Horrible abscesses,dragging leg and then death??

[charlotte18]

Hi. I just posted a thread before this one about something else but I haven't been able to access my account and so I'm posting 2 right now. Ok. Got a call from a lady the other day who had been trying to raise 2 babies herself with no previous exp. She said the store told her to feed KMR (idiots) and she'd had them for a week. Said all was well at first but then the girl (they both appeared to be about 9-10wks old,boy and girl) had 'lumps' pop up on her belly and then her back leg. She began dragging her leg around and then the lump on her belly opened and began to leak-Which is when she finally sought help =/ The girl died within an hour of being with me and her leg had began to turn purple and hardened all the way up into her groin area almost like a mass? But the abscess on her belly was like a gaping hole going all the way down ALMOST to the groin area under the skin. I know this because I did a chlorohex flush and the syringe went completely in (she was not in pain,by that time she was out of it almost completely...) The boy has been doing surprisingly well besides some loose sticky reddish brown stool that's getting better but now he too has the begining of an abscess on his right shoulder =( What is going on? Could this be a result of too much protein from the KMR or something genetic or what? He's on ammoxi for now until tomorrow when I get some baytril (I don't normally give squirrels ammoxi) and he likes plain yogurt with his milk and eats fine. But any ideas what this could be or why?? Thanks in advance!! OH and he is QT from the rest of them as a precaution and I refuse to handle him before any of the others for fear of it spreading. I know abscesses are contagious,but could this affect the others being in the same room?

[island rehabber]

But any ideas what this could be or why?? Thanks in advance!! OH and he is QT from the rest of them as a precaution and I refuse to handle him before any of the others for fear of it spreading. I know abscesses are contagious,but could this affect the others being in the same room?
Charlotte, you are right to quarantine. I have never seen anything like you described -- I am hoping some of our other experienced rehabbers can shed some light for you. One thing is that Baytril, and we do love our Baytril, is not working as well anymore on bacterial infections. You may need to stack antibiotics, like Baytril and SMZ-TMP (good for soft tissue infection) or even metronidazole...Another thought, could these babies have been cat attacked? Sometimes the abcesses from cat punctures will not erupt for weeks.

[charlotte18]

I asked the lady specifically about any injuries and she was crying and said no absolutely not. That they had no injuries before she got them. Said that the girl started dragging her leg after the purple mas showed up and she called me when the belly one ruptured. And I do keep metro/flagyl on hand for k9 use. I wasn't aware it could be used on squirrels and I only have pills too. I tried to post pics of the girls legs and absessed belly but I'm on my mobile and it wouldt let me =( I'm sure it would be somethingdifferent for y'all to see and figure out. It was a perfect hole in the center of her body that went down under her skin almost all the way to her groin like a pocket. I got the 1ml syringe to the 6 while flushing.sounds horrible but I wanted to see how far it went and if it was somehow connected to her leg issues.. I dunno. It was crazy.

[Jackie in Tampa]

that's what I am thinking too, pasteurella..
where are you in Florida? we have experienced members all over the state and it's a legal state...thinking someone may know a vet near you or be able to take a lookie see what's going on..
If you are near me, I have a vet and some experience with the common afflictions sqs in florida have issues wth..
hope you find out what's going on..
I wouldn't ponder either, sqs go down fast...
depending on what type bacterial is involved whether the amoxi will help or not..
but it's better than nothing, I would reach out for some baytril/cipro asap, and a vet visit!
let us know...

[charlotte18]

Hi Jackie. I'm in Largo,about 30 mins from Tampa. And luckily I work at a vets office and already have them all on Baytril now. I would of had the vet look at the girl who died but she died on a Friday and I don't go back in till Monday. The boy (her brother) is doing much better now. Still not out of the clear just yet but the shoulder absess is healing nicely. Only thing really happening now is loose and then hard stool which I think was a result of the KMR for that time she had them and just getting over being sick. He's eating plain yogurt and Esb now and starting on apples. HOPEFULLY he will recover completely. I think she had them longer than a week also. He is between 10 & 11 weeks old and had no idea what solid food was or what to do with it. I think the KMR messed his belly up a lot =/

[Jackie in Tampa]

Esbilac has some really bad reviews since they changed formulation.
Many think it has kills lots of sqs, just a heads up..
I use Fox Valley!
Sounds like you have your work cut out turning him around..
good luck, if I can help with anything..give a shout!:wave123

[charlotte18]

Ah I noticed the powder looks yellow now instead of the creamy white color it used to be =( I thought it was a bad batch the first time I got the yellowish can =/ I go to feed stores or to the pet supermarket around the corner. Petsmart only sells the crappy GNC brand now and my babies don't do that well =/ Cheaper yes but not worth it.