Hair Loss/Thinning

[dixiegal1]

Our little baby, Albert, is around 6 months old. Over the last few weeks, I have noticed him losing/thinning out hair in two specific areas - behind his neck and head and one spot on his back. Our past squirrels didn't have a problem like this and I wanted to reach out to see if anyone else has encountered something like this before.

We've added more calcium-rich foods and have doubled up on his sunlight time but have seen to hit a wall with any progress of growth/continued loss. There are no scratch marks around the spots or red areas. Plus, no areas in his cage for him to be rubbing off on or aggitating it.

Below are some pictures of the spots and a cute one of him in the sun.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and welcomed!!
<3

[stepnstone]

I blew up your picture for a better look at ears.



My suspicion is he's picked up a some type mite, easily remedied.
I would treat him with Revolution. It is Rx. Unless you have access,
it can be purchased without script @ http://www.joespetmeds.com/#

[dixiegal1]

I blew up your picture for a better look at ears.



My suspicion is he's picked up a some type mite, easily remedied.
I would treat him with Revolution. It is Rx. Unless you have access,
it can be purchased without script @ http://www.joespetmeds.com/#

Thank you Stepnstone!!!! Ordered it.
How much should I put on him when it arrives?

[stepnstone]

Thank you Stepnstone!!!! Ordered it.
How much should I put on him when it arrives?

Which did you order? I hope it was the one for puppies/kittens up to 5 lbs.
When you receive it there will be 3 pipettes, you will only need one.
From the 1 pipette you will only use 1-2 drops between the shoulders,
not the whole pipette. Seal the (used) pipette and re-apply the same 1-2 drops
10 days later. I usually seal my tube by using a candle and dropping a few drops
melted wax over the hole then wrap in foil.

[BahamaThom]

Zeke has similar hair loss but it has progressed much further. Started back of head, moved down to about mid back, then down to along sides to hips. Underside is a little light as well. This pattern is the same on both sides. This is what seems unusual - same pattern.

I thought mites as he did have them when we acquired him at 3-4 weeks [one eye open] - we could see them on our hands. I'm familiar with bird mites on chickens. After a few days never saw one again. However, there are no spots, redness, sores or excessive scratching, just thinning. Rest of fur is fine and thick.

I thought nutrition. After he quit nursing we introduced pet store rodent food and one I found online. His diet is rodent block 50%+; vegetables [carrot, squash, romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, some apple and a raisin or two; and some nuts throughout the day [pecan, cashew, macadamia]. I tried Henrys healthy block.

Once the loss advanced to the current patterns it stopped. Hasn't progressed further.

He seems plenty healthy. He's around 7 months. Very active, friendly [though he discriminates friends], cuddly, and very playful - you would think he's in perfect health other than the hair loss.

Photos: side view

neck

[stepnstone]

Zeke has similar hair loss but it has progressed much further.

Personally I'd treat him with Revolution...
There are several types of mites, you will not always see redness of skin, scabbing, or a crusty appearance depending on type of mite.
One genus of mites, Demodex, has adapted to infesting the hair follicles of its hosts, typically the infestation level is low.
These mites remain external to the epidermis within the follicle. Demodex mites are microscopic.
Revolution covers more different types of mites then Ivermectin, "hair mites" being one of them.

[BahamaThom]

Thanks. Have you considered diatomaceous earth? I've seen references that say it kills demodex mites as well as a host of parasites.

[stepnstone]

Thanks. Have you considered diatomaceous earth? I've seen references that say it kills demodex mites as well as a host of parasites.

Considered, used, and prefer Revolution.
Faster acting, better results. treat once with a 10 day repeat. Done.
DE powder goes everywhere, too many re-powders for results and I don't
like the way it caulks up my babies fur. To each his own...

[BahamaThom]

Well put. I didn't really like the idea of him breathing the dust. He has a sandbox he loves to roll around in and I thought it might work, but like you say - dust everywhere. It worked well on the chickens [only mite infestation in 8 years] and easy to add to their dust baths. Thanks again, revolution it is.

[BahamaThom]

Administered the revolution. How long until I should see some results with hair returning?
Thank you

[stepnstone]

Administered the revolution. How long until I should see some results with hair returning? Thank you

You will need to retreat in 10 days, if you have not noticed a difference
up to that, after the second treatment you should be able to tell if it's
coming back.
In a few (rare) cases it took a third treatment before I saw new fur but
with those few they were pretty bald to begin with.

[BahamaThom]

Okay, thanks

[BahamaThom]

Hey Stepnstone, after third treatment some fur has definitely begun growing back, though only where revolution was administered. How about a fourth treatment after 10 days? Thanks for your help.

[dixiegal1]

Thank you Stepnstone!!!! Ordered it.
How much should I put on him when it arrives?

We ended up doing three treatments each 10 days apart. Albert's hair is coming back!!!!
He also appears to be loosing his winter hair & getting a summer coat on the back and legs with more gray than brown. He is a happy squirrel now!

The trick to seal with wax was handy. First time I just put cap back on and it evaporated. Using wax from now on if I ever need to.

Thank you all so much!!!!

[stepnstone]

Hey Stepnstone, after third treatment some fur has definitely begun growing back, though only where revolution was administered. How about a fourth treatment after 10 days? Thanks for your help.

Where have you been applying the Revolution?
It should be applied on the back, below the neck between the shoulders.

I would definitely suggest waiting a longer period before applying a forth
treatment, it may not be needed since you are starting to see new fur.
If another treatment is called for after a period of waiting, I'd suggest
orally as I do with my outside wilds....
I carve out a contained V shape channel in an almond saving the shavings.
I place two drops in the channel and wait for it to absorb into the meat of
the nut. It does take a little while to absorb. Then I mince up the shavings,
add a touch of peanut or almond butter to the channel, then roll the channel
in the shavings to seal it. Put in fridge for around 10 minutes to firm it all up
before giving it.

I just gave a second treatment like that to a wild that had some really bald
areas on his neck and body and I'm talking bald to the skin in large patches.
I barely recognized him this morning with all his new fur growth.

[BahamaThom]

25 days after administering third dose of Revolution:



Thank you Stepinstone