Hair loss in squirrels

Hair loss in squirrels

Squirrels lose hair for a variety of reasons. Many people assume that a squirrel that is missing patches of hair has contracted mange. Mange in squirrels is caused by a tiny mite called Notoedres douglasi. They are similar to mites that cause scabies in humans in that they cause intense itching, but there is no report of squirrel manes ever being transmitted to humans! Healthy squirrels can usually recover from a mange infestation, but it can take a significant amount of time, and a lack of hair cover can expose squirrels to the weather, especially in the winter!

Another cause of hair loss in squirrels is a fungal infection called dermatophytoses. The squirrel doesn't actually lose its hair, it's just that the fungus causes it to break off on the skin. Most fungi like a warm, moist environment to grow, so dermatophytoses occur in warm, moist climates and during unusually wet periods. A squirrel can recover from this fungal hair loss as long as its immune system is in good shape. A sick or immunocompromised squirrel may not be so lucky!

Inadequate nutrition or poor nutrition is another cause of hair loss in squirrels. Severe calcium deficiency leads to poor hair growth and/or hair loss. This is especially true for squirrels kept in captivity! Particular attention must be paid to diet as well as daily exposure to natural light or sunlight.

Poor nutrition is the condition called metabolic bone disease. Hair loss and loss of calcium from bones are the characteristics of severe calcium deficiency. Squirrels quickly develop a condition called rickets and lose the use of their hind legs. This causes them to shuffle while walking and their bones become quite brittle and prone to breakage. If left untreated, metabolic bone disease leads to permanent nerve and bone damage and heart failure. Poor nutrition and metabolic bone disease are treatable as long as they are caught in the early stages. Foods rich in calcium and calcium are a must in all captive squirrels!

The final possible cause of hair loss, especially in gray or fox squirrels, is a hereditary defect. There are some squirrels that are born without the hair growth chromosome, just as there are some squirrels that lack the pigment chromosome (albino squirrels). These hairless squirrels never develop hair. It is rare for them to survive in the colder climates and difficult at best to survive even in warm climates as they are unrecognized by their kind and are often rejected and even attacked or killed.

All dietary causes of hair loss in squirrels are very easily treated by eating a proper diet and ensuring the diet contains adequate calcium and essential vitamins. Working with squirrels and researching natural products has allowed me to improve on some tried and tested squirrel supplement recipes. One major improvement I found was the addition of organic raw coconut oil.

Unprocessed coconut oil is rich in a substance called lauric acid, which is a natural antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral substance. Read about the effect of this amazing substance on Candida Albicans, a common yeast organism, at: http://www.candida-albicans-cure.com/coconut-oil.html #R2. Since adding raw coconut oil to my squirrel supplements, my squirrels have grown hair that feels as soft as mink!

Hair loss in squirrels can be a problem! But I have found that improving the diet of affected squirrels and adding the right natural products to what they eat goes a long way toward solving most problems!

Inspired by William Sells