Chipmunk needs pellets removed

[lodgepolechipmunk]

I took my kids up camping in the forests of Idaho around Cascade- when we got there we saw a little chipmunk with three swollen lumps on its' chest. To me it looks like someone shot it with bird shot? I told the little fellow that if he wanted to be hellped he would have to come with me.... We camped for the week without seeing him again. The day after we got home we discovered the little injured chipmunk under the pasenger seat of my car. So I figured he was accepting my offer to help him. He is comfortably in a little cage and is eating and drinking well. He is also eating the fruit that I give him that is sprinkled with teramyacine. But now comes the task of removing the pellets from his chest. They seem to be just under the skin (assuming they are pellets), I have opperated on injured kittens and even fish before but the chipmunk is a little more frightening to me because it is a wild animal. I was hoping to know what I can give the little guy to sedate him enough to hold him and remove the pellets and even if it is the right thing to do. He seems to be fairly dosile and will come out of his bed to look at me and eats in the open floor of his cage, but I have not tried to hold him yet. Any advice on this would help alot- cats, sugargliders and fish are what I am accustomed to. Chipmunks are all new to me. I will post pictures of his injury when I get a clear shot of him. Thanks

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 lodgepolechipmunk Welcome to TSB. :Welcome
What a story. He just really wonted your help. :D
Can you post a picture of the bumps?

[Mrs Skul]

Just Take your time. Don't rush into removing them until we see what it is.
It also could be BotFly Larva. :eek: Is their any drainage going on?
Look for a small opening with a scab or crusted Hair stuck together. I will wait for Pictures.:thumbsup5

[lodgepolechipmunk]

Ok. this may sound stupid but I can't figure out how to post a pic off my C drive. Computers are not my friend. I found the 'insert image' buton but I can't seem to get it to work for me.

[Mrs Skul]

I do not know how to do it either.:D Can you send them to my Email Address so I can see? :thinking
We will have to get help posting Later. :thumbsup3
If you click on my name and view profile. Then Send Email.
The address will show up. I tried sending you a PM but you can't receive them yet.

[lodgepolechipmunk]

It appears that I am awaiting activation- so for now I will just discribe the wounds a little better. They are round lumps that look like there is something just under the skin, they all have a black round sore on them that covers about 1/3 the of the top of the swelling. it looks like the skin is dead in that area. They range in size from pea to blueberry sized and the skin is streched taught. There is no visible redness or irritation with the exception of the one under its arm near its' armpit (it is the smallest one but looks like it rubs). There is no drainage. Hope that gives a better mental picture for now. I will check to see if I can upload a pic tomorow. Thanks for your help. I would rather have an educated oppinion of what I am doing rather than just jumping in blind. For now it is happy eating and sleeping so I will be as patient as I need to be. Thank you

[Mrs Skul]

cmsokla@Nctv.com This is my Email address
Hang on for a moment!

[Mrs Skul]

Sounds like BotFlys. Please don't do anything until we can Identify them. Do not put Peroxide or anything on them.
You can put water on to clean it off to see. It can be deadly removing them. Go to the beginning and click on Specific Ailment Information
Then click on BotFly. Just remember they might have just started growing. I will check back in a few min. Christal

[lodgepolechipmunk]

It definately looks like bot flies. Now the question is do I do anything for it or do I just let it be. It is just a little chipmunk. I don't want to hurt the little thing. I will read through the Bot Flie section some more to see if i can find info on what to do for a chipmunk. Pellets would have been easier to cut out and disinfect. These horible little flies won't spread to my other pets will they? Thank goodness I found this forum; I would have tried to cut them out and would have killed him instead of helping him.

[Mrs Skul]

Ok I just found what I was looking for.
Go to the Emergency and click on it. Then scroll way down to Large Blister Not Decreasing in Size (kristinashetter Look at the bump and let me know the deferents. Just remember this was already about 2 weeks of growth.
There is another one in the none Life threating. Bump on belly with hole/pus?! ( MamiLove8110
This baby dies. She became septic from dead Bot Fly Larva. When they cleaned off the bump there it was. :eek:

PS I posted my Email address. Please send me your. I will send you my phone number. I would like to see the picture. But yes you can get them out. There are ways to do it carefully. Some say to submerge the bumps in a glass of water. They will come out to breath. If he has that many you might need to do something.If you don't get them be for they turn into flys. Yes they can lay eggs on the other pets.

[Jackie in Tampa]

bots are species specific...each species has their own bot flies...
even people in third world countries:shakehead

i love that he was in the car...he knew what he was doing...too cute

pics please

[lodgepolechipmunk]

My e-mail is GVKoen@yahoo.com The problem is definately bot flies. Now that I know what I am looking at the smaller sore looks like it is where the flie has already gotten out. the other 2 are larger ones like on the pics on the 3rd post of Bot fly facts. I sent an e-mail to Mrs Skul not sure if it went through. no eror mesage so I am assuming it went through.

[island rehabber]

:Welcome lodgepole, I just admitted you to full membership -- sorry for the delay but there was a whirling witch named Irene around my house yesterday :D. Bless you for trying to help this little one!

[gs1]

hi: bot flies are species specific... so there's squirrel, rabbit, mouse, deer bot flies etc.... (so unless you've another chippy you don't need to worry .... i'm not sure if they would also affect any indoor squirrels you have....) (also i doubt they will get the chance to become a fly and reproduce - you'll find them and kill them by then....check bedding...)

as for the chippy maybe you don't have to remove ...sometimes/most times in the wild they'll just pop out on their own when this stage of their life is past... ofcourse when you see them on the ground you are more than welcome to flush them down the toilet!!!

as for the chipmunk .... i really don't see you or anyone being able to hold down a chipmunk up to his neck in water without the chipmunk going crazy on you.....

that is the most amazing story .... that he came home with you ....we have a section for chipmunks ... and in it they'll have diet, care etc...

and just for the record they do like to eat things like waxworms or mealworms etc... (meat) ....

anyway i'm amazed by the story .... and by his sweetness .... :thumbsup :grouphug


here is the forum for chippy info http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&f=72&page=1&pp=40&sort=lastpost&order=desc&daysprune=-1

[stosh2010]

Chipmunk loose in a car ...? That sounds familiar...ha!
We have a member ( Tickle's Mom ) that has had a chipmunk get loose in her car, eat some of the dahboard, some of the wiring, and has been "un-captured" for months. ( since February !!! ) The car has been in a garage since the day the chippie-FLOWER-got loose. A uniue and funny ( not to her) story....
>>>> I hope -with TSB help--you get those dang BOTS out...and you can save this little dude.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&



LINK to FLOWER's Thread:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26889&page=33

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Hi lodgepolechipmunk
I just sent you a Email and a PM with my phone Number. :thumbsup3
Call when you get a chance.
Christal

[SquirrelNut]

OMG, what a smart and also extremely fortunate Chipmunk!

Thank-you for trying to help this poor critter!:grouphug

[lodgepolechipmunk]

So- i tried to handle the little fellow and he is just plain to fast. He ran all over my bathroom. He did not bite even when I was holding him and trying to have a look at him but he did not hold still either. I am still having trouble with pictures- but I think I might have got it. When i looked closer I found that he has a couple more under one of his armpits that are smaller than the ones on his upper chest. I will atemp again tonight when my husband gets home but short of that I need a local rehaber. local to Boise Idaho or at least within a transportable range. If anyone knows of someone who can help me out with this fellow it would be appreciated. I would keep trying but the bots are right on his upper chest/ neck and it makes it very hard to restrain him.

[gs1]

only the most experienced rehabbers and vets should try to remove bots... bots emit a toxin that will kill the squirrel without antibiotics... and killing the bot but leaving them inside the squirrel will kill the squirrel too....

if your chipmunk is ok ... eating etc... then i'd suggest leaving them in place...they won't kill him (although are nasty).... and they will come out on their own in ? a few weeks maybe ...

it's too much of a risk otherwise....

:grouphug

[gs1]

you could do a new thread asking for help in your area... mentioning boise, idaho in the title:grouphug


ps: this is our latest dealings with removal of a bot fly ...the baby died... unfortunately :sad

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29858&page=3

[Best Life]

lodgepolechipmunk - :Welcome

Thanks so much for taking an interest in this little one. How clever of him to "stow away" in your car! Bot flies are so disgusting, but it's better than thinking of him getting shot at.

I resized a few of the photos so I could see them better. Hope you don't mind; what a gorgeous little Chippy!

147464 147467

[Jackie in Tampa]

unless they are alot of warbles in the same area, I usually leave them...
however if there is a group of them in close proximity, it may be best to remove a few so that the skin doesn't pull too tight and cut off circulation to a limb etc...
I have seen this happen to a sq in my back yard...Madge, a wild...her arm turned black, she almost lost her hand...that's why we named her Madge...from you are soaking in it fame, the hand started to look like a black rubber glove...it was terrible...:eek:

If the sq is healthy and strong... he may survive...yet if he is weak and compromised immune system, it may be best to remove..
I would put him on ABs either way..
BOT FLYs are yucky:yuck , and can be dangerous....:get_em

:poke that's a cute Chippie and I love that he picked you!:Love_Icon

[lodgepolechipmunk]

I found a local rescue organization called AIDA and one of the ladies there had me bring the little felow in to her. She removed the 2 larger bots and one little one. the biger ones where almost an inch long! The chipmunk behaved perfeclty for her and is in her care untill it is time to release him (she is letting me do the honors). All turned out well! She said he is the most dosile chipmunk she has ever dealt with. he looks so much more comfortable now. And it looks like i am going to start fostering baby squirrels through the rescue org. Now on to a whole new chapter of learning for me. With a great rescue organization to help me out with all of the know hows, this should be a wonderfull experience. :wahoo

[lodgepolechipmunk]

Thanks to all of you for your help and advice. I am so happy that I found this forum. To think I would have tried to cut them out and would have killed him makes me so sad. Thank you for helping me get to the right track with this little fellow (and resizing my pics and being patient with my lack of computer skills)

[Mrs Skul]

:alright.gif Wonderful News!!!:wahoo
NO More Bots!!!:D
lodgepolechipmunk Keep in touch and we can help you with anything you might need! :thumbsup3
Good Luck with Learning and Rehabbing These Little Baby. :grouphug

[island rehabber]

lodgepolechipmunk and Mrs Skul, you are my HEROES of the WEEK!! :bowdown:bowdown Hugs and admiration to you both! :grouphug:grouphug

[stosh2010]

Great News....Great Work...
WOW... lodgepolechipmunk 24 posts ...and 1 Save....
Nice Track record.....Ha!