Squirrel with raised spot that ruptured open

[Michelle1]

Hi I have an adult male fox squirrel he had what is suspected to be an abscess on his leg. It is healing good. I sent picture to a friend of vet who said it looked like abscess. It was a bad one so I have been cleaning it 2-3 times daily and using Veterinus Derma Gel to keep it free of infection. I also have been spraying using Colidal silver on area and putting colidal silver in drinking water it is natural antibiotic to help. It has been about 2 months. It was bad at first but is healing good considering how bad it was and he does keep picking a little at scabs do it is skiing healing a little. But Three days ago I noticed a little red raised area under hide leg right below the abscess it started to raise look a little red. When I came home from work today. I seen a small rupture hole and some sort of tissue like stuff hanging out of where the slight raised area was on him. I am so beside myself with worry I don’t know what to do. What is even more weird is he seems to be ok he doesn’t appear to be in distress and he is moving around and eating just fine acting normal. I do not know what it could be or this could be life threatening. If anyone has any idea what this could be or any suggestions on what I can do to help him please post and let me know. I posted pictures to this email as well.

[SammysMom]

What am I looking at? Where are you located?

[Michelle1]

I’m in ohio it is a rupture right below what I believe is a abscess that is healing. Right under hind leg.The rupture has like tissue like stuff hanging out from it. I don’t know what it is. He seems ok though it is so weird.I am so concerned though by it. I don’t know what to do.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Whoa, I hope someone can direct you to a vet. I hope that's not bowel hanging out.

You need to start looking for antibiotics.... human antibiotics are fine. We can help dose them for you. A single pill is enough. Look for Clavamox, Clindamycin, Septra and Ciprofloxacin. (The Cipro would need to be used in combo with another antibiotic. It won't be adequate alone.)

This squirrel also needs a cone made. More than likely this is from chewing the area.

[cava]

Where in ohio are you, send it in a PM if you don't want to say on the board...

[cava]

Can you please post a full body photo of this guy and an updated photo of what is hanging from his groin?

What is his diet and where is he kept?

[Nancy in New York]

I reached out to SophieSquirrel in a pm and directed him to this thread.
I think he knows of someone in Ohio that may be able to help, fingers
crossed.

[TubeDriver]

That does NOT look like a burst abscess to me. More like a prolapsed hernia? Need a vet to look at this. In the mean time, I would try to cover that with a sterile patch and tape it up so he cant chew on it.

[SophieSquirrel]

That does NOT look like a burst abscess to me. More like a prolapsed hernia? Need a vet to look at this. In the mean time, I would try to cover that with a sterile patch and tape it up so he cant chew on it.

Agreed TubeDriver. That squirrel needs a vet ASAP. I have vet resources in Ohio depending on where you live. Check your private messages under "Notifications" at the top of the board.

[SophieSquirrel]

Michelle, Vet found - check your PM

[Michelle1]

Thanks for all your post I reach out to someone on board and I’m waiting to hear back. I hope it’s good news and I can get him to a vet. I will also post another picture more detailed.

[SophieSquirrel]

Thanks all for the help and she is en-route to expert & sqrl friendly vet care. I asked her to follow up and let us know how everything goes.

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks all for the help and she is en-route to expert & sqrl friendly vet care. I asked her to follow up and let us know how everything goes.

Thank you, thank you! :grouphug

[Mel1959]

Thanks all for the help and she is en-route to expert & sqrl friendly vet care. I asked her to follow up and let us know how everything goes.

Oh my! Thank you, SS, for your wide range of knowledgeable vets all over the country! This looks very scary for this little guy. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and say lots of prayers.

[Michelle1]

Hi everyone thank you so much for info. Especially Sophie Squirrel i went to vet suggested by him that would take squirrels. He is getting surgery as I am typing this for hernia. The stuff that came out vet said did not appear to be any major organs thank god. He should be ok after surgery and antibiotics.So again thank you all😀

[Nancy in New York]

Hi everyone thank you so much for info. Especially Sophie Squirrel i went to vet suggested by him that would take squirrels. He is getting surgery as I am typing this for hernia. The stuff that came out vet said did not appear to be any major organs thank god. He should be ok after surgery and antibiotics.So again thank you all��



Prayers for this little one.
Please keep us posted.
I always say, it takes a village to help
raise a squirrel.
Thank God the "village" all lined up perfectly.:w00t

[Mel1959]

Great news! I was very worried about your little guy. :Love_Icon

[SophieSquirrel]

Great news Michelle, let us know how he did with his surgery. The Vet I referred you to is well regarded in the zoological community.

You now have a new squirrel family on The Squirrel Board! :grouphug

[Michelle1]

Hi my baby is doing good. He had surgery he had a hernia and he did really well. Thanks again for everyone’s help especially Sophie Squirrel. 298709298709

[Mel1959]

Great update :Love_Icon I’m so relieved to hear he did well in surgery. Please keep us updated. :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Poor little stinker looks so much better,
even in his little vest.
I'm thrilled he got the help he needed and that
it was done so quickly..........amazing! :Love_Icon

[Jen413]

I'm so glad you were able to find help for your sweet baby!! Prayers for fast and easy recovery.

[cava]

Sending healing and love to your little guy. Hope he recovers quickly!:Love_Icon

[Michelle1]

I will thanks

[SammysMom]

This is awesome news! I'm so glad you came for help and that SS was so quick to help!:Love_Icon

[Floppysquirrel04]

Sending prayers for the little guy, hoping for the best!

[TubeDriver]

Poor little guy does not look like a happy camper in his wrap but hopefully he will heal quickly and this will all soon be just a distant memory.:grouphug

[HRT4SQRLS]

Very happy that you found a vet. Just curious, what antibiotic was prescribed?

[Mel1959]

How’s your little guy doing? :Love_Icon

[Michelle1]

Re:Hi (HRT4SQRLS)
The bottle for for antibiotic for him just has name-“SMZ-TMP” 48mg on it.

[Michelle1]

Re:Mel1959,How’s your little guy doing?
Hi Mel1959,
My little guy was doing good until he somehow managed to with his medical straight jacket on to chew open his stitches.i even had nasty tasting paste on it as well. But he chewed on it. He somehow did this in the middle of the night. So I had to take him back to vet to get him restitched up. So vet made him a E collar.But he had that off and hanging on him before I even got him home. He managed this still slightly drugged up while I was driving him home in his carrier. I had to put an e collar (his collar of shame lol)I had at the house on him. But I’m scared he will get that off while I’m at work and do it all over again. Anyone have this problem with their little ones ?And anyone have suggestions on how to prevent them from biting open their stitches? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mel1959]

I’m not sure how to deal with the chewing. :dono I’ve never had to deal with that. Hopefully others that have will offer some suggestions. I hope you can figure out something and your little guy continues to improve.

[SophieSquirrel]

Remember my PM?

"Make sure you keep a constant eye on him so he doesn't shred his bandage and start on the wound. After all he is a squirrel"

Sounds like you are going to have a lot of lost sleep this week.

Did he pull the actual stitches out or just chew on the wound. If it happens again ask the vet to do a subcuticular suture pattern with absorbable catgut and apply surgical glue over the opening.

This one works with a rat/chinchilla but a squirrel has strong hind legs that can rip the velcro open: https://www.lomir.com/product/mc-e1-elizabethan-collar/

Can you get someone to fashion something like this? It's called a reverse collar.


Reverse Collar

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Chinchilla breeders use a metal collar that would be prefect. The only place I could get an over sized one is from a friend in PA but it would take a few days to ship.

Chin Breeding Collar

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