What is this and what can be done?

[astra]

This is a local wild friend.

What does she have and what can be done to help?
Vet care is obviously not available.
But maybe some meds can be given?

Thank you!!!

[Charley Chuckles]

:wave123 astra
I'm not sure but I think recently someone else had a similar situation.
I'll have to go look for that thread.
Ruling out bot fly too early plus you don't see a hole, right?
It's like a cyst or something.

[astra]

Thank you for your response, Abby!

no, not bot fly (no bot flies here)


:wave123 astra
I'm not sure but I think recently someone else had a similar situation.
I'll have to go look for that thread.
Ruling out bot fly too early plus you don't see a hole, right?
It's like a cyst or something.

[CritterMom]

That looks like a huge abscess and my guess is that it is ready to burst on it's own. Hopefully it is completely unrelated with any tooth issues and is just a skin abscess. A round of amoxicillin clavulanate or SMZ-TMP would be nice but as this is a wild, the logistics of 2X a day dosing is kind of daunting. They usually do okay once the thing bursts.

[Tashahaven]

Looks like a rather large abscess. They can be lanced and drained, although rather difficult to do (even with 2 sets of hands) on a wild.

I believe they have a tendency to spontaneously drain, and heal remarkably well, although it might help to dose antibiotics once it’s open to avoid possible infection.

Others on this board are much more qualified to provide information, and have first hand experience. Hopefully one of them can speak to this issue soon.

From my experience with abscesses in other small animals, they can become quite tender when they reach a certain size. Such as with your squirrel.

Hopefully others can provide good information/options for her/him/you 🙂🙏🏻

[Tashahaven]

Thanks Crittermom! We must’ve been typing at the same time.

[astra]

Thank you, CritterMom.

I have some old abs here. They have been in the fridge all these years:

smz-tmp - exp. date April 2015
amoxi - exp. date oct 2012
prednisone - esp. date oct 2012

^^^ are they way too old, or could any of them work?
It's just as there is no vet care easily available, esp. for a wild; I have no access to abs either.
If something of these can be used, could it be dozed for once a day instead of twice? Twice is of course unrealistic for this wild, but I could try a once a day doze

That looks like a huge abscess and my guess is that it is ready to burst on its own. Hopefully it is completely unrelated with any tooth issues and is just a skin abscess. A round of amoxicillin clavulanate or SMZ-TMP would be nice but as this is a wild, the logistics of 2X a day dosing is kind of daunting. They usually do okay once the thing bursts.

[astra]

Thank you!

Looks like a rather large abscess. They can be lanced and drained, although rather difficult to do (even with 2 sets of hands) on a wild.

I believe they have a tendency to spontaneously drain, and heal remarkably well, although it might help to dose antibiotics once it’s open to avoid possible infection.

Others on this board are much more qualified to provide information, and have first hand experience. Hopefully one of them can speak to this issue soon.

From my experience with abscesses in other small animals, they can become quite tender when they reach a certain size. Such as with your squirrel.

Hopefully others can provide good information/options for her/him/you 🙂🙏🏻

[island rehabber]

Hi astra. So nice to see your name again here even if under disturbing circumstances. I agree that this looks like a huge abscess ready to burst in which case if she's otherwise healthy she'll be fine. However if you can get your hands on some clindamycin from someone who recently had dental work, it is an antibiotic specially targeted to areas above the neck and can really help. If not, some SMZ- TMP couldn't hurt.

[astra]

Thank you, ir. It’s nice to see you and CritterMom and all familiar “faces”/names :). Life does have a way of bringing about some sad changes …

As I mentioned in my reply to CritterMom above, I only have some old meds left. Can’t get my hands on clindomycin :(

Should the abs be given after the abscess bursts or while it’s still like this?

Thank you!
Hi astra. So nice to see your name again here even if under disturbing circumstances. I agree that this looks like a huge abscess ready to burst in which case if she's otherwise healthy she'll be fine. However if you can get your hands on some clindamycin from someone who recently had dental work, it is an antibiotic specially targeted to areas above the neck and can really help. If not, some SMZ- TMP couldn't hurt.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

:wave123 astra
I'm not sure but I think recently someone else had a similar situation.
I'll have to go look for that thread.
Ruling out bot fly too early plus you don't see a hole, right?
It's like a cyst or something.

Here is a link to that thread! https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?69179-Large-Mass-on-Side&p=1355816&highlight=#post1355816

It seems to be the a very similar issue on a close bu different area of the body. The thread is pretty interesting and mentions another unique case as well! This thread also contains some good information along with documentation of a good outcome without direct intervention or antibiotics!!!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[astra]

thank you, I'll check it out.

Trapping is not an option not only because this is a very feisty although very friendly wild, but also because I won't be able to do anything: I don't know how to lance those etc., and there is no vet care
Here is a link to that thread! https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?69179-Large-Mass-on-Side&p=1355816&highlight=#post1355816

It seems to be the a very similar issue on a close bu different area of the body. The thread is pretty interesting and mentions another unique case as well! This thread also contains some good information along with documentation of a good outcome without direct intervention or antibiotics!!!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Charley Chuckles]

Here is a link to that thread! https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?69179-Large-Mass-on-Side&p=1355816&highlight=#post1355816

It seems to be the a very similar issue on a close bu different area of the body. The thread is pretty interesting and mentions another unique case as well! This thread also contains some good information along with documentation of a good outcome without direct intervention or antibiotics!!!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

Yep that's the thread 👍
:thankyou