Question for Henrietta

[dugz69]

My 2 yo female gray squirrel is swollen on her vulva and we took her to the vet and she said that it was closed up and had to slice it back open with a blade. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I have never heard of something like that. She also said it may never stay open to where she can urinate without going back to have it reopened. Any info on this would be great.

[JLM27]

I think the rehabbers will want pics and eventually a second opinion. What big city are you near?

[astra]

I think the rehabbers will want pics and eventually a second opinion. What big city are you near?
yes, that and

1. How did it start?... did she just wake up one morning with a swelling there, or was it gradual? - how gradual? (what were the symptoms, the onset etc?)

2. How did she act BEFORE the onset of the symptoms/swelling?
3. How has she been acting since the swelling was full-blown?
4. What are her regular daily activities?
5. What activities, what food etc preceded the onset of the problem?
6. WHat is her diet like daily? Please list it as detailed as you can because that will give an idea about her general health.
7. What is her story?... How was she found, did she have any injuries/problems when she was found?

Please keep checking back often - experienced ppl will be on soon.

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 Dugz
Please get a Picture!!!
She is Probably in HEAT.
If the Vet has Never seen this be for, he could think that. :D
Her Tinkle should be VERY, VERY SWOLLEN. DARK to BUBBLE GUM PINK in Color, and HARD TO THE TOUCH.
Please Please Post a Picture BEFOR Letting him CUT on HER. :nono :nono :nono
PS
When did she Pee Last?
IS SHE PEEING OK??? :dono

[dugz69]

ok lets see, it all started about 3 weeks ago. we had our usual morning play for about 3 hours and she never missed a beat. she went back in her pen and into her pocket book. thats where she sleeps. I left to go get my medicne and was gone for about a hour. when I came back she was sitting on her limb and she acted like she was disorented and was wobbly. I rushed her to the local vet and he said she had a bad ear infection and gave me some sauve for her ear and some antibiotics. well that night she got worse off and was very vocal for like 5 min. straight and then she just fell back with her mouth open.I guess she had a seizure. I thought she had passed away. after that she was just lethargic and very wobbly and could not sit up . she would not eat she would just lay there. I thought it was low calcium so the next morning I rushed to the vet in Raleigh NC he is a exotic animal vet and they put her on calicum and vit. supplement and did some blood work and xrays. they said she had a spinal injury and low calicum. so I kept her confined to a smaller cage where she could not climb and hurt herself further and he also put her on a powder mix that smells like peanut butter and over 3 weeks she has gotten alot better to where she can climb and jump but she will still not eat her regular food which is swt. pot brocoli corn carrots grapes apple and orange and strawberries and nuts of all kind. she will eat if you hold it up to her mouth but she will not come to her food bowl.so after she was better I noticed on sunday that she was having trouble urinating looked like she was straining and only a few drops were coming out. I turned her over and it looked like it was swollen about twice tha size as normal and hard to the touch. I called the vet back and asked them if they thought it was from being in heat because thats the first thing that came to my mind as the time of year and shes 2 years old. But the vet said she didnt think so and I should bring her in, So I did and she said she had seen this one time before in another female squirrel but did not know why. she also said it looked like it was sealed up and she took her to the back and said she was going to let another doctor look at her and when she came back she said that they had to cut the other squirrel to open it back up and that is what they had done to her. so she actually cut her without asking me first. I would have not let them cut her had I known.and now she still is not eating from her bowl but she will eat the mix. she is getting better and more playful again I just have never heard of something like that ever sealing shut. I will never forgive myself for letting them cut her if she was just in heat. but she is my first female so I had never experenced a squirrel in heat.I just hope and pray it heals to where she will not have trouble or have to be cut again.

[astra]

This is what one knowledgeable person asked me to post for you:

The vulva is closed in a female squirrel, even while in heat, until just shortly before mating. This is anatomically normal. MOst vets just don't know anything about squirrels

[astra]

Also, from what you described, her diet needs to be adjusted.
Please refer to this Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32218

It's is absolutely important that she get quality rodent blocks daily + a good variety of greens. No corn (or as a once a month or two month treat). Nuts - one or two per day as a treat only.
Her current diet is very deficient in many nutrient and nutritional imbalances can cause all sorts of problems, especially, MBD (and it sounds like she already had cal. deficiency problems).
So, please modify her diet.
Check out our Squirrel Nutrition forum - tons of helpful info.

I hope, she heals and goes back to her old self.:Love_Icon

Please never hesitate to ask all the questions you have.:grouphug

[Jackie in Tampa]

can you photograph the incision..that sounds so weird..
when was this last appointment?
and is she on any meds prescribed by the vet currently?
sorry for all the questions.
I hope she is okay:grouphug

[dugz69]

She is on .02 cc of pet tinic once a day indefintly. .035 cc of a antibiotic twice a day for 5 days, .02cc of calicum supplement twice a day indefintly. .15 cc of myloxicam once a day for 5 days. I have tried a rodent chow and she wont touch it. not sure where to get the rodent blocks. but all of the squirrels i have had in the past ate the same thing I listed and one lived 12 yrs and one lived 10 yrs. she hates greens. she is such a picky eater. I still can't get her to eat from her food tray like she use to. I want to thank you all for your help in this matter for I have learned so much about a female that I never knew from this board. she is doing great as of right now. she seems happy and seems to be urinating ok now. How long do they stay in heat? as for the cut it was very tiny insicion, but to much for my taste. I wish I had come here first. I kinda figured that she would be in heat but you would think a vet like that would know. they treat alot of squirrels and other wildlife. at least now I know.