Patterned Hair Loss in Infant Squirrel
Hello,
> I am new here. Hope I am asking this question in the correct
> place/way. Rehabbing one male and one female 5 weeks old Eastern Grays
> blown out of a tree in an overnight storm, found baking in sun and
> humidity next morning.
>
> Apart from dehydration appeared in good shape. No injuries or bites.
> Warmed gave Pedialyte, and Benebac. Feeding Esbilac until Fox Valley
> and Henry's Biscuits arrive from Amazon. Using mini Miracle nipples on
> 3cc Luaer-Loc syringes.
>
> Furring out nicely. Eyes opened yesterday. Ears uncurling, as well.
> Lively, active, noisy, feisty, good nursers.
>
> Yesterday morning, I thought I detected thinning of fur in an almost
> perfectly straight line down female's spine. Last night, there could
> be no doubt: a wide line of baldness down the spine and starting on
> shoulder blades. I think the male has the beginning of the same on his right shoulder. Skin is not
> irritated or hardened. Behavior, feeding, and pottying remain normal.
>
> They are living in a clean, wire cage about 4 feet long and 2 feet
> tall. Inside, I have covered the floor with undyed, shredded paper
> hamster bedding. Over half of that area is covered by a heating pad I
> keep on low. On top of the heating pad, is a fleece baby blanket. On
> top of the fleece baby blanket is a cardboard container the size of a
> greeting card box. In fact, it IS a greeting card box. Over the
> greeting card box, is another fleece baby blanket. Between every
> 3-hour Esbilac feedings, I place them on top of the fleece in the box,
> then fold the fleece that drapes over the side of the box over the
> pair. (Think warm rolls in a basket with a napkin around and over
> them.)
> When I wake them to eat, they are usually outside the box but still
> under the top fleece. They have never been directly on the heating
> pad. They have never ventured to the far end where the paper bedding
> is uncovered. There is no cage chewing yet or worn places on facial
> fur, just the bald line of normal skin down the back of the female and
> the nearly symmetrical small thinning patches on the back of the male.
> As per internet advice, I have allowed them to lick coconut oil from
> my fingers and I have applied coconut oil to the skin. I have flea
> medication I have not used yet. When I have used it in the past, I
> have applied no more than a pin-head-sized amount between the shoulder
> blades, successfully killing the fleas and causing no problems for
> the babies. These babies, however, do not and have never had fleas.
> Believe me, I KNOW what fleas on baby squirrels look like and, in
> years past, have had the bites to prove it. Also, I have ivermectin
> paste on order.
>
> What's happening? Dermatophytosis? Sarcoptic Mange? Molting?
>
> I should add that on the evening before I suspected thinning on the
> female, to wash away some loose stool dried on their bottoms, I ran a
> gentle stream of warm water down their backs using a dab of organic
> baby shampoo. I have done this with other babies with zero negative
> consequences, but maybe these guys are allergic to something in the
> shampoo. They were both well rinsed afterward.
>
> Unfortunately, where I live, veterinarian care is out of the
> question. Here, presented with Eastern Gray Squirrels, a vet would be
> obliged to call the game commission and the babies would be taken from
> me under penalty of law and euthanized.
>
> Sorry this is so long and detailed. I just want to be sure you have
> all of the pieces to the puzzle.
Since I am not sure whether this is a relatively benign condition or a potentially fatal one, I am posting in both forums. Thank you for caring.
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