Swollen Jaw - Need a Vet

[Chippergray]

My Chipper has a swollen jaw. It wasn’t like that Friday as you can see in the first photos. I noticed it yesterday. Nevertheless, he was still eating, hiding his nuts, and grooming himself as normal. He was crawling on me and acting like he felt pretty good.
Today he ate a big Brazil nut and then he was done. He was kind of stand offish - which isn’t unnormal for him - he has his days. He was still grooming himself thoroughly.
I’m not sure what’s going on. I haven’t tried to touch it. I’m afraid if it hurts him he won’t trust me. I don’t see any kind of puncture or abrasion on the outside. His eye looks normal and I do not see any kind of drainage. I looks like it is localized to the cheek area only. His neck looks normal from what I can tell.

I need to find a vet that will see him. No vet in my local area will see him and he is going to be difficult because he’s not an indoor pet. I live in Macon County, TN and I need to find someone close to my area. I do not want to go as far as Nashville. It’s a very long drive from me, I will have to hold him all the way, and the traffic is crazy!

The first two photos are Friday before the swelling. The last photo is today. Sorry it’s a little blurry. He moved about the time I took it and he wasn’t in the mood for more.
304194304195304196

[Spanky]

Are you able to round up this guy and transport him to a vet? Is he that cooperative / friendly?

That also looks like it may well be a bot fly warble. I have seen very similarly placed warbles that looked almost identical to the pictures of your boy here. Additional pictures may help to rule that out or narrow it done? :dono

[Spanky]

I do not suppose you have gotten a good look at his teeth? While my initial instinct was warble (time of year and all) my second more serious concern was odontoma or other teeth issues...

[cava]

Hi. It sort of looks like it's his jaw and also the area between his nose and eye? Am I seeing correctly?

Brazil nuts are on the "do not feed to squirrels" list. Here: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53047-Brazil-nuts-can-kill&highlight=brazil+nuts

Do you think you could medicate him if needed? Reach out to Sophie Squirrel, send a pm. He has a network of squirrel friendly vets and may be able to help you.

He may have fallen and has a broken bone in there, it would be good to make sure his teeth are intact and functioning properly, for sure.

In the mean time offer soft food options that are also healthy to promote healing and aid in chewing comfort.

[Chippergray]

Are you able to round up this guy and transport him to a vet? Is he that cooperative / friendly?

That also looks like it may well be a bot fly warble. I have seen very similarly placed warbles that looked almost identical to the pictures of your boy here. Additional pictures may help to rule that out or narrow it done? :dono


He won’t like being manhandeled but he still comes to me. I could get him to a vet if I could find one to see him. How he’s going to react to the vet is a different story. I will hopefully get a better photo tomorrow.

[Chippergray]

I do not suppose you have gotten a good look at his teeth? While my initial instinct was warble (time of year and all) my second more serious concern was odontoma or other teeth issues...

I can see his front ones, but I haven’t tried to inspect them by opening his mouth. They do not look overgrown. They are a little discolored when he has been cutting on hickory nuts.

[Chippergray]

Hi. It sort of looks like it's his jaw and also the area between his nose and eye? Am I seeing correctly?

Brazil nuts are on the "do not feed to squirrels" list. Here: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53047-Brazil-nuts-can-kill&highlight=brazil+nuts

Do you think you could medicate him if needed? Reach out to Sophie Squirrel, send a pm. He has a network of squirrel friendly vets and may be able to help you.

He may have fallen and has a broken bone in there, it would be good to make sure his teeth are intact and functioning properly, for sure.

In the mean time offer soft food options that are also healthy to promote healing and aid in chewing comfort.

I have highlighted the area that is swollen. It looks the most swollen in between the nose and eye going down towards the the mouth.

I had no idea about the Brazil nuts. I have been giving them to my two squirrels on and off for nearly a year. Never more than 1 a day. It’s their favorite nut. Thanks for the info though. They probably won’t be getting any more.

He will not eat any other foods. Just nuts. Sometimes he will eat a nut ball, and I make those very soft. He ate a Brazil nut today. That’s all he would eat that I took to him and the female.

All I can see are his front teeth. They are a little discolored from cutting on hickory nuts but they look good other than that. I haven’t gotten him down and opened his mouth though.

I could medicate him. I will reach out to Sophie Squirrel.

Thanks much!

304204

[Chippergray]

Hi. It sort of looks like it's his jaw and also the area between his nose and eye? Am I seeing correctly?

Brazil nuts are on the "do not feed to squirrels" list. Here: https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?53047-Brazil-nuts-can-kill&highlight=brazil+nuts

Do you think you could medicate him if needed? Reach out to Sophie Squirrel, send a pm. He has a network of squirrel friendly vets and may be able to help you.

He may have fallen and has a broken bone in there, it would be good to make sure his teeth are intact and functioning properly, for sure.

In the mean time offer soft food options that are also healthy to promote healing and aid in chewing comfort.

It says Sophie Squirrel’s account is closed. There is no option to pm.

[stepnstone]

It says Sophie Squirrel’s account is closed. There is no option to pm.

That is correct, he is no longer with TSB.

[Spanky]

I had not noticed the swelling up towards the eye, just along the jawline which is where I have seen bots on some of my wilds looking very much like that along the jawline.

It is good he will eat boo-balls as that gives you a means to provide antibiotics. Do you have any antibiotics on hand? If not try to fond some by asking family and friends. You'll need just a single pill.. if you find anything, share what it is and the strength and we'll let you know if it might be effective here.

Typically with abscesses in "wilds" we are not in a rush to intervene, but on the flip side we do not want to wait to long. Most often these abscesses will run there course and the squirrel does just fine. Often the stress of the capture, ride to the vet, procedures, etc. can be worse that allowing it to run its course. There are times though when invasive treatment becomes necessary. Handling a wild (even a friendly release) will be a two person job if you cannot locate a vet that will help.

But start preparing, and have a plan... how to trap, where to house him, a vet that will see him or other plan if not, etc. Do you have a Hav-A-Hart trap or some other idea for capture?

In the meantime I would try to take pictures at least daily, twice a day if possible, to compare the progression. That will aid in assessing if an invasive intervention is warranted.

[Chippergray]

I had not noticed the swelling up towards the eye, just along the jawline which is where I have seen bots on some of my wilds looking very much like that along the jawline.

It is good he will eat boo-balls as that gives you a means to provide antibiotics. Do you have any antibiotics on hand? If not try to fond some by asking family and friends. You'll need just a single pill.. if you find anything, share what it is and the strength and we'll let you know if it might be effective here.

Typically with abscesses in "wilds" we are not in a rush to intervene, but on the flip side we do not want to wait to long. Most often these abscesses will run there course and the squirrel does just fine. Often the stress of the capture, ride to the vet, procedures, etc. can be worse that allowing it to run its course. There are times though when invasive treatment becomes necessary. Handling a wild (even a friendly release) will be a two person job if you cannot locate a vet that will help.

But start preparing, and have a plan... how to trap, where to house him, a vet that will see him or other plan if not, etc. Do you have a Hav-A-Hart trap or some other idea for capture?

In the meantime I would try to take pictures at least daily, twice a day if possible, to compare the progression. That will aid in assessing if an invasive intervention is warranted.




Thank you. He was just released in May, and I still see him and feed him every day. I don’t have any antibiotics here but my mom is a nurse. She may be able so get me something. What should I ask for?

[Spanky]

I believe Augmentin would be a good choice.

And if she can get a clindamycin tablet, that would come in handy in event any infection gets into the bone given the location of the abscess.

Hopefully others will offer opinions too.

[Chippergray]

Here are the photos I took this evening. I think it looks better but still a little swollen between the eye and nose. What do y’all think? Maybe he was stung or bitten. Sophie’s Squirrel helped me out with a vet should I need one. Thanks to the person who recommended him.

304212304213304214

[Spanky]

I believe he looks much better, the "sting / bite" theory is a good one me thinks! :thumbsup

[cava]

I agree he looks much better. Keep on keeping an eye on him. He's a cutie!

[Chippergray]

His face is no longer swollen. I noticed today that he has a lump on his chest. I think it’s a wolf worm (warble). Should I attempt to remove it or let nature run its course? I just worry about the location being near is organs. :eek

304289

[Mel1959]

That definitely looks like a bot. I think it is recommended that if there are less than 6 warbles it’s not necessary to intervene as they don’t stress the squirrels system too much.

I hope others that have had to deal with this will chime in.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Yes, it's probably a bot fly warble. I would leave it alone and let it emerge on its own. That is not in a dangerous location at all. The warble is just under the skin and will in no way impact the organs.

The ones I really hate are the ones around the jaw line or chin. I never remove those for fear of damaging the jaw and causing a malocclusion. I'm also concerned when many warbles surround an arm for fear of cutting off circulation to a limb. Those I will remove if there are too many.
Six seems to be the number where intervention is necessary. The warble drains waste and fluid. If there are more than 6 there is a real concern for dehydration as the temps are usually in the 90's during bot season.

[Chippergray]

I haven’t been able to call him in since last week. I’m super worried. It’s not like him at all. I try to call him in twice a day. It’s rare that he doesn’t come in. Never more than a day. I’ve seen my female but not him. I’m hoping it’s the changing of the weather and the fact they they have access to tons of food right now. I know they are just animals, but I feel like one of my children is missing. :sniff:sad

[TamiKakes]

Oh no. I hope he comes around soon. I know how that feels. I have my family of neighborhood squirrels and I get so worried when I don't see some of them for days.

[Chippergray]

Oh no. I hope he comes around soon. I know how that feels. I have my family of neighborhood squirrels and I get so worried when I don't see some of them for days.

He didn’t come again today. I went twice to check on them. I left nuts in their bowl tonight and set up a trail camera. I will check it tomorrow evening. If he’s not on it I will assume the worst.

[Spanky]

I would not assume the worse, wild food is plentiful and some of their favorites are readily available.. acorns, figs, hickory nuts, etc. Also, my observation has been that females with juveniles venturing out of the nest get extremely territorial and the males usually stay away after a few run ins... there is plenty of of fall goodies available.

[Chippergray]

I would not assume the worse, wild food is plentiful and some of their favorites are readily available.. acorns, figs, hickory nuts, etc. Also, my observation has been that females with juveniles venturing out of the nest get extremely territorial and the males usually stay away after a few run ins... there is plenty of of fall goodies available.

I didn’t see him again today. My trail camera didn’t get anything. My female was around each time I went, but not him. There aren’t many other squirrels where they are and it isn’t a huge area either. He has always come to me every day. The only time he wouldn’t come was if it was stormy, rainy, or if I got there too late. There are so many predators of squirrels. I can’t stand to think about something slaughtering him.

[Chippergray]

I finally found the little tyrant the day before yesterday. He was hiding some nuts close to the spot where I feed him. The thing is, he acts like he can’t hear me. I walked over to him, crunching leaves and twigs with every step. He didn’t even pay any attention. I don’t know if it’s because I was yelling his name for 20 minutes and he knew it was me, or maybe he was too worried about hiding his nuts. Usually, with any sound, squirrels are on alert. They cock their head sideways, prick their ears, and figure out what’s going on.

After I made it to him I put my hand on the ground in front of him. He ran up my arm, sat on my shoulder and ate a nutball, then he nibbled on my fingers and rubbed all over me. I put him down and I had to run home and get a few more nuts. When I got back to him, same thing. He wouldn’t come to my call. I had to make my way to him. When I got to him, he ran right up my arm again.

I called to him yesterday and today. I’m sure I saw him in the near distance carrying a nut, but he never came to me.


Also, he’s a little puny.

Maybe he’s just worried about getting prepared for the winter. He doesn’t have time for me now. I just worry because his face was swollen on the one side for a few days. I hope it wasn’t something that affected his hearing.

[Spanky]

Great news that you have seen your buddy... :thumbsup