Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

Note: It is illegal to release grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis ) back into the wild across all the devolved administrations of the UK and a licence is required from the relevant authority to keep grey squirrels in captivity. The formulary below can be used appropriately for grey squirrels.

Table of doses for red squirrels

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics: Gaseous anaesthesia can be used in all species and in most it is the preferred method
Alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam	Alfaxalone (15 µg/kg) + dexmedetomidine (40 µg/kg) + midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) i.m. a	Good quality of general anaesthesia for surgery, with limited cardiovascular effects and good intraoperative muscle relaxation a Dexmedetomidine may be reversed at the end of surgery using atipamezole.
Ketamine + medetomidine	Ketamine (5 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.05-0.1 mg/kg) i.m. f Ketamine (75 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg) i.p., i.m b, c, d, e	Relatively low dose rates of this combination of drugs have been reported f to produce immobilization in squirrels Medetomidine may be reversed after 20 minutes using atipamezole Much higher dose rates have been used to provide 20-30 minutes surgical anaesthesia g Individual animal drug responses may vary and therefore suggested dose rates should be used only as a guideline Medetomidine may be reversed after 20 minutes using atipamezole
Ketamine + dexmedetomidine + midazolam	Ketamine (15 mg/kg) + dexmedetomidine (40 µg/kg) + midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) i.m. a	Good general anaesthetic for surgical procedures, with rapid relaxation and recovery a
Midazolam	2.5 mg/kg i.p., i.m. c	Sedation
Atipamezole	5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine or 10x dose (mg/kg) dexmedetomidine used	Reversal of medetomidine: 5 times the medetomidine dose (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution) Reversal of dexmedetomidine: 10 times the dexmedetomidine dose (0.5 mg/ml solution) (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution when 0.5 mg/ml solution of dexmedetomidine is used) In common with most species, a delay in reversal of medetomidine/dexmedetomidine of at least 20 minutes after the administration of combinations with ketamine is recommended d
Analgesics
Buprenorphine	0.05 mg/kg s.c. q8-12h b	Control of mild to moderate pain
Butorphanol	2 mg/kg s.c. q4h b, f
Carprofen	5 mg/kg s.c. q24h b, f	The usual considerations for the careful use of NSAIDs in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypertensive animals, as well as those with underlying gastrointestinal disease, should be observed
Ketoprofen	1-3 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q12-24h f
Meloxicam	1-2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h f
Morphine	0.5-2 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q2-4h f	Lower does should be used in clinically compromised animals
Antibiotic Antibiotic use (both appropriate and inappropriate) imposes a powerful selection pressure on bacteria and is the primary driver of antibiotic resistance. Eliminating unnecessary use in people and animals is, therefore, essential to safeguard this invaluable resource. The reader is referred to the Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use for further information
Enrofloxacin	10 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h c, f	Fluroquinolones should ideally be reserved for infections where culture and sensitivity testing predict a clinical response and use of first- and second- line antimicrobials would not be considered effective
Metronidazole	20 mg/kg s.c. q24h c, f
Trimethoprim/sulphonamide	15-30 mg/kg i.m., s.c., p.o. q12h h
Antiparasiticides
Fipronil (0.25% w/v spray)	3 ml/kg topically (lower end of the dose range); repeat as necessary at 4 weeks (See drug datasheet for more information)	Apply correct dose of spray to a gloved hand and then wipe over animal’s body, taking care to avoid risk of hypothermia
Ivermectin (50 µg (micrograms) per pipette)	Dose at 200-400 µg/kg topically: ◦ 50-100 g bodyweight = 6 drops ◦ 100-150 g bodyweight = 9 drops ◦ 150-200 g bodyweight = 12 drops ◦ 200-250 g bodyweight = 1 pipette ◦ 250-500 g bodyweight = 2 pipettes Repeat at 2 and 4 weeks as necessary. (See drug datasheet for more information)	Apply on the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of the neck
Permethrin i	50-100 g bodyweight = 2 drops 100-200 g bodyweight = 3 drops 200-300 g bodyweight = 4 drops 300-400 g bodyweight = 6 drops Repeat at 2 weeks as necessary (See drug datasheet for more information)	Apply on the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of the neck Do not use in animals <16 weeks of age
Toltrazuril	10 mg/kg p.o. q24h for 3 days, off for 3 days, on for 3 days h	Note that the 2.5% solution has a very low pH and should be diluted with equal parts of both water and propylene glycol (i.e. 1:1:1); there is no need to dilute the 5% solution in this way
Miscellaneous
Interferon omega	1 megaunit/kg s.c. q24h for 3 consecutive days j 1 megaunit/squirrel or 2.5 megaunit/kg s.c.; repeat dose after 2-3 days k	Has been reported to have been beneficial in the treatment of squirrelpox virus (SQPV) cases

NSAID(s) = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s)

References and further reading

a Nannarone S, Moretti G, Bellocchi F et al. (2020) A comparative study of intramuscular alfaxalone- or ketamine-based anaesthetic mixtures in Gray Squirrels undergoing gonadectomy: Clinical and physiologic findings. Animals 10 (8), 1402.

b Richardson C and Flecknell P (2009) Rodents: anaesthesia and analgesia. BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets, ed. E Keeble and A Meredith, pp. 63-71. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

c Orr HE (2002) Rats and mice. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 4th edition, ed. A Meredithand S Redrobe, pp. 13-25. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

d Sainsbury AW (2003) Squirrels. In: BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 1st edition, ed. E Mullineaux , D Bestand JE Cooper, pp.66-74. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

e Flecknell P (1996) Anaesthesia and analgesia for rodents and rabbits. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine, ed. K Laber-Laird, MM Swindleand, P Flecknell, pp. 219-238. Pergamon, Oxford.

f Meredith A (2015) BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 9th edition - Part B: Exotic Pets. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester.

g Carpenter JW (2013) Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th edition. WB Saunders Company, Pennsylvania.

h Carpenter JW and Harms CA (2022) Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edition. Elsevier, Oxford.

i Wilks K (2008) Red squirrels and the parapoxvirus. Veterinary Nursing Journal 23 (10), 41-42.

j RSNE (2011a) RSNE Advice Note -Squirrel poxvirus fact sheet for vets. Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE), Carlisle. www.rsne.org.uk

k V Butler, personal communication.

Blackett T (2016) Squirrels. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 2nd edition, ed. E Mullineaux and E Keeble, pp. 137-151. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester

Useful websites

www.rsne.org.uk

www.bsavalibrary.com

https://bvna.org.uk/veterinary-nursing-journal-vnj/