Bone like lump

[Chfields]

Hi squirrel friends,

I wanted to pick everyone’s brain about something. I’ve got a rescue fox squirrel who the vet determined by X-rays to have been shot in the face with a pellet. It’s lodged in her cheek. She has a large mass growing over the area where the pellet is. The vet determined that it was not infection, so we are both stumped as to what this mass could be. It’s hard as a rock… like bone. It doesn’t appear to be causing her any discomfort at this time. She eats, grooms, plays… does squirrel things. Any thoughts?

[Charley Chuckles]

Oh dear Lord the poor baby😔
Is the pellet/ pellets still in her? So no surgery done to remove it 🤷

[Chfields]

I know… it’s horrible that humans are capable of doing such things. Because of the hard mass and where the pellet is located, the vet felt it would be too risky to try and remove it.

[Tashahaven]

A keloid?
Or scar tissue?
Both are pretty harmless, and don’t require medical intervention, unless it is causing pain or hinders range of motion…

Since your buddy doesn’t seem fazed by it, and eats fine, plays, is active, etc. you probably don’t need to stress too much. But you may need to monitor his teeth for his lifetime in case the initial blow caused any damage in the area, affecting alignment, or if it ever migrates or grows bigger.

Im NOT an expert, but those are the 2 things that jumped out at me, based on your description.

Glad he is doing okay. Thank you for saving him! Some humans are just awful!

[Chfields]

Sadly she does have a malocclusion due to the impact of the gunshot, so she’s nonreleasable. She has her teeth trimmed every month. I’m so angry for her… she was just trying to live her life and someone took a gun to her for no real reason I’m sure. I’m working with the vet to give her as comfortable of a life as we can. She seems happy… she’s friendly with me and has adjusted well. I feel so bad about this mass that has appeared, but at least it’s something we can monitor. She would have died from her teeth already if she hadn’t sought help. Poor girl…

[Diggie's Friend]

Both Toxic lead and non-toxic metals and other sources are used in air rifle pellets; in California the manufacture of lead pellets was ended. If though a lead pellet was used, be it old stock or otherwise; save for putting a wild through a blood test may not initially show higher lead levels presently, or removing the pellet that may cause significant damage to the squirrel.

though doing a blood tests regularly might head off sustained lead toxicity; presently lead may not be detected if it hasn't yet reached toxic levels.

There is another option that could address a potential lead toxicity. Oral (EDTA) works well to remove lead by bonding with it so that it leaves the body by way of the bowel. Oral EDTA, not IV nor injectable, has been researched in rats and other mammals, including humans to reduce heavy metals leached out of the tissues into the bloodstream.

Considering that squirrels in some rural areas have been found to have higher levels of lead; and in urban areas arsenic; EDTA is perhaps the best option to prevent potential lead toxicity should the pellet be made of lead. If you do nothing more, I would encourage you to discuss the potential use of EDTA oral low dose in rodents with potential heavy metal contamination.

I can tell you that this source worked to lower toxic levels of arsenic in my husband's bloodstream that occurred when he took a natural chelator without EDTA, that resulted in arsenic toxicity in his blood. He takes EDTA daily now; to this day, and hasn't had another episode of arsenic blood toxicity from the arsenic he was contaminated by that his GP says is still in his body from pesticides that were used on his family's farm as a youth.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi squirrel friends,

I wanted to pick everyone’s brain about something. I’ve got a rescue fox squirrel who the vet determined by X-rays to have been shot in the face with a pellet. It’s lodged in her cheek. She has a large mass growing over the area where the pellet is. The vet determined that it was not infection, so we are both stumped as to what this mass could be. It’s hard as a rock… like bone. It doesn’t appear to be causing her any discomfort at this time. She eats, grooms, plays… does squirrel things. Any thoughts?

Hi Chfields:
Thank you adopting this Squirrel and for caring so much about her. I'm glad that you have been able to establish a relationship with a Squirrel friendly Vet! I'm so sorry a member of our species felt it necessary to shoot her! What is her name?

Would you please post photos of your Squirrel with a close-up or two of her face. Also, it would be very helpful to be able to review the complete x-ray study that was performed on your Squirrel and if you would, please post those films in addition to the photos! I have some thoughts on what is going on but seeing the photos and the x-ray study would make it far more conducive for any of us to render a meaningful commentary!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Chfields]

This is very helpful… thank you!

Both Toxic lead and non-toxic metals and other sources are used in air rifle pellets; in California the manufacture of lead pellets was ended. If though a lead pellet was used, be it old stock or otherwise; save for putting a wild through a blood test may not initially show higher lead levels presently, or removing the pellet that may cause significant damage to the squirrel.

though doing a blood tests regularly might head off sustained lead toxicity; presently lead may not be detected if it hasn't yet reached toxic levels.

There is another option that could address a potential lead toxicity. Oral (EDTA) works well to remove lead by bonding with it so that it leaves the body by way of the bowel. Oral EDTA, not IV nor injectable, has been researched in rats and other mammals, including humans to reduce heavy metals leached out of the tissues into the bloodstream.

Considering that squirrels in some rural areas have been found to have higher levels of lead; and in urban areas arsenic; EDTA is perhaps the best option to prevent potential lead toxicity should the pellet be made of lead. If you do nothing more, I would encourage you to discuss the potential use of EDTA oral low dose in rodents with potential heavy metal contamination.

I can tell you that this source worked to lower toxic levels of arsenic in my husband's bloodstream that occurred when he took a natural chelator without EDTA, that resulted in arsenic toxicity in his blood. He takes EDTA daily now; to this day, and hasn't had another episode of arsenic blood toxicity from the arsenic he was contaminated by that his GP says is still in his body from pesticides that were used on his family's farm as a youth.

[Chfields]

It just makes me sick this happened to her. Her name is Lily.

I would love to hear your thoughts! I feel like whatever it is may not be fixable, but I am just very curious about what’s happening and how we can provide the best supportive care for her. Here are a couple of photos.



I’ll see if it’s possible for the vet to provide me the X-rays.

Hi Chfields:
Thank you adopting this Squirrel and for caring so much about her. I'm glad that you have been able to establish a relationship with a Squirrel friendly Vet! I'm so sorry a member of our species felt it necessary to shoot her! What is her name?

Would you please post photos of your Squirrel with a close-up or two of her face. Also, it would be very helpful to be able to review the complete x-ray study that was performed on your Squirrel and if you would, please post those films in addition to the photos! I have some thoughts on what is going on but seeing the photos and the x-ray study would make it far more conducive for any of us to render a meaningful commentary!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

It just makes me sick this happened to her. Her name is Lily.

I would love to hear your thoughts! I feel like whatever it is may not be fixable, but I am just very curious about what’s happening and how we can provide the best supportive care for her. Here are a couple of photos.

I’ll see if it’s possible for the vet to provide me the X-rays.

Thanks! Yes, the films could potentially offer much information! Most x-ray studies nowadays, use digital "film" so they are easy to download and upload and you never really have to deal with any physical x-ray films. How long ago did this incident happen or if that is not known, how long have you had your Squirrel. Also, how did your Vet determine that there was no infection?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Chfields]

She’s been in care for about 2 years. When she was originally brought to me, there was no obvious wound, so the gunshot had already healed. Once the lump started to appear, that’s what prompted X-rays and how we found out about the pellet. In examining older photos more closely, the lump was slightly present, but not obvious, so this started quite some time ago.

Based on the X-rays & the length of time this has been going on, the vet didn’t see an indication of infection… of course that doesn’t completely rule that out either.

Thanks! Yes, the films could potentially offer much information! Most x-ray studies nowadays, use digital "film" so they are easy to download and upload and you never really have to deal with any physical x-ray films. How long ago did this incident happen or if that is not known, how long have you had your Squirrel. Also, how did your Vet determine that there was no infection?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Diggie's Friend]

Chfields, As you've describe, the lump began to grow afterwards. The concern is if it continues to enlarge; it might lead to damage to impairment of her jaw. It would be prudent if a biopsy of the enlarged area to see if it is caused by an infection or a growth.

There is a vet that specializes in Dental issues amongst other conditions common to squirrels and other exotic pets. Dr. Emerson at Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic, in Orange Florida. She accepts consultations in cases such as this, and is glad to work with other vets in such cases in this regard.

https://ravenwoodvet.net/?y_source=1...LndlYnNpdGU%3D

[Diggie's Friend]

I went back to look over the same file on lead toxicity in gray squirrels, which explains that unlike testing for chronic levels of lead, that which accrues over long periods of time; for 'acute' lead levels, which pertains to more current exposure to lead, the hair is used for testing.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

She’s been in care for about 2 years. When she was originally brought to me, there was no obvious wound, so the gunshot had already healed. Once the lump started to appear, that’s what prompted X-rays and how we found out about the pellet. In examining older photos more closely, the lump was slightly present, but not obvious, so this started quite some time ago.

Based on the X-rays & the length of time this has been going on, the vet didn’t see an indication of infection… of course that doesn’t completely rule that out either.

Hi Chfields:
How is your little Squirrel doing? Were you able to obtain the x-ray films to upload to your thread? They would be most likely be extremely helpful in evaluating the mass!
Regards,
SamtheSquirel

[Chfields]

Hi Chfields:
How is your little Squirrel doing? Were you able to obtain the x-ray films to upload to your thread? They would be most likely be extremely helpful in evaluating the mass!
Regards,
SamtheSquirel

She is doing well... same normal routine. I did talk to the vet about the x-rays. They recently just changed over to a new management system, and not all files migrated as they should have. They are having to manually attach files, so she said once they come across hers, they will send them to me.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

She is doing well... same normal routine. I did talk to the vet about the x-rays. They recently just changed over to a new management system, and not all files migrated as they should have. They are having to manually attach files, so she said once they come across hers, they will send them to me.

Thanks Chfields! I'm glad your Little One is doing well! I have been very busy with work responsibilities and had just a few moments to post on TSB this past couple of weeks! I do look in on TSB during these hectic work times but for usually fractions of a minute whenever possible. Please do post the x-ray films when they become available!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Chfields]

Thanks Chfields! I'm glad your Little One is doing well! I have been very busy with work responsibilities and had just a few moments to post on TSB this past couple of weeks! I do look in on TSB during these hectic work times but for usually fractions of a minute whenever possible. Please do post the x-ray films when they become available!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

So sorry this took so long to post. I had a couple of new films done recently. I'm anxious to hear what you think this might be. The first two are recent and the other two are from about a year ago. You can see how much the mass has grown. Still does not seem to cause her any discomfort.

[Diggie's Friend]

As a dental assistant in my youth, my first job was to do x-rays all day long. On x-ray bone and denser structures show up white, as do solid cancers; yet metal shows up clear. The spots that are clear are most likely bird shot, which should be removed by a Vet surgeon with much experience in working in this area of the body.

I would advise that your vet contact Dr. Emerson at Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic in, Port Orange, Florida.

This vet has extensive knowledge, experience, and skill doing surgery involving issues in the jaw in tree squirrels.

https://ravenwoodvet.net/veterinarians/

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

So sorry this took so long to post. I had a couple of new films done recently. I'm anxious to hear what you think this might be. The first two are recent and the other two are from about a year ago. You can see how much the mass has grown. Still does not seem to cause her any discomfort.

Hi Chfields and welcome back. I'll give you my opinion on what seems to me to be going on but I try to give a disclaimer when appropriate and today; this is that I am not a Veterinarian and I am not a radiologist (a specialist in x-ray studies and other imaging).

Just a little basics on x-ray studies for your understanding of what you are seeing on these films. First of all, digital radiography is now readily available and the typical dark and light of traditional x-ray films can be modified to almost any degree actually reversed but a basic digital film still is presented out-of-the-box so to speak with the same scheme of things in regard to what shows up as dark, light or in between. When the x-ray beam strikes the film, it darkens the film to varying degrees depending upon how much of the beam penetrates through the Squirrel/patient. When the x-ray beam is "shot" at the Squirrel (or patient or other object) it passes through what is within the path of the beam in varying degrees. There is a film (in traditional x-ray technology) that reacts with the x-rays that have passed through the Squirrel or around the Squirrel. The body of the Squirrel is made up of areas that are predominantly air (an example of course would be the lungs), water (an example for this would be the muscles) and bone. Most of the x-ray beam passes through an air density such as the lungs so the representation of these areas on the x-ray film is is dark. You can barely visualize the form of the patient as the beam passes through the muscles which are a water density and these areas usually are seen faintly and are a bit lighter than the dark lung tissue as less of the beam penetrates the water densities than air densities. Bone appears as light or white as very little of the x-ray beam penetrates through the dense bone.

Foreign objects such as needles or bullets or in fact an object made of virtually any metal (one inconsistent exception is aluminum) shows up as bright white as the beam does not effectively pass through these objects!

The dense, white object the we see on the top right film which is shot in the ventrodorsal or dorsoventral direction (bottom to top or top to bottom-it makes no difference because it is the same stuff the beam "hits" when it passes in either of these directions) that is just to the right of the midline (on the film itself as this is really Lily's left side as that is where the mass is located) is a typical "wasp waist" pellet. This object would ordinarily be shot from an air powered gun and it is a relatively low velocity, low energy projectile. There is another similarly dense but much smaller object approximately 1" directly rostral (toward the nose) to the pellet that IMO represents a small piece of the original pellet that broke away from the pellet as it traversed through Lily's head. If we look and the the lone film below the three in line above, we can see this tiny piece is directly in line with the pellet. This film is a lateral film (taken with the beam passing from the side) and we can see that both the pellet and the fragment are at the same level and ventral (below) the path of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the food tube).

The pellet appears to be contained withing a mass that has a water density (similar to the muscles) and within and around this mass are several very tiny white densities that I suspect are calcifications withing the mass. The mass itself may be a hematoma (a sac filled with blood), a seroma (a sac filled with fluid from within or around cells and is usually unless it also contains blood or pus), or an abscess (a pus pocket) although this seems unlikely as Lily does not show any of the typical signs of having an infection. As the mass has apparently been increasing in size, this suggests that there is still leakage of blood or serous fluid into the mass.

I do not see any evidence of other foreign bodies such as bird shot.

An initial study that would ordinarily be relatively inexpensive and can be performed by any appropriately trained Veterinarian would be ultrasonography. A CT would be an alternative or something to be considered after the ultrasound. I agree with DF's suggestion of requesting a consultation with Dr. Emerson. She has been known to give her opinion and make recommendations initially without directly seeing the patient. I would suggest emailing the x-ray photos and a brief narrative (or even your Thread) to the Ravenwood Clinic and then call the office to make your request that Dr. E review Lily's films and your documents and make recommendations. There are a number of other Vets at Ravenwood but as far as I know, Dr. E is the only one who sees Squirrels.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Chfields]

Thank you very much for that very detailed explanation! Are you sure you're not a radiographer??? Sounds like you could be! I will reach out to Dr. E and see if she can give a recommendation. I appreciate you taking the time to explain all of that... I learned a great deal!