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View Full Version : possible infection in 2 weekish old please advise



Mrniceguy
08-25-2018, 06:12 PM
started as a red line approximately 1.3 cm long and this is how it looks now. I have put warm compress and Neosporin on it twice so far and would just like an opinion of someone better qualified than myself

Thanks

Mike

HRT4SQRLS
08-25-2018, 06:52 PM
Hi Mike, welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

I have a few questions.
How long have you had the baby and how long has the red line been there?

HRT4SQRLS
08-25-2018, 07:10 PM
Mike, that is one of two possibilities.
It is either a small abscess but I really lean towards the second option.
It could very well be a bot fly warble forming. I have seen them on babies.
The opening makes it look even more like a bot fly.

Could you get another pic?
This will sound very gross but when you put the neosporin on, do you see any 'activity' in the opening?
Also, is it hard?

Mrniceguy
08-25-2018, 09:35 PM
I have had the squirrels for 3 days now the 1st day and a half was hectic cause they were pretty bad off when i found them. AS far as the line i would assume 3 days and i should probably add that when i found the nest there was an old aluminum can under it(could just be a coincidence) and a few red ants on one of the squirrels. There is no squirming when applying the Neosporin and the actual bump is soft. The Swelling started towards the later of last night (end of day 2) and i have applied it prob 4 times today now. I dont know if this info helps but i witnessed the nest fall from the tree from about 20 feet up landing on grass and random trash bits. the 1st squirrel was found about 15 foot from the nest real close to my front tire and the other (injured one) was found about 20 min later after some rigorous squirrel calling from me to see if i could raise up momma. For such a little thing its very vocal about not being happy.

Mrniceguy
08-25-2018, 09:50 PM
The red ants were on the hurt squirrel.... prob should of said that.

HRT4SQRLS
08-25-2018, 09:52 PM
If it's soft it's probably a small abscess. A bot fly is usually hard/firm.
I think the warm compresses are a good idea. If you can soften the spot that looks like a scab and tease it off, it might drain. If it drains it probably won't need additional treatment.

If it doesn't drain, don't completely rule the possibility that it's a bot larvae.
A bot larvae will mature and then exit by itself but I wouldn't allow a bot to develop on a baby. They get very large.... way too big for a baby. If it turns out to be that, I can instruct you about removal. If you have a vet, they could remove it but remember most vets won't see wildlife.

redwuff
08-25-2018, 10:28 PM
Hi Mike,

Thanks for saving the babies. What formula are you feeding? Do you need any help other than the possible abscess?

Mrniceguy
08-29-2018, 12:26 AM
Definately some kind of worm sadly. I watched it move. How does one remove this?

stepnstone
08-29-2018, 01:30 AM
Definately some kind of worm sadly. I watched it move. How does one remove this?
HRT will check back Mike so I'd wait to hear from her, she's had a lot of experience with bots. :great

Mrniceguy
08-29-2018, 01:45 AM
Thank you very much for the quick response and I will wait for further instructions.

HRT4SQRLS
08-29-2018, 06:36 AM
I'm at work. I'll give you instructions around 8AM.
This is the grossest thing you will ever do in your life but OH SO satisfying. :rotfl

HRT4SQRLS
08-29-2018, 09:14 AM
The first thing you need to do is get your 'tools' together. If you were even thinking about using the wife's eyebrow tweezers you need to get that outta your head right now. :rotfl

I purchased all sorts of fancy forceps but to be honest with you my preferred tool is fine point needle nose pliers. It's more efficient for me to exert pressure on the beast with the palm of my hand instead of my fingertips. Most people flush the cavity after removal with dilute betadine (provodine-iodine). I haven't always flushed the cavity and have never had an infection but it's a good idea.

Removing a small young larvae is actually harder than removing a large one. The young larvae are soft and white. The large bot larvae are black and leathery. You don't want to kill or tear the larvae in two. That will definitely cause an infection and leave debris in the cavity. If it's black it is unlikely that you will tear it as they are very leathery. The white ones are more likely to pull apart.

You do not want to exert pressure on the baby like you're pulling a cork out of a wine bottle. :nono You want to isolate the larvae and the skin by pinching behind it with your thumb and first finger.

I like to put Vaseline (or your Neosporin) over the opening. Blocking the air hole gets them very agitated and they start moving quite a bit. Enter the hole with the tip of your forceps or needle nose. The larvae will back up. The thumb and fingers behind the lump will prevent the retreat. Get a good bite on the larvae and start pulling slowly. You don't want to jerk it out. Slow, steady pressure and it will start oozing out of the hole like birthing a baby.

Congratulations dad... you've just birthed the ugliest thing on the planet. :eek We will need pics. My preferred disposal is flushing.

You can flush the cavity. By the next day, you barely see any sign that it was there other than the hair loss and small scab.

If you have any problems, a vet can do this but it will need to be a SAFE vet.
Many will confiscate.

HRT4SQRLS
08-29-2018, 09:31 AM
One thing I forgot to mention is that the larvae has rows of hooklets or barbs than anchor it in place. It will require more pressure than you would expect because of this. The key is slow steady pressure.

Spanky
08-29-2018, 11:07 AM
If you have any problems, a vet can do this but it will need to be a SAFE vet.

If you need a safe vet, let us know your general vicinity and we may be able to advise you on a safe vet. I am in NE Georgia, about 40 miles south from the GA / NC via hwy 23 (the vet is another 15 miles further though!) and have a safe vet.