White discharge from mouth

[Cesta]

Good afternoon, everyone--

I posted not too long ago about my approximately 6-7 month old squirrel who frequently rubs the sides of her face against the mesh of her cage, which was causing problems with abrasions and lost hair on her cheeks.

For a while, I've been really looking at her face. It seemed she had an odd placement of white fur at the corners of her mouth. I thought maybe she'd just rubbed some of the brown off and that made the white hair more pronounced. Actually, when I first noticed it she had 1/2 a coconut attached to the cage, and I remember thinking some was stuck in her mouth. So this has been going on for quite a while.

Today, I was hand feeding her and finally realized that white 'fur' is NOT fur, it's a white liquid that's coming from IN her mouth, at the creases where her mouth opens. I don't know how to describe it, the best I can think of is if you were feeding a baby vanilla yogurt-- what the part that dribbled back out would look like....?

I believe now she's been rubbing her face to get that off, I don't think the rubbing is causing it.

Anyone have a clue what it could be? It's very white, it doesn't look AT ALL like pus. She's eating well-- healthy diet. She's not eating anything white- the coconut was probably 6 weeks ago. She's acting normally, except for trying to wipe the stuff from the corners of her mouth. It's a small amount, only in the corners of her mouth, but it's always there. Today I actually watched her rub it off, it's the only way I knew for sure it wasn't fur.

It almost reminds me of when my dogs get hot and slobbery, except it's white instead of clear. She moves so fast, I'm not sure I can get a picture.

Any ideas? The only things I can come up with are-- some kind of problem inside her mouth that I can't see, or something heat related. She's on a completely shaded patio, but it IS a FL summer. I have a fan constantly aimed at her cage. It's a big cage, so if one area is too warm she can move to another.

I do have a vet I can take her to if need be. But if anyone has a clue, I'd love to not put her through the trauma of a vet visit.

Thanks!

[redwuff]

Wow, that's a good one. Is there any smell that you can get from her? Is there an area of her cage that she rubs on more than any other?

This one is a stumper.

[PennyCash]

If she were mine I would definitely want to look in her mouth just to be sure everything looks ok in there.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Was she on antibiotics at any time? Could it be thrush? Yeast infection in the mouth?
Do you have any microscope slides? I guess not, right? :tilt

I have some if you think you can collect some of the material onto a slide. I can rule that out for you.

Does she still drink formula? Or yogurt? Probiotics?

[Daisey007]

Was she on antibiotics at any time? Could it be thrush? Yeast infection in the mouth?
Do you have any microscope slides? I guess not, right? :tilt

I have some if you think you can collect some of the material onto a slide. I can rule that out for you.

Does she still drink formula? Or yogurt? Probiotics?

That's exactly what I was wondering!

I actually had thrush myself about three years ago, and it was actually very painful! I couldn't eat... God forbid!

I was also wondering if she may have something stuck inside her mouth... IDK like a splinter stuck into the side of her cheek, or could her teeth be growing strangely?

[PennyCash]

Was she on antibiotics at any time? Could it be thrush? Yeast infection in the mouth?
Do you have any microscope slides? I guess not, right? :tilt

I have some if you think you can collect some of the material onto a slide. I can rule that out for you.

Does she still drink formula? Or yogurt? Probiotics?


That's exactly what I was wondering!

I actually had thrush myself about three years ago, and it was actually very painful! I couldn't eat... God forbid!

I was also wondering if she may have something stuck inside her mouth... IDK like a splinter stuck into the side of her cheek, or could her teeth be growing strangely?

It was my first thought to but wasn't sure if squirrels could get thrush. My son had it when he was an infant. Now the words white substance in or around the mouth makes me think of it

[redwuff]

The treatment for thrush is nystatin. If she rubs her face on the side of the cage could that be enough to get for a microscopic slide for HRT to look under scope? I bet your vet would write a script for it if it is thrush.

Other than that....?

[Cesta]

Thanks for all the good ideas, peeps...

Thrush sounds like a solid theory. She's never been on antibiotics, or any medicine. She gets a small amount of probiotics a few days a week in boo balls. My experience with thrush is with human infants/ nursing mothers and it causes white spots in the baby's mouth, severe pain for mom, but no discharge from baby or breast. It itches, which could definitely explain the rubbing.
I DO have slides, and a very rudimentary microscope, but I wouldn't know what I was looking for. That's all you, H4S. :grin2
Do I have to set it up in any kind of medium or can I just get some on the slide and give it to you?

She's a very sweet girl, I do think I can get a sample from the outside of her mouth-- I'm thinking a q-tip might be a good method? Or even a pipette if that's less likely to get contaminated.

I would really love to look in her mouth, but I like having all my fingers attached. :tilt She's never bitten, but there's always a first time. I'm scared to try and get her mouth open and peer in there by myself. :eek I'd either need help from another 'squirrel person' or a vet.

Thank you all for the brainstorming. I'll get a sample for you, H4S, just tell me how you need me to keep it (in the fridge?) I'm guessing you'll have to take it to work? Thrush would be fantastic, it's an easy fix with nystatin, and it comes as a liquid that tastes like bananas. I bet my pediatrician would write a script for it, she's a fellow animal lover and rescuer. :thumbsup

I bet you're all jealous you don't have H4S as a neighbor! She's the best!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon I am one lucky rookie to have you as a mentor, my friend!

I'll keep you posted! Thanks!
:grouphug

[HRT4SQRLS]

Cesta, collect some of the white material on a Q-tip and roll it onto the slide. Let it air dry. It does not need to be refrigerated. Let's see what the stain looks like before we go peering into her mouth. :tilt I'm off tomorrow so we can link up.

[Cesta]

Cesta, collect some of the white material on a Q-tip and roll it onto the slide. Let it air dry. It does not need to be refrigerated. Let's see what the stain looks like before we go peering into her mouth. :tilt I'm off tomorrow so we can link up.

Thanks, H4S--
I'll do it this afternoon. She's too hyper in the morning. Do you want me to call when I've got it?

[Cesta]

Wow, that's a good one. Is there any smell that you can get from her? Is there an area of her cage that she rubs on more than any other?

This one is a stumper.

No smell, and she'll rub anywhere and everywhere. It's a stumper. :thinking
I'm really hoping for yeast, and that it's local and not some kind of systemic fungal problem.

[Cesta]

If she were mine I would definitely want to look in her mouth just to be sure everything looks ok in there.

Me too, but I've had some bad bite experiences lately and I'd need some help to look in there. I guess we'll cross that bridge if/ when we come to it.

[PennyCash]

Me too, but I've had some bad bite experiences lately and I'd need some help to look in there. I guess we'll cross that bridge if/ when we come to it.

I'm sorry about the bites. I completely understand needing some help to look in there and how Assistance would certainly be lovely. Such is my life to :grouphug

[HRT4SQRLS]

I can swing by between 4-5 this afternoon if that works for you. I have to take the pinky to a 'babysitter'. After that I won't be home until after 8.

If you won't be home, you could leave it in a bag on the front door knob. I'll grab it and go.

[stepnstone]

I can swing by between 4-5 this afternoon if that works for you. I have to take the pinky to a 'babysitter'. After that I won't be home until after 8.
If you won't be home, you could leave it in a bag on the front door knob. I'll grab it and go.
Have I told you lately how awesome you are... :grouphug

[DaSquirrelMom]

I have seen thrush in human babies that drank from uncleaned bottles/nipples.

[ALittleNutty]

When my son got thrush as an infant after a round of AB's the Dr. told me to treat it with Genetian Violet. They usually keep it behind the counter at the pharmacy. Warning it will stain everything purple, but it works if it is thrush.

[redwuff]

Cesta,

How is your girl doing ?