Growth on top of Nose

[Bravo]

Never once have I seen it scratching or itching the irradiation. I really do hope it starts to go away soon. I love my squirrels.

I hope so too, whatever it is.

[Annabelle's papa]

Here are a series of comparative images, it could very well be advancing.

[Kristi S]

It is impossible to diagnosis this without biopsy BUT ...

My best guess would be that this is a cutaneous fungal infection caused by a group of fungi that cause tumor like growths.

The location on the nose would make my guess more feasible because squirrels root around in the dirt. Molds live in the dirt. Rooting around in the dirt with a possible 'side order' of frostbite and/or suppressed immune system due to the stresses of a very hard winter could set this little guy up for a fungal infection.

The specific groups are called Phaeohyphomycoses or Chromoblastomycoses. WARNING : I wouldn't be googling images of these unless you have a strong stomach.
These molds are ubiquitous but you rarely see them in people in developed countries.


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaeohyphomycosis

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1092695-overview

The other possibility is of course a malignancy but I do lean towards a fungal cause.
Unfortunately, neither will be treatable if this is what it is.

Although these do seem to happen worldwide, they are apparently quite rare, especially outside the tropics and subtropics, no? Or Chromoblastomycoses is, anyway, and it's slow-growing. The other seems very rare in wild American mammals, if the results of Googling "Phaeohyphomycoses wildlife" are any indication. I see the resemblance, though. You're right, impossible to know without a biopsy!

[Delo729]

We have to figure this out. So intriguing

[sunflower333]

Hello everyone! Just thought I would give you all a update on my black squirrel with the growth on his nose.

I just took photos of him today and it seems whatever that was on his nose is getting better! And the photo of him on the sunflower feeder, that is a squirrel proof feeder and he is the only one that gets on it and gets seeds! He's s strong little guy for sure!



Tammy

[Bravo]

Thanks for the update I'm not sure we've ever seen anything like it here on the board. Hopefully it clears up- certainly doesn't seem to be slowing the little guy down.

[TubeDriver]

I am glad to see this has not got any worse, I hope he improves and gets better!