Squirrels shed hair for many reasons. Many people believe that when they see a squirrel with missing patches of hair, it has contracted mange. Mange in squirrels is caused by a tiny mite called Notodres douglasi. They are similar to the mites that cause scabies in humans in that they cause intense itching, but there are no reports of squirrel mange ever being transmitted to humans! Healthy squirrels can usually recover from a mange infection, but this can take a long time, and the lack of hair covering can leave squirrels at the mercy of the weather, especially in winter!
Another cause of hair loss in squirrels is a fungal infection called dermatophytes. Squirrels don’t actually lose their hair, it’s just that the fungus on the skin causes it to break off. Most fungi prefer warm, moist environments to grow, so dermatophytes are seen 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 immune-compromised squirrel might not be so lucky!
Another reason for hair loss in squirrels is a lack of diet or a poor diet. Severe calcium deficiency will result in reduced hair growth and/or hair loss. This is especially true for squirrels that are kept in captivity! Along with diet, special attention needs to be paid to daily exposure to natural light or sunlight.
The condition of following a poor diet closely is called metabolic bone disease. Hair loss and loss of calcium from the bones are symptoms of severe calcium deficiency. Squirrels quickly develop a condition called rickets, and will lose the use of their back legs. This causes them to move when they try to walk and their bones become very brittle and prone to breaking. Left untreated, metabolic bone disease will progress to permanent nerve and bone damage and heart failure. Poor diet and metabolic bone disease can be treated as long as it is caught in the early stages. Foods rich in calcium and calcium supplements are a must for all caged squirrels!
A final possible cause of hair loss, especially in gray or fox squirrels, is a hereditary defect. There are some squirrels that lack the hair-growing chromosome, just as some squirrels lack the pigmentation chromosome (Albino Squirrels). It is rare for them to survive in cold climates, and even more difficult to survive in warm climates due to the fact that they are not recognized as their own kind and are often rejected and even attacked. They are attacked or killed.
All dietary causes of hair loss in squirrels are treated by feeding an appropriate diet and ensuring that their diet contains adequate amounts of calcium and essential vitamins. After working with squirrels and researching natural products, I have been able to improve upon some tried and true recipes for squirrel food supplements. One big improvement I found was adding organic raw coconut oil.
Unprocessed coconut oil is rich in a substance called lauric acid which is a natural anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti viral substance. You can read about the effect of this wonderful substance on Candida albicans, a common yeast-type organism: 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 squirrel can be a problem! But, I have found that improving the diet of affected squirrels, and adding the right natural products to the food they eat, goes a long way toward solving most problems!
Source by William Sells
