Zosi needs help!

[LMoS]

I just found out something that has me VERY concerned! more like in tears and freaking out! My beloved Zosi was shot by a BB gun about 4 months ago... Details are in my intro post http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25789

For all this time I assumed the BB had bounced off his skull and never even thought that it might be a LEAD pellet! tonight I felt something just behind his eye... I knew what it was right away... It must of been tucked behind a muscle or bone because I never noticed it before and I am very familiar with Zosi's body. I read online that BB's are magnetic... I tested it and it's a ****ing LEAD pellet. I do not have the kind of money to get him into a vet because of Xmas and what little money I had left went to my ex for daycare. I am in a total panic and for all I know he's already received fatal lead poisoning. I don't know what to do! is there anything I can do ? Someone please help my Zosi!

[astra]

Oh no! Oh Goodness!!!!!!!!

I don't know what to suggest... very soon the experienced ppl will be here.
Sending my prayers!!!!!!!!

Oh, poor little one!!!!!!!!

How much will a vet visit be?...

[mugzeezma]

I just found out something that has me VERY concerned! more like in tears and freaking out! My beloved Zosi was shot by a BB gun about 4 months ago... Details are in my intro post http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25789

For all this time I assumed the BB had bounced off his skull and never even thought that it might be a LEAD pellet! tonight I felt something just behind his eye... I knew what it was right away... It must of been tucked behind a muscle or bone because I never noticed it before and I am very familiar with Zosi's body. I read online that BB's are magnetic... I tested it and it's a ****ing LEAD pellet. I do not have the kind of money to get him into a vet because of Xmas and what little money I had left went to my ex for daycare. I am in a total panic and for all I know he's already received fatal lead poisoning. I don't know what to do! is there anything I can do ? Someone please help my Zosi!

Are you absolutely sure it's a BB?
Was there an entry wound?
It may be something else.
Can you give a better description of the area, the size and location of this bump and when it first appeared and if it's grown?
Do you have a picture?
The only way to verify it is to get an Xray. If it is a BB chances are his body has walled it off and is trying to expel it. I'm going back to reread your post.

[Rhapsody]

How has your squirrel been acting today?
How has its eating and drinking been today?
If you can get the squirrel to a vet a simple blood test can tell you if there is lead poisoning.

Here are signs of lead poisoning in animals:

•Loss of appetite, listlessness, weakness

•Loose droppings with abnormal color (green, black, pink, bloody)

•Vomiting, increased thirst

•Neurological signs to include blindness, incoordination, lameness, seizures


Did you get the pellet out?
How did you test it to if it was made of lead?

[mugzeezma]

Are you absolutely sure it's a BB?
Was there an entry wound?
It may be something else.
Can you give a better description of the area, the size and location of this bump and when it first appeared and if it's grown?
Do you have a picture?
The only way to verify it is to get an Xray. If it is a BB chances are his body has walled it off and is trying to expel it. I'm going back to reread your post.

Could be tooth related(odentoma, abcess) or zymbals gland.

seems odd that the BB would have traveled backward through the sinus, past the back of the eye and through the skull :dono

The original post stated that he was hit above the whiskers before the eye and in the sinus.
You are saying here that the bump is between eye and ear? Is that right?

[LMoS]

Yes I am 100% absolutly sure that it's a lead pellet and not a BB. I can even make out the shape which is one of these...

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/images/pointed-web.jpg

All I have is a webcam and it has poor resolution, He's sleeping so I might be able to get a picture of it. If not visable I will edit the pic to show where it is.

God... he has shown one of those symptoms about 2 weeks ago, I noticed some of his droppings were green but I havnt seen anymore since. God I hope hes gonna be ok!!!! having only one of those signs is something positive and maybe the location etc has slowed the absorption of lead, he seems fine, he's been very playful sleeping regular, eating drinking fine, today we played for a couple hours even.

thank you so much for responding so quick guys, Ill try to get that pic now

[LMoS]

Could be tooth related(odentoma, abcess) or zymbals gland.

seems odd that the BB would have traveled backward through the sinus, past the back of the eye and through the skull :dono

The original post stated that he was hit above the whiskers before the eye and in the sinus.
You are saying here that the bump is between eye and ear? Is that right?


It's definitely a lead pellet :( omg i cant even think of losing him **** **** ****

[LMoS]

I'm going to check around for his droppings and see if I can find more green ones

[mugzeezma]

Yes I am 100% absolutly sure that it's a lead pellet and not a BB. I can even make out the shape which is one of these...

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/images/pointed-web.jpg

All I have is a webcam and it has poor resolution, He's sleeping so I might be able to get a picture of it. If not visable I will edit the pic to show where it is.

God... he has shown one of those symptoms about 2 weeks ago, I noticed some of his droppings were green but I havnt seen anymore since. God I hope hes gonna be ok!!!! having only one of those signs is something positive and maybe the location etc has slowed the absorption of lead, he seems fine, he's been very playful sleeping regular, eating drinking fine, today we played for a couple hours even.

thank you so much for responding so quick guys, Ill try to get that pic now

greenish poop can be from eating avocado and leafy greens

[mugzeezma]

I'm going to check around for his droppings and see if I can find more green ones
I wouldn't get too worried about it just yet. You have time. He's healthy.

[LMoS]

Here are the pics... god its so close to eye, anyone know if any optic nerves or other vitals go thru that area?

[LMoS]

greenish poop can be from eating avocado and leafy greens

thats what i figured when i saw it, same as a human getting it. He does eat alot of fresh peas that are very rich with green and it's not uncommon for him to go thru half the bag in the single serving

[mugzeezma]

Can you feel the shape of the pellet?

Didn't it enter between his nose and his eye?

[LMoS]

Can you feel the shape of the pellet?

Didn't it enter between his nose and his eye?


Yes I can feel it's shape, I am very nervous at touching it tho since it's so close to his eye. When I got him he had a hole on the side of his snout. I uploaded a pic of the scar which is on the opposite side from the embedded pellet. If it is only one pellet then I dont understand how it would be possible to survive that because it would of traveled through the brain killing him instantly. BUT I remember that he had a tiny wound behind his ear on the side that this pellet is on...I thought it was only something minor like a cut because it wasn't bleeding and I could hardly even see it. so 99% of my focus was treating the major one. Someone comes to ER with a gunshot, you dont examine a scraped knee kinda thing... so I guess It must of gone in at just the right angel to go in sideways staying under the skin only. So now I'm worried that there may be a 2nd pellet somewhere in his sinuses maybe. Remember his side effect is sneezing which he still does quiet often.

I'm writing kinda fast and im very stressed/distraught just in case im being redundant or not making sense sometimes

[mugzeezma]

Yes I can feel it's shape, I am very nervous at touching it tho since it's so close to his eye. When I got him he had a hole on the side of his snout. I uploaded a pic of the scar which is on the opposite side from the embedded pellet. I dont understand how it would be possible to survive that because it would of traveled through the brain. I remember that he had a tiny wound behind his ear on the side that pellet is on and I thought it was only something minor like a cut because it wasn't bleeding and I could hardly even see it. It must of gone in at just the right angel to go sideways so that it stayed under the skin only. So now I'm worried that there may be a 2nd pellet somewhere in his sinuses. Remember his side effect is sneezing which he still does quiet often.

I'm writing kinda fast and im very stressed/distraught just in case im being redundant or not making sense sometimes

Well he's survived 4 months so far with no other symptoms than sneezing.
the only way you can determine whats going on is to get Xrays.
The pellet may have embedded on that side and his body is expelling the foreign object...not a bad thing.
Then again there may be two.
You'll need Xrays.
there is time yet

[Anne]

Can you get Zosi to me in Orange Park-just outside Jacksonville? PM me please. Don't panic, you have time to get him help. Let's see what we can do. OK?

[mugzeezma]

Can you get Zosi to me in Orange Park-just outside Jacksonville? PM me please. Don't panic, you have time to get him help. Let's see what we can do. OK?

OH ANNE I COULD KISS YOU!!!

James this lady knows her stuff!:thumbsup

Thank You Anne

[LMoS]

Can you get Zosi to me in Orange Park-just outside Jacksonville? PM me please. Don't panic, you have time to get him help. Let's see what we can do. OK?

Of course I can do that :) I'll PM you Anne. And thank you all SO MUCH for being so compassionate and thoughtful. If only the rest of the world were like you guys.

I'll keep this updated and check it alot too.

[squirrelygirlie75]

I took in a very small stray dog when I was about 20 and she had been shot multiple times with pellet gun by an a-hole neighbor kid. I fed her and bathed her and shaved around the entry wound holes and thought I had gotten them all out.

2 months later I started feeling lil lumps under her skin where I had missed several. I called the vet and she told me they would work their way out not to worry or I could bring her in and have them removed for about $300. I couldn't afford that at the time so I decided if she could do it then I could do it. I gave her a Benedryl to make her groggy, sanitized an exacto knife and held the pellet between thumb and pointer finger cut a tiny hole against the pellet and they popped right out. She never even whimpered. One was right under her eye. I was really careful not to cut her deep and she was fine. A lil bit of neosporin and she was good as new. I have never done "surgery" on anything else other than my hubby lol If it is only under the skin it shouldn't be any different. But it would take a very steady hand. Good luck! I hope everything comes out ok no pun intended.

[LMoS]

Anne, Your PM box is full. I'll post it here and maybe you'll see it.

*msg*


Wonderful! And I know he'll be in good hands while in your care. God I was very worried and emotional back there huh? I feel much better now thanks to you. I will contact you well in advance before I come out ok?

BTW Do I need to bring any of his food? Also he always sleep with me so I do not know how he'll do without that comfort he's grown so used too. He doesnt pee or poo in bed so maybe you could keep him warm at night :)
He's very loving... I'm sure you will enjoy looking after him.

[LMoS]

I took in a very small stray dog when I was about 20 and she had been shot multiple times with pellet gun by an a-hole neighbor kid. I fed her and bathed her and shaved around the entry wound holes and thought I had gotten them all out.

2 months later I started feeling lil lumps under her skin where I had missed several. I called the vet and she told me they would work their way out not to worry or I could bring her in and have them removed for about $300. I couldn't afford that at the time so I decided if she could do it then I could do it. I gave her a Benedryl to make her groggy, sanitized an exacto knife and held the pellet between thumb and pointer finger cut a tiny hole against the pellet and they popped right out. She never even whimpered. One was right under her eye. I was really careful not to cut her deep and she was fine. A lil bit of neosporin and she was good as new. I have never done "surgery" on anything else other than my hubby lol If it is only under the skin it shouldn't be any different. But it would take a very steady hand. Good luck! I hope everything comes out ok no pun intended.

Ah trust me, I considered this almost right away :) 3 things held me back and that was its proximty to his eye and because I do not know the proper dosages to put him under safely. 3rd was that I couldnt imagine and would be too worried about doing something wrong.

But It's so close to the surface that it would be very easy to remove. I am honestly more concerned about the snout shot now. That pellet is going to be deep inside his nasal sinuses and might be why he's sneezing

[rusty's mom]

How about an update. I've been thinking about this poor babe.

[stepnstone]

Just found this and would also like to know how things have turned out for your little one. Here's hopeing for the best!

[rusty's mom]

Does anyone know haw this little one is doing:thinking :thinking :thinking

[philomycus]

If this pellet is lead and it's been in there 4 months, you're probably not going to wake up one morning and him not be with you- so relax.

The location of the pellet isn't going to bother the optic nerve- if there is only one on the side behind his eye. You have an artery- the superficial temporal, that's running behind the pellet. There are some branches of nerves that run in this area, but if the little guy is not showing any signs, I wouldn't worry for the immediate time, but you do need to get this looked at.

Bottom line, this squirrel NEEDS to have an X-ray. You can't determine anything until this is done.