Horrible Hematoma

[Snicker Bar]

I have been trying to manage a hematoma for days now; conservatively with topical analgesic and needle aspirations , hot compresses etc. After multiple days of this with no improvement , I resorted to a tiny incision ( with analgesic ) . I drained the serum, and placed two full thickness sutures with very fine ( 6/0) monofilament suture. She then allowed me to get samples from the ear - no mites. I was considering starting her on pediatric sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim (?30 mg/kg) , Trsederm topical drops for the ear canal, and topical antibiotics/analgesic for the incision as it heals. Is this a good plan? What about a tiny application of DMSO on the ear flap- as it has become thickened, and seems to help with pain and inflammation in small animals?? This baby has been through it all ( Doodles, my special needs balance, malocclusion, and now hematoma baby 😔)

[CritterMom]

Can you post a pic of it so we know what we are dealing with?

[lilidukes]

Sound like a good game plan to me. But wondering what
DMSO could do to help??

Was there trauma to the ear??? If not I've read about
autoimmune disease of the ear tissue is possible.

You might have to drain the ear a few times.

Poor baby:grouphug

[Chickenlegs]

I've been told about DMSO for years and never used it. Curiosity kicked in and Lisa's question re DMSO gave me a reason to do a quick search. Thought you might be interested.

http://www.dmso.org/articles/information/muir.htm

[Snicker Bar]

I have a good pic- but technically challenged when it comes to phone apps and such. I will have my help at work post the ear pic., as well as a long overdo video of her mobility handicap. Will keep her comfortable as best as I can. One good step forward was her willingness to eat again this evening . If there are any oral small animal NSAIDS she could take for pain as well, she weighs exactly 1 # .

[Nancy in New York]

I have a good pic- but technically challenged when it comes to phone apps and such. I will have my help at work post the ear pic., as well as a long overdo video of her mobility handicap. Will keep her comfortable as best as I can. One good step forward was her willingness to eat again this evening . If there are any oral small animal NSAIDS she could take for pain as well, she weighs exactly 1 # .

I will send you (pm) the dosing chart for infant ibuprofen.

[Snicker Bar]

Here is a picture of the ear

[HRT4SQRLS]

Whoa, that's a big one. I've never seen that in a squirrel before. We had a cat with that before. The vet drained it and did like a quilt stitch in and out of the ear over and over to reattach the front to the back of the ear. Just curious, are you a Vet or VT.... with all that slicing and stitching. :rotfl When you opened it did blood come out or infection.

If you're not a vet I'm afraid you're going to need one. :peace I might attempt to open something like that BUT this will need skilled stitching to bind the two surfaces of the ear together or it will just keep filling up. It might even be infected. I would find a vet. Sorry.

Did this happen as a result of her digging at the ear? The Tresderm otic drops are a good idea as well as the Septra. (SMZ-TMP).

[Snicker Bar]

I am a vet- but, none of my local colleagues know anything about squirrels it seems! And due to her apparent nervous system issues ( possible head trauma) I was nervous to sedate her. This group here has been my support for squirrel consults, far more helpful ( and prompt to reply) than any DVM's I know, that's for sure! I hope to attend classes this coming winter to become a licensed Rehabber; not to collect too many more, but mainly for the purpose of learning... we had little to NO education about wildlife medicine . I will say her ear looks much better today; (basically treated it a tiny cat ear). I just didn't have any resources about antiinflammatory meds. ( thank you Nancy in NY!) or any other pain relieving options. The ear is definitely thickened, but no longer inflated ( all the fluid- serum and a little whole blood) quickly drained out.

[Snicker Bar]

Forgot to mention- not sure of cause? I checked a small sample of wax from ear, and no mites. She does have a foster sister (that she's being raised with) that can hop in and out of her little habitat area to play- I was thinking maybe she accidentally nipped her ear? They roll and tussle- but are not aggressive towards each other; very tight bond . And my Snickers ( first ever rescue) has accepted both to her large forest room, as long as she gets her daily special TLC:)

[TubeDriver]

If she is in pain, you could give infant motrin (50mg/1.25ml strength). It would help with pain, inflamation and have some short term anticoagulant effect which may help to prevent additional clotting?

She weighs 1lb? A 450g squirrel would get 0.11ml to 0.22ml of infant motrin every 4 hours or so. 0.11ml would be a low dose, 0.22ml would be what I would probably give and you could go up safely to 0.33ml if needed.

[Chickenlegs]

That's a doozey of an owie! Good thing she has a guardian angel (that's YOU doncha know) :bowdown

[HRT4SQRLS]

:grin2 I thought you sounded like a vet. :peace "Treated it like a tiny cat ear" :rotfl Yep, that's what it is.

Here's a resource that you might find helpful. It's a resource that most rehabbers can't live without. It's not perfect but it probably is the best resource out there for wildlife rehabbers.

https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/products/wild-mammal-babies-the-first-48-hours-and-beyond-2nd-edition

I know another vet that said the same thing as you. She received about 1 hour of training on rodents in 4 years of vet schools.

[pappy1264]

I went through this with Rocky. His was from not having a back leg, so he cannot scratch that ear, and think he somehow injured it shaking it (or from the shaking, caused the hematoma, as that can happen as well). Rocky now looks earless (it is there but it is flat to his his. Blood was reabsorbed, but tissue in ear was damaged from it). He never acted like it hurt, but did seem to enjoy when I scritched it (again, no back leg on that side, so he cannot scratch his own itch).

[pappy1264]

Here is Rocky's thread, and pics: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?52846-HELP-just-found-Rocky-s-ear-like-this!&highlight=

[Snicker Bar]

Staring ibuprofen now, thank you all so much. Will try to post a video tomorrow of her mobility issues; curious if any have seen anything like this? Tried to load it but it wouldn't work, maybe too long? (About 90 sec or so)

[HRT4SQRLS]

I don't think you can post video directly to TSB. I'm pretty sure it has to go through a secondary source like Photobucket or YouTube.

[Snicker Bar]

Oh , ok- after reading other things and descriptions of neurons here, I'm really thinking she must have fallen from a tree. My first rescue Snickers was also disabled in a similar way; but over time her blindness resolved ,head tilt disappeared, and mobility improved to point she can run and climb, ( but not leap). I decided to let her stay for fear she would be an easy target , as she is still a little slow. This one ( Hematoma /" Doodles") has not improved at all with her neuro issues. But she plays, ruffs and tumbles (with partially blind foster sis that she came with) and seems happy to be alive. Thankfully all 3 are girls!! Don't need any more babies or will have to add onto house!

[Scooterzmom]

One of my NR's ended up with a huge hematoma like yours did. That baby of mine also is a neuro. No coordination, tumbles and falls when trying to walk and climb in his rabbit cage etc. Not sure how either how he got his but we had figured he probably injured himself falling on the edge of his bowl or against the cage bars. Since we don't let him out to roam on his own those were the only possibilities. I don't have any pics of it :/

Anyway,it did get better - we had to drain it a couple of times and he ended up with a boxer's ear... the proverbial cauliflower ear. :shakehead It doesn't bother him one bit, but it does give him character.. :gigg Minda ya, he already had pleanty of that... the little guy's all white. :grin2