick. I ended up throwing all toys and bedding in the bin. I couldn't stop thinking "what if one mite survived"...
I'm afraid I do not have the knowledge to tell you what medication you can try. Plus I'm not in the US. Most of the medication you can get are not on the market where we are.
But I'm sure the guys on the forum can give you some options.
Hope you can get to the root of it. It's always horrible to see our babies suffer.

[island rehabber]

Sometimes we have to play hit or miss with these things. Get some Desitin powder the kind for athlete's foot, and lightly rub it into those spots. If it's ringworm the Desitin will help or cure it.

[Purple67]

Thanks I’ll try that.

[supersquirrelgirl]

Hi Purple,

Happy Thanksgiving!

You are in Florida where pet squirrels is legal so Vets see them. (No way in California)

If you have no way to get Meds (Revolution or similar), Suggest you find a squirrel friendly Vet to do a skin scrape for mites and prescribe meds accordingly. There are several members on TSB who can help with finding a Florida Vet if needed.

I feel bad that your squirrel is scratching so much that skin is raw. Cause could be fungus, mites, allergy reaction. Now reading you see crusty ears. Most likely with naked eye, you will not be able to see mites.

Hoping you find a solution.

Mr.SSG

[Purple67]

Crusty ears. She had no problems until I brought a tree branch for her to play on. Now she has the problem. The branch most have had mites on it. We have a lot of squirrels in the back yard

[Charley Chuckles]

Crusty ears. She had no problems until I brought a tree branch for her to play on. Now she has the problem. The branch most have had mites on it. We have a lot of squirrels in the back yard

May be mites from branch.....
I'm going to PM you

[island rehabber]

Crusty ears usually do signify mange. Revolution or Ivermectin are the go-to meds for that and work very well.

[Purple67]

Update. I gave her the ivermectin on Saturday and I cannot believe the change in her. Her scratching is 90 percent better She eating better a so playful now she’s fighting me as I type. He skin is even.softer. Thank for all your help. You saved her

[Purple67]

I have a question. I gave my squirrel age about 9 to 10 weeks old I gave her the invermectin paste 8 days ago. She is doing so well. The fur is growing back, no crusty area’s and is eating and playing well, she still has some scratching, but not as intense and is not damaging her skin. should I give her the second dose ? I don’t want to hurt her. But I also don’t want her to suffer again with the mites. Also a question. I went to a veterinarian when this all started and asked them for the revolution. Of course they said no. They told me to use Frontline plus. That it will kill scabies, mites and such. Has anyone had luck with this. Thanks

[Centerline]

I'm not a veterinarian or an expert but I've posed this question before. Until an expert gets back to you, no Frontline allowed. You want a treatment with the active ingredient Selamectin. That would be Revolution or maybe there is a competitor brand or generic Selamectin now. I used Revolution from Joe's Pet Meds on my squirrel when she needed it.

[CritterMom]

I have a question. I gave my squirrel age about 9 to 10 weeks old I gave her the invermectin paste 8 days ago. She is doing so well. The fur is growing back, no crusty area’s and is eating and playing well, she still has some scratching, but not as intense and is not damaging her skin. should I give her the second dose ? I don’t want to hurt her. But I also don’t want her to suffer again with the mites. Also a question. I went to a veterinarian when this all started and asked them for the revolution. Of course they said no. They told me to use Frontline plus. That it will kill scabies, mites and such. Has anyone had luck with this. Thanks

Yes, absolutely give the follow up doses of ivermectin. They should be spaced 7-10 days apart. The ivermectin only kills ADULT mites - eggs and larvae are not affected by it. The 7-10 day span is designed to let the larvae make it to adulthood and be killed BEFORE they lay eggs, and then for the eggs that were there to become larvae and then adults and the 3rd dose takes them out. There is science to the dosage schedule.

[Purple67]

Yes, absolutely give the follow up doses of ivermectin. They should be spaced 7-10 days apart. The ivermectin only kills ADULT mites - eggs and larvae are not affected by it. The 7-10 day span is designed to let the larvae make it to adulthood and be killed BEFORE they lay eggs, and then for the eggs that were there to become larvae and then adults and the 3rd dose takes them out. There is science to the dosage schedule.

. Thanks that’s what I was thinking myself but I wanted to ask any ways.