milky eye

[Shirley beanen]

I have a 6 year old squirrel name ENZO FERRARI...just the other day I noticed white milky fluid around his one eye ..he gets fresh fruits and veggies cut every morning and does get Henry healthy pet blocks....what could be wrong ? He still plays and eats well popped well and pees well ..it doesn't seem to bother him....what should l.do ????

[HRT4SQRLS]

The white tears are usually a sign of pain. Have you noticed any sniffling? Does your squirrel get hard nuts to chew? Have you noticed that he no longer cracks nuts?
What do the teeth look like? Sharp chiseled edge or blunt edge?

[Shirley beanen]

The white tears are usually a sign of pain. Have you noticed any sniffling? Does your squirrel get hard nuts to chew? Have you noticed that he no longer cracks nuts?
What do the teeth look like? Sharp chiseled edge or blunt edge? omg....i.m so upset my ENZO is in pain and I don't know where....he still cracks on nuts in fact he just cracked open a almond in the shell his teeth are chiseled the bottom ones are the top flat....no I haven't noticed any sniffing....he chews on wood and provide thing for that reason....this is the first time i.ve had any health issues with him I take very good care of him... anything else might be the reason....now l.m crying and I don't know what else to do ....because he does not act like he is uncomfortable he still wants to play and get his ears and belly rubbed.....he is in bed now but I will get back with you tomorrow if that's okay.. thank you so much

[HRT4SQRLS]

Shirley, the reason I asked the questions is because the most common cause for white tears in a squirrel is the teeth. Enzo is 6 years old so he is at risk for an abnormal growth of the teeth. There are many causes. Face trauma/tooth damage when a baby, cage bar chewing, low calcium diet (Metabolic Bone Disease), a possible genetic link and other unknown causes are risk factors for the development of odontoma.
An odontoma is an abnormal growth at the base of the tooth (incisors). Instead of growing forward, the tooth begins to grow backwards. It produces a large bony mass that can grow into the sinuses. When that starts to happen there will be sinus/breathing issues (cold like symptoms), white tears associated with pain, they no longer chew hard nuts due to pain, etc.
Because they don't chew hard things, the incisors lose the sharp chiseled edge and become flat.

At first the symptoms can be vague or slightly respiratory. It progresses until it becames life threatening as this bony mass fills the sinuses. It is associated with inflammation, infection and pain. Keep in mind this is very close to the brain.

OK, this is a primer on odontoma. By the way, it is not malignant as in cancer but it can kill eventually if not treated.
The ONLY way to determine if this is the cause of the white tears is to get a head X-ray of Enzo. The odontoma are clearly visible on X-ray. The treatment is removal of the incisors. Do you have a local vet that will X-ray Enzo? If not, there is a vet in Raleigh that definitely will. He actually does odontoma surgery BUT he is extraordinarily expensive. We can recommend other options.

We absolutely DO NOT know if this is the problem BUT it has become so common around here that odontoma must be ruled out when a older squirrel presents with white tears or 'sinus' issues.

This will give you a starting place. Again, this might not be teeth related but it must be ruled out.

You mentioned breaking almonds. Almonds aren't particularly hard. Can he crack a pecan?

[Shirley beanen]

Shirley, the reason I asked the questions is because the most common cause for white tears in a squirrel is the teeth. Enzo is 6 years old so he is at risk for an abnormal growth of the teeth. There are many causes. Face trauma/tooth damage when a baby, cage bar chewing, low calcium diet (Metabolic Bone Disease), a possible genetic link and other unknown causes are risk factors for the development of odontoma.
An odontoma is an abnormal growth at the base of the tooth (incisors). Instead of growing forward, the tooth begins to grow backwards. It produces a large bony mass that can grow into the sinuses. When that starts to happen there will be sinus/breathing issues (cold like symptoms), white tears associated with pain, they no longer chew hard nuts due to pain, etc.
Because they don't chew hard things, the incisors lose the sharp chiseled edge and become flat.

At first the symptoms can be vague or slightly respiratory. It progresses until it becames life threatening as this bony mass fills the sinuses. It is associated with inflammation, infection and pain. Keep in mind this is very close to the brain.

OK, this is a primer on odontoma. By the way, it is not malignant as in cancer but it can kill eventually if not treated.
The ONLY way to determine if this is the cause of the white tears is to get a head X-ray of Enzo. The odontoma are clearly visible on X-ray. The treatment is removal of the incisors. Do you have a local vet that will X-ray Enzo? If not, there is a vet in Raleigh that definitely will. He actually does odontoma surgery BUT he is extraordinarily expensive. We can recommend other options.

We absolutely DO NOT know if this is the problem BUT it has become so common around here that odontoma must be ruled out when a older squirrel presents with white tears or 'sinus' issues.

This will give you a starting place. Again, this might not be teeth related but it must be ruled out.

You mentioned breaking almonds. Almonds aren't particularly hard. Can he crack a pecan? I don't have any pecans but I do have hazelnuts as a matter.of fact he was chewing on wood this morning..there is a vet in town that would see ENZO...but I had him as a baby he's never been out of the house i.m afraid the ride would upset him he would have a hearts attack

[Mel1959]

If you put him in a small travel cage and cover the cage completely with a sheet he will be much more subdued. I have found that squirrels settle down quite quickly when traveling.....much more so than my cats!

[Shirley beanen]

If you put him in a small travel cage and cover the cage completely with a sheet he will be much more subdued. I have found that squirrels settle down quite quickly when traveling.....much more so than my cats! thank you so much for your help you just don't know how much l appreciate it

[Shirley beanen]

If you put him in a small travel cage and cover the cage completely with a sheet he will be much more subdued. I have found that squirrels settle down quite quickly when traveling.....much more so than my cats! update on ENZO FERRARI...took him to the vet today to check on his eye and teeth...the vet check from nose to tail and i.m HAPPY to report ENZO FERRARI is fine.....teeth in good shape ears clean nails trimmed and the vet could not find anything wrong.with his eye and boy did he look ..but just on the safe side he gave me some ciprofloxacin just in case he had a little infection...and ENZO did great at the Dr's so glad l took him and thank you squirrel broad for your help on this situation...you are really GREAT you helped me and i.m sure many others...

[Nancy in New York]

update on ENZO FERRARI...took him to the vet today to check on his eye and teeth...the vet check from nose to tail and i.m HAPPY to report ENZO FERRARI is fine.....teeth in good shape ears clean nails trimmed and the vet could not find anything wrong.with his eye and boy did he look ..but just on the safe side he gave me some ciprofloxacin just in case he had a little infection...and ENZO did great at the Dr's so glad l took him and thank you squirrel broad for your help on this situation...you are really GREAT you helped me and i.m sure many others...

Now this is a great update. :w00t

[cava]

I agree. This made me smile!

[redwuff]

The only way to tell if there is odontoma growth is through X-rays. Did your vet take head x rays?

So glad he got an overall clean bill of health:grouphug

[Shirley beanen]

The only way to tell if there is odontoma growth is through X-rays. Did your vet take head x rays?

So glad he got an overall clean bill of health:grouphug Took Enzo To The Vet Today he did a full x-ray of his head his eyes and his whole body and GREAT news now sign if odontoma and his teeth are fine no need for triming...he did mention something about thiamine????he was going to do some research on that for me....can you tell me the affects of to little thiamine and the affects of to much thiamine?????l would greatly appreciate it....thank you

[Milo's Mom]

Took Enzo To The Vet Today he did a full x-ray of his head his eyes and his whole body and GREAT news now sign if odontoma and his teeth are fine no need for triming...he did mention something about thiamine????he was going to do some research on that for me....can you tell me the affects of to little thiamine and the affects of to much thiamine?????l would greatly appreciate it....thank you


It looks like you're posting the same exact questions in two different threads https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?58541-Help-will-Malocclusion.

[TinksMom]

Hello All,

I’m a brand new member, and milky eye is something my squirrel has never had until now. I’ve checked her teeth and all looks good there, but she is sniffling a little. She is off her food a little as well. She gets fresh fruit, vegetables, HHB twice a day and once a week vitamins. She also has a broad spectrum light 8 hours a day. I would love to get her checked out and x-rayed to rule out Odontoma, but in my state it’s impossible. I’m hoping someone on here can point me in the direction of a person that can help. Thanks!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Hi Tinksmom. The white tears are an indicator of pain. The sniffling is concerning because it can be tooth related as well. Your diet looks perfect so getting an X-ray is needed to get to the bottom of these concerns. There is a vet in FL that can help you. She is the most experienced odontoma surgeon in the country. Her name is Dr Alicia Emerson in Port Orange FL. It is 4 hrs from your location.
https://ravenwoodvet.net/
4 hrs might sound like a long distance but others have travelled across the country to see her so you are actually pretty close. :)



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[HRT4SQRLS]

What type of vitamins are you referring to? Vitamins make me nervous. :tilt