Baby Sloths Wear 'Onesies' As Part Of Home Remedy For Mange (VIDEO)

Kristen Bell is probably freaking out right now. Honestly, so are we ... just look at them. How could you not?

Since these orphan baby sloths are growing up without their mother's antibody-filled milk, they're much more prone to infection. In this case, the two suffer from a nasty case of mange -- a skin infection caused by parasitic mites.

Not to worry though, as sloth sanctuary owner Judy Avey-Arroyo has developed an effective -- and adorable -- home remedy.

First, the twin babies have to get a buzz cut to remove all the hair where pesky mites might be hiding. Next, Judy smothers their bare skin with a balm made of sulfer and lard, which soothes the skin and suffocates any remaining mites.

Finally, the babies are swaddled in colorful bandages to keep them from licking off the balm, which also happen to look a lot like baby onesies.

Bandage swaddling isn't the only adorable sloth home-remedy that's got our attention lately. Back in January, some equally adorable baby sloths got a gentle bath, and an eucalyptus leaf to munch on afterward.

And last year, Sid the baby sloth clutched his teddy bear as he drank milk from a bottle. According to the video from Animal Planet, it's common for orphan sloths to enjoy cuddling with a stuffed animal in their cages.

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From our partners

• Widespread Greenland Melting A Sign Of Things To Come - Climate Central
• Limiting Methane Leaks Critical To Gas, Climate Benefits - Climate Central
• 11 Images And Facts About A Misunderstood Creature - Mother Nature Network

Comments

[RichardinJax]

11:57 AM on 12/23/2012

This treatment is entirely unnecessary and borderline cruel. The disease she is treating ( a scabies mite infestation ) is probably endemic in her sanctuary and that is the reason these guys got it. The mother's antibody thing is a canard. No immune system is good at controlling that disease.

Systemic medications such as ivermectin would clear the condition right up. There are dips, lime-sulfur, the most common that will eliminate it as well. There is no need to shave the animals or wrap them as she did and both the treatments I mention are near 100 % effective with 1 or 2 simple atraumatic administrations.

After treating the animals she is only half done. She needs to fumigate that place she is in and get those mites killed. If she has two animals with that condition , she has it..that guy has it and the mites are all over the place.

I have seen a lot of this junk in Central and South America. Usually the person treating the animal is well meaning but limited in options so they resort to this stuff. But, they often resit help from professionals out of some imagined "turf rights".

Personally I would think given the nature of a sloth ( I have worked with them ) this treatment will hardly be effective and it is cruel.

[Ana Krasnic]

04:00 AM on 03/06/2012

Mange (a skin infection) caused by parasitic mites is not directly connected with a fact that baby sloths in this case are growing up without their mother's antibody-filled milk. This is happening due to the fact that an animal was in a contact with infected animal or the space where you keep the animal is not clean.

[Venieca Louise Ellis]

12:57 AM on 05/03/2012

Mites are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats, and because of their small size (most are microscopic) go largely unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil or water, but there are also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants, animals, and some that feed on mold. It is estimated that 48,200 species of mites have been described.

That is from Wiki. Mites can come from ANYWHERE and they are almost IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of. Mange is VERY VERY common in orphaned baby sloths. It don't mean that the space is not clean. Yes, they can get it from other animals that HAVE it.

[Mish28]

03:05 AM on 03/05/2012

OMG too cute!!!

[Shentz24]

09:55 PM on 03/04/2012

Aviarios Sloth Rescue in Costa Rica is where this takes place. We visited this past summer and they do incredible work. Learn more, go visit or do a volunteer internship for a few weeks. Judy and her son along with the whole team make this "slothpital" excellent. To find out more or to donate to this cause, check out www.slothsanctuary.com

[romein2005]

07:06 PM on 03/04/2012

Judy you are a beautiful person and my hero, thank you. Your sloths are adorable.

[Ganeshani]

12:36 AM on 03/04/2012

OMG, poor babies! And I'm afraid to ask what happened to momma.

[Goldie Treasure]

10:54 PM on 03/03/2012

Sloths usually creep me out but this is just too much cuteness.

[HotRodssvt]

08:20 PM on 03/03/2012

I like the good news sections of the Huff Post. Makes my day!

[J Rupel]

07:42 PM on 03/03/2012

I don't understand, why would anyone raise baby sloths? I would think they taste gamey, and there doesn't seem to be much meat on them.

[J Rupel]

08:01 PM on 03/03/2012

Actually, I did some more research, and sloth IS tough and gamey, just as I thought! Slate mag, however, has a recipe for sloth tacos that looks pretty good (pressure cook it with chiles, cilantro, onion etc.) The owners probably have some recipes already, but if they or anyone else is curious, just google "what does sloth meat taste like?" and it should be the first link.

[teegilled]

01:18 AM on 03/08/2012

You would probably cook them in a slow cooker. Get it? Hello? Bueller?

[lsoxchance]

11:48 AM on 03/03/2012

Animal lovers will do anything and everything to keep them safe and healthy

[Shaniqua Adams]

01:18 AM on 03/03/2012

Cuteness is strong with this one ...Its over 9000

[Susan Osterhout Troiano]

08:07 PM on 03/02/2012

I had to come back and watch this. They are so stinky cute.

[Julie Tower]

06:12 PM on 03/02/2012

swaddling slippery sloths, say that 5 times fast LOL . Their so damn cute

[Ganeshani]

12:37 AM on 03/04/2012

I didn't even make it to two!

[teegilled]

01:20 AM on 03/08/2012

Samuel sits in a seaside shop, sadly swaddling slippery sloths

[bdazz]

05:52 PM on 03/02/2012

Oh..that is adorable! Too cute!

[latinalibra1005]

03:38 PM on 03/02/2012

I have watched this video four times today, every time I feel my job getting to me. Works for stress every single time.