Hole in Roof of Mouth

[astra]

Here is a little red, about 10wks old.

He wouldn't eat block and insisted on drinking formula only.
So, people decided to check his mouth - and there it is a hole in the roof of his mouth (hard palate behind the upper teeth).
You can see the hole in the picture.

His teeth seem to be aligning correctly.

He came in eyes closed, developed and grew normal and all that.
So, it is unclear what made that hole and how deep it goes.

So, the questions are:

1. What might have caused that hole?... his teeth seem to be ok (but that will have to be double checked).

2. Are x-rays the only way to examine how deep it goes and if it is deep enough that it goes right into his sinuses, or if it's only in the mouth?

3. Most importantly: what is the best course of action right now?
Vet help is hard to come by in this area. People will try to find one, but it is not guaranteed.

Any way to check for infection in that hole? He is so tiny that it's hard to examine there. Any suggestions?
Or should he be started on abs just in case there is an infection there?
Does the fact that he refuses to eat block prove that it is painful for him and it is painful because it is infected?
could it be painful without being infected?

4. Any hope that the hole will grow/close on its own?
Any procedures/actions to ensure that?

5. Or is surgical help needed to close the hole?

What else should be done right now to prevent it from getting worse? And to make it heal?

Any other suggestions/experience with situations like this?

Thank you!!294250294251294252

[SammysMom]

Cleft palate?

[astra]

Cleft palate?

:thank_you

didn't think of that.

don't think I have ever seen it in squirrels. But based on what I've seen in ppl and other animals, wouldn't cleft palate result in some external deformity as well? (the mouth area would be deformed in some way?) :thinking

[stepnstone]

:thank_you

didn't think of that.

don't think I have ever seen it in squirrels. But based on what I've seen in ppl and other animals, wouldn't cleft palate result in some external deformity as well? (the mouth area would be deformed in some way?) :thinking

Cleft palate is my thought also and if memory serves me I've read of similar on this board but wouldn't remember when or who.
Maybe someone else has a better recall but I think I may even had read where Dr. E had to close one.
A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth where the tissue didn't fuse together during development, It often
includes a split in the upper lip but can occur without affecting the lip.

Edit: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?58116-Cleft-Palate&highlight=cleft+palate

[Nancy in New York]

Cleft palate is my thought also and if memory serves me I've read of similar on this board but wouldn't remember when or who.
Maybe someone else has a better recall but I think I may even had read where Dr. E had to close one.
A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth where the tissue didn't fuse together during development, It often
includes a split in the upper lip but can occur without affecting the lip.

Edit: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?58116-Cleft-Palate&highlight=cleft+palate

You're right Russell that was Jen413's little squirrel Sammy.
Dr. E closed the hole.
I will direct Jen413 to this thread.
https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?55205-Sammy-Baby&highlight=

[Mel1959]

I hope these folks will consider doing a consult with Dr. E. I think it would be worth it to get her opinion. Those are pretty good pictures that she could look at.

[astra]

Thank you all.

So how do we contact Dr. E?

[Nancy in New York]

Thank you all.

So how do we contact Dr. E?

I know she is a very busy woman, so if you email her,
it goes to the front desk. You may want to put in the subject
like for Alicia Emerson.

http://www.ravenwoodvet.net/our-doctors
4540 S Clyde Morris Blvd
Port Orange, Florida 32129
Phone: (386) 788-1550
Fax: (386) 756-8970
Email: frontdesk@ravenwoodvet.net

[Jen413]

My gosh my heart just sank!! I would definitely contact Dr. E! I wonder if this is a cleft palate or maybe his bottom teeth punctured the hole when he fell?

Little history in case you don't have time to weed through his thread:

8/28/16
Found Sammy.

8/29/16
Right check swollen. Dark blood still under skin of chin. (see slide show)

9/2/16
Blood had resolved. Left white spot with firm boarder and sunken in middle. (See slide show)

9/4/16
Top teeth came in. Not in line.

9/7/16
Scab fell off applied antibiotic ointment.

10/14/16
First photo of hole. This was after his first two doses of clindamycin. We had already been on Clavamox for 10/14 days. It looked like it had scabbed or bled but it was the only time it's ever looked this way. Every other time it's just been an open hole.

12/24/16
First visit with vet showed his lower jaw was crush on the right side. Also had damage to the bones around his eye.

3/24/17
Continued on Clindamyacin x2 daily until seeing Dr. E. Dr. E removed 4 teeth on the right side and suctioned out dead bone/teeth and infection. Scraped the jaw bone down to bloody live bone. Closed the hole. He was also neutered. He was discharged on metacam and clavamox.

3/25/17
Follow up with Dr. E. Placed one more stitch into the roof of his mouth to be cautious.


Here are all the photos if you're interested in looking. https://youtu.be/XzA3pypXJ-A

I could never really determine how Sammy got the hole in the roof of his mouth. My two theories are either 1) when his jaw was crush it bent up and punctured the roof of his mouth or 2) it opened due to infection draining. I feel it was likely the first because of the broken tooth when he was found and the size of the hole. Sammy never had any issues with food getting stuck in the hole and I feel like your baby might because of the size and location. He was on AB's from the beginning of October to March when he had his surgery. There were two separate occasions following surgery that he had to be put back on them. He hasn't been on any AB's since I believe May. I don't know if Sammy would have required AB's like he did if not for all the dead bone in the jaw and the location of the hole. If there is anyone that can close that hole it would definitely be Dr. E. If I can help in any way or answer any questions, please let me know. I remember all too well how horrible of an experience this was for Sammy and I.:glomp

[Chickenlegs]

I know you have limited vet availability. Any way to train that baby down this-a-way--well--that-a-way, as I'm in Iowa right now. I think there's a good vet in Maryland who may help.

[astra]

Thank you all again,

Ty Nancy for the contact info.
Jen, thank you for taking the time to do a synopsis of your thread - that helps a lot. As far as I was told this little guy didn't have any swelling ... that's why this came literally out of nowhere.

Chickenlegs - thank you. If it comes down to that, then MD is certainly closer than FL. But the main challenge would be getting safely back and forth because if where we are...

I'll pass all the info.

[squirrelfriend]

Hi astra. I've had two with this problem on the past. One was from buch shot pellet. The other was from landing on the head when it fell from the tree. The lower teeth puncture the roof of the mouth on landing. I don't know what to do about it other than surgery. The baby one didn't last too long. The one with the buck shot pellet lasted for years. He always had sinus issues but was ok otherwise.