Large Mass on Side

[Spanky]

This guy has been developing this mass for quite a few weeks now. Finally have a pic that shows it well. I had *hoped* it was an abscess but I am thinking that can be ruled out now...

Does anyone have any thoughts about this lump?

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[SamtheSquirrel2018]

[FONT=comic sans ms]This guy has been developing this mass for quite a few weeks now. Finally have a pic that shows it well. I had *hoped* it was an abscess but I am thinking that can be ruled out now...

Does anyone have any thoughts about this lump?

Hi Spanky:
For what my opinion may be worth....I suspect that this mass does represent an abscess or possibly another fluid filled entity such as a seroma (these usually develop following a surgical procedure when fluid filled a potential space in the tissues but can develop following trauma such as contusion from a fall) a hematoma (blood filled mass) or another cystic (sac-like) mass rather than a tumor. I base this opinion on the relatively large size of the mass with its smooth contour and symmetrical shape which is how the skin would behave if pressure was increasing inside from the accumulation of fluid such as pus within the skin. Yes, it may be a solid mass (tumor) but these are more likely to be less smooth in contour and more likely to be at least somewhat asymmetrical. Cancers, especially are not likely to be so smooth in and so symmetrical but there are exceptions. It may also be a lipoma although these usually grow very slowly over a period of months to even years. Also, this is a relatively large mass on this Squirrel and if it were to lipoma, the same sized lipoma on a human would be considered "pretty large" as well! I wish I could offer more help!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Snicker Bar]

Everything STS makes perfect sense and I agree…

But this brings back memories of an unexpected, emergency situation that looks so similar to this! Back last fall(?) we had a pre release with a similar “thing”; that progressively got larger and large as the baby grew. She had no preexisting injuries when she came , that would warrant such a rising. We figured, maybe her cage mate nipped her and now an abscess was developing. See pics from my post last fall:

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Most anyone would agree; and if I recall , most here did too, that this was likely a simple abscess that needed to be drained.

Without going into the details, let’s just say that what I had hoped would be a quick, simple procedure we could manage conservatively…. Turned into a surgery.

Take a wild guess, what this lumbar lump was ??! I never posted back about this case …..

But, let’s just say, the outcome in time was good and she was successfully released with her buddy:)

Now… take a wild guess !

[TubeDriver]

Lipoma? Hernia?


Everything STS makes perfect sense and I agree…

But this brings back memories of an unexpected, emergency situation that looks so similar to this! Back last fall(?) we had a pre release with a similar “thing”; that progressively got larger and large as the baby grew. She had no preexisting injuries when she came , that would warrant such a rising. We figured, maybe her cage mate nipped her and now an abscess was developing. See pics from my post last fall:

324137


Most anyone would agree; and if I recall , most here did too, that this was likely a simple abscess that needed to be drained.

Without going into the details, let’s just say that what I had hoped would be a quick, simple procedure we could manage conservatively…. Turned into a surgery.

Take a wild guess, what this lumbar lump was ??! I never posted back about this case …..

But, let’s just say, the outcome in time was good and she was successfully released with her buddy:)

Now… take a wild guess !

[Spanky]

Without going into the details, let’s just say that what I had hoped would be a quick, simple procedure we could manage conservatively…. Turned into a surgery.

If a surgery, I suppose that rules out an abscess, which I really wished it was... looking forward to the reveal, since this seems very much like what I have here...

[Snicker Bar]

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So , before we attempted to drain the “abscess”, we were convinced it may be a dead bot larvae that had become encapsulated. Because there was a palpable, firm “thing” within the soft , and seemingly fluid filled mass.

But upon further investigation, it turned out to be an ectopic kidney??! And the only reason I know this for sure is it was submitted for Histopath. And it just so happened , the pathologist was a former DVM for a New England Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. He said, he would not have believed it either had he not had the thing checked by a lab. He said it must have been a congenital defect; either a herniation of a normal kidney, or an abnormal, third kidney. Either case, her body was not happy with a subcutaneous kidney on her side . And had it not been removed, it would have possibly set up an infection he said. Since the blood circulation to it was apparently not working properly and it was causing swelling and fluid to back up.

He said it’s the first time he’s ever seen this.

[Snicker Bar]

Could he by chance be safely caught and examined under anesthesia?

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

So , before we attempted to drain the “abscess”, we were convinced it may be a dead bot larvae that had become encapsulated. Because there was a palpable, firm “thing” within the soft , and seemingly fluid filled mass.

But upon further investigation, it turned out to be an ectopic kidney??! And the only reason I know this for sure is it was submitted for Histopath. And it just so happened , the pathologist was a former DVM for a New England Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. He said, he would not have believed it either had he not had the thing checked by a lab. He said it must have been a congenital defect; either a herniation of a normal kidney, or an abnormal, third kidney. Either case, her body was not happy with a subcutaneous kidney on her side . And had it not been removed, it would have possibly set up an infection he said. Since the blood circulation to it was apparently not working properly and it was causing swelling and fluid to back up.

He said it’s the first time he’s ever seen this.

That is most amazing! Was there evidence of a renal artery and vein and what about a ureter? I'm glad your Little One did well following her "nephrectomy!"
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Snicker Bar]

I’ll post the report if it could be of help to others. It was just so bizarre, (and very concerning at first!!) until I voice called the Dr. who processed the specimen and learned, he had many years experience with rehabbing. And was apparently a director of a facility up north. But he assured me that the squirrel would be fine; and had we not explored this “thing” to find the source of the swelling, the animal most likely would have developed some sort of issue(s), as this small bump had drastically grown to the size of a large egg in no time. Her body was not liking this kidney!

Needless to say, I was horrified when I first read the words… “kidney tissue”???! And that’s all that was there… in that big pawn of fluid and fat: this little, pink tissue. Figured it would be some grotesque looking worm, or a very large splinter…. Anything but this!!

[Spanky]

Could he by chance be safely caught and examined under anesthesia?

He can be caught and examined, but not anesthetized. My vet is very reluctant to anesthetize squirrels and other small mammals...

Spud is a 2019 baby (minimally), he was released here Spring 2020 after causing a raucous at some of the neighbors after his original release. With his age, what are the chances of this being an ectopic kidney? Maybe age does not matter?

[Snicker Bar]

I am too (reluctant to anesthetize , unless truly needed); and the thought of trying to load this now, wilded up juvenile into a carrier and taking to office…. I voted to try and deal with this at our release building where she was acclimated to.

But, as it turned out, will just say Tuff’s mom who volunteered to help, and I had to make an emergency run for it :(

I will post her path report on her original thread later today, just for curious minds.

And no, if this is an adult, I doubt it would be an ectopic kidney. I would think it would have showed up , if was going to cause issues, early in life like it did with this one.

Thinking back, I do remember a tiny bump when she first came. The rehabber thought it was a healing wound. But we couldn’t handle her… her nickname was “Cujo” :( which I changed to “Dogwood”. It never seemed to hinder her at all. But about 2/3 weeks before release weather , it just started blowing up! I wonder if the tunnel it had , going back in her her abdomen was beginning to close up and was impeding blood flow; causing it to slowly die. Idk. Weirdest thing ever.

Hope this baby can maybe take a medication somehow, maybe an abscess that will bust on its own hopefully,

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi Spanky:
What ever happened with this Squirrel?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Spanky]

Hi Spanky:
What ever happened with this Squirrel?
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

As it turns out, Spud was not as cooperative about being trapped as I had expected! After a few days attempting to outsmart him, a weep hole had opened and there was some slight drainage over the next 2 days. Since I was preparing to be out of town for a few days I made the decision to not do anything invasive since I'd not be here if additional intervention was necessary. It was still very large, but no longer getting larger though if it were shrinking it was not significant before I left town.

Got back home late last night... saw spud already this morning and the abscess looks almost completely drained. I'll try to snap a pic later if I can and will continue to monitor Spud.

Thanks for asking / bumping...

[CritterMom]

I bet that was a relief. That thing was huge - it would have hurt like crazy. :dance

[Spanky]

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Spud 02/27/2023

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thanks for posting this updated photo, Spanky. A remakable improvement, indeed! Appears normal!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel