Quote Originally Posted by tnd5 View Post
Hi, StS, I checked my scale and reweighed this little boy. I also weighed various items, with known weight, to assure the accuracy. He is 35g. I know he is small. His incisors are in and his coat is smooth, not fuzzy anymore. I feed by weight only and feed every 3 hours, with hydration in between. Formula temp is good according to candy thermometer. So, I am guessing he is closer to 3 weeks of age? A lot of his scabs started falling off today.

Unfortunately, I found a lesion on his sister's mouth this afternoon. She is 45g and looks great. She came from the same place and finder and covered in the same dirt under the same tree. In my research I have found the incubation period is 7 days to 2 months! they have been seperated for 10 days. Can I put her with her brother in isolation? I am just devastated over this 2nd baby.

He is on full strength FV 20/50 at this point.

Thank you for your help!
tnd5
Thanks Tnd5! It sounds like you are opting for what I have always considered the best approach to utilizing a feeding protocol and that is to feed the babies according to weight and the age group that their actual weight would correspond to rather than to what might an optimal feeding protocol if the weight was consistent with the actual chronological age. The way you are managing feedings will give a "behind in development" baby the best chance to catch up and thrive! Good Job, Tnd5!

I'm very sorry to hear about the new lesion on Sister's mouth! Does it appear to be the similar? When you have a moment, would you please post a photo of Sister's lesion.

When you mention an incubation period, are you referring to Squirrel Pox or something else. If Squirrel Pox, you may very well be correct. What I have always assumed was that the incubation period is no more than 15 days based upon a study of sorts with captive bred Squirrels. In reality, determining an incubation period for wilds is impossible and even in with captive Squirrels in observation, it is still difficult to determine and it would need to be know when a particular Squirrel had the virus definitively transmitted! I would appreciate the opportunity to review any information you might possess about this Squirrel Pox! Thanks!

In a "sort of" answer to your question about putting these babies together, my opinion would be, at least for now to avoid it for several reasons. I am not sure that Brother has Pox and I am not sure that Sister does either BUT, if either does have Pox and the other does NOT, it can be spread to the one who is currently Pox-free! This also goes for other conditions that may be transmissible so I would again suggest that these two Little Ones be kept separate at least a bit longer. Just another comment for what it may be worth and that is that while there are often "classic" skin lesions for a particular skin disease or dermatologic manifestation of a systemic disease; there are variations and because of this; what may appear as similar lesions in different animals, the underlying cause may not actually be the same disease.

Thanks again for your devotion, love and the excellent, conscientious care you are providing to your Squirrels and thanks again for being here with us on TSB! You are helping others as much as much as or more than we may be helping you!

Please keep posting updates!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel