Hi JayCro:
Thanks for joining TSB and hello to you and Ben! I agree with and appreciate Chirp's comments and I have a couple of questions myself!
1) I know that you take Ben regularly to this Vet to have his teeth trimmed but that is much different form performing what sounds like major surgery. Does this Vet have extensive experience with surgery and anesthesia on Squirrels. This is imperative! Also, for major surgery that is not emergent, a second opinion is often very valuable and can make a significant difference in what would be the final plan for what should be done for Ben, if anything. It apears that you reside in Florida. There is a very experienced Squirrel Vet at the Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic in Port Orange name Alicia Emerson. Many Squirrel Board members have taken their Squirrels to her for evaluations and surgery and some have driven long distances even from other States for her expertise in Squirrel Medicine! I would like to suggest a second opinion and would also like to suggest Dr. Emerson if you would consider this! Her is a link to the Ravenwood Clinic:
https://ravenwoodvet.net
2) Do you regularly weigh Ben. Can you confirm this reported weight loss that the Vet mentions and what specifically is the weight loss and over what perid did this occur?
3) Why would a Squirrel who has been in your apparently excellent care for 10-1/2 years with, I assume no change in his behavior and eating and drinking habits; "all of a sudden" become dehydrated and how did the Vet determine this? This seems somewhat strange to hear!
4) How was this mass found. Did the Vet discover it by feeling it (called palpation), is it noticeable by looking at Ben? What is the size of the mass? Is there any apparent connection between the mass and the the outside through the skin? Did you know about the mass before your took Ben to the Vet this time? Can you feel the mass? Is this mass firm, soft, movable, smooth, diffuse (spread out), lumpy, etc? Were any imaging studies performed such as x-rays and/or an ultrasound. An ultrasound is a great "bedside" study that can be performed in the office of trained Vets or Imaging Specialists that is does not require anything but a gel applied to the skin and the proper equipment. This test can reveal much information about a mass such as whether or not it is cystic (surrounded by some sort of tissue capsule) and whether or not the mass is affixed to underlying structure or even penetrated into the chest or into surrounding structures (this is an ominous finding may very well indicate cancer of some sort).
5) assuming that there is this mass, if it is truly worrisome for decreasing functionality or possibility of cancer, can a biopsy be performed where a relatively tiny portion of the mass is removed before consideration of removing the entire mass so that a specialist can examine it under a microscope and hopefully determine if it is cancer or not.
6) Not every mass need to be removed. IF there is little risk and potential for the mass enlarge and interfere with Ben's functioning (walking, climbing, eating, drinking, etc) or spread to surrounding regions of the chest or into the chest (these are characteristics of aggressive cancers), it may be fine to just leave it alone and monitor it regularly rather than subject Ben to anesthesia and surgery! Also, even if the mass is cancer; if it is slow growing and poses very little risk for invasion into the chest or affecting other structures such as bone, muscle, nerves and blood vessels; it may then too be something that may be able to be left alone. Ben is 10-1/2 years old and while there are accounts of captive Squirrels living much longer, he is old. Going back to the mass; there is a very significant difference between dying
with the mass and dying
from the mass. In other words; if there is little likelihood of the mass interfering with Ben's comfort (such as causing pain), functioning or posing a threat of significantly decreasing Ben's lifespan, it may be fine to leave the mass regardless of what it is!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel