| p>Squirrels lose hair for a variety of reasons. Many | | | | heart failure. Poor diet and metabolic bone disease is |
| people assume that when they see a squirrel missing | | | | treatable as long as it is caught in the early stages. |
| patches of hair, that it has contracted Mange. Mange | | | | Foods rich in Calcium and Calcium supplementation are |
| in squirrels is caused by a tiny mite called Notoedres | | | | a must in all captive Squirrels! |
| douglasi. They're similar to mites that cause scabies in | | | | The last potential cause of hair loss, especially in Gray |
| humans in that they cause intense itching, but there's | | | | or Fox Squirrels, is a hereditary defect. There are |
| no report of squirrel mange ever being transmitted | | | | some Squirrels born missing the hair growing |
| to humans! Healthy squirrels can usually recover from | | | | chromosome, just as there are some born missing |
| an infestation of mange, but it can take a | | | | the pigmentation chromosome, (Albino Squirrels,) |
| considerable amount of time, and a lack of hair | | | | These hairless Squirrels never develop hair. It's rare |
| covering can leave squirrels at the mercy of the | | | | for them to survive in the colder climates, and |
| weather especially in winter! | | | | difficult at best to survive even in warm climates due |
| Another cause of hair loss in Squirrels is a fungal | | | | to the fact that they are not recognized by their |
| infection called dermatophytoses. The squirrel doesn't | | | | kind and are often rejected and even attacked or |
| actually lose its hair, it's just that the fungus causes it | | | | killed. |
| to break off at the skin. Most fungus like warm, | | | | All dietary causes of hair loss in Squirrels are very |
| moist environment to grow, therefore | | | | easily treated through feeding a proper diet and |
| dermatophytoses is seen in warm moist climates, and | | | | insuring that there is sufficient quantities of Calcium |
| during unusually wet periods. A squirrel can recover | | | | and essential vitamins in their diet. Through working |
| from this fungal hair loss as long as it's immune | | | | with Squirrels and researching natural products, I've |
| system is in good shape. A sick or immune | | | | been able to improve on some tried and true recipes |
| compromised Squirrel may not be so lucky! | | | | for squirrel food supplements. One major |
| Dietary insufficiency, or poor diet, is another cause of | | | | improvement that I found was the addition of |
| hair loss in Squirrels. A severe lack of Calcium will | | | | Organic Raw Coconut Oil. |
| cause poor hair growth and/or cause the hair to fall | | | | Unprocessed Coconut Oil is rich in a substance called |
| out. This is especially true in Squirrels that are kept in | | | | Lauric Acid which is a natural anti bacterial, anti fungal |
| captivity! Special attention need to be paid to the diet | | | | and anti viral substance. You can read about the |
| as well as daily exposure to natural light or sunlight. | | | | effect of this amazing substance on Candida Albicans, |
| Following closely on poor diet is the condition called | | | | a common yeast type organism at: #R2. Since I've |
| Metabolic Bone Disease. Hair loss and loss of Calcium | | | | added Raw Coconut Oil to my Squirrel Supplements, |
| from bones are the characteristics of severe Calcium | | | | my Squirrels have grown out hair that feels as soft |
| deficiency. Squirrels rapidly develop a condition called | | | | as mink! |
| Rickets, and will lose the use of their rear legs. This | | | | Hair loss in Squirrels can be a problem! But, I've found |
| causes them to shuffle when they try to walk and | | | | that improving the diet of affected Squirrels, and |
| their bones become quite brittle and prone to | | | | adding the right natural products to what they eat, |
| breakage. Left untreated, Metabolic bone disease will | | | | goes a long way toward solving most of the |
| advance to permanent nerve and bone damage and | | | | problems! |