I was trying to figure out if this young squirrel is male or female. Anyone ever seen anything like this?
I was trying to figure out if this young squirrel is male or female. Anyone ever seen anything like this?
I would say male whose sibling has been sucking on his whole package, poor guy
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
Michelangelo
*
If you can't afford the vet,
You can't afford a pet.
NEGLECT IS ABUSE.
"Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."
'...and the greatest of these, is Love. '
JLM27 (02-17-2021)
Testicles do not descend until the squirrel usually is over a year old, give or take a few months. Since it appears this guy is being suckled please monitor him to be sure he can urinate ok. Sometimes a scab will form at the tip and it will need to be soaked with some warm water and removed so he can urinate. This is very important.
Try feeding more often and separate from siblings if the suckling continues.
Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
If that’s actually a vulva, it looks backwards. Could the area that looks like a vulva be where the testicles would emerge and it has been enlarged due to suckling? Or is there an actual opening in the area that looks like a vulva? Where does the urine come from when stimulated?
stepnstone (02-18-2021)
Does anyone else think it's possible we have a hermaphrodite here? I mean, it could happen.....happens in all mammals once in awhile...
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
Michelangelo
*
If you can't afford the vet,
You can't afford a pet.
NEGLECT IS ABUSE.
"Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."
'...and the greatest of these, is Love. '
"I hope everyone got or gets their Baby Love today"~Shewhosweptforest
https://www.henryspets.com/1-baby-squirrel-care-guide/
island rehabber (02-18-2021), Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
I see from bottom to top: anus (not irritated), vulva (irritated) or possibly a second anus (it's a bit too round and the opening a bit too large for me to conclusively say vulva, it looks like a very irritated anus) -- and an upside down penis that's got a plug in it.
Seems like it's either born with some deformity or it's suffered some severe suckling/chewing to the point that the parts are unrecognizable and potentially permanently damaged.
Stimulate the squirrel to potty and pay attention to what comes out of where. The poop should come out of the lower most hole. Soak the plug off the tip of the penis, and try and figure out where the urine is expelled from. Pay close attention to what, if anything, is coming out if the very red and irritated middle hole.
Report back with your observations. If you can manage a video of pottying that would be extremely helpful, as would clearer pictures (plural, from various angles).
Keep this one isolated from the others and pay attention to see if it is nibbling on its own genitals. You may need to get a cone.
Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
My former vet, Dr Anthony Pilny, usually doesn't mind if I text pix to him for his opinion (he moved his practice to Arizona ). May I have your permission to do that? He was called "St Anthony of Squirrels" when he was here in NYC...
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
Michelangelo
*
If you can't afford the vet,
You can't afford a pet.
NEGLECT IS ABUSE.
"Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."
'...and the greatest of these, is Love. '
Buddy (02-22-2021), Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
I could send the picture to Dr. Emerson, as well, for her opinion.
Buddy (02-22-2021), Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
After sleeping on it, the topmost thing could maybe be an umbilical hernia
Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
Lol you have no idea.
Just for quick reference this was the picture of my girl's "penis" that identified her as female, so just an example of a healthy/normal vulva and anus.
@OP: do you have any updates? More pictures? Perhaps a video of stimulation to potty? Or at the very least a report on what type of excrement is coming from which holes?
@mel and Island rehabber: I would say to go ahead and send this picture to the doctors.
Zoo Keeper (02-22-2021)
Chirps (02-22-2021)
Thank you for your response. I have seen this baby suck on the upper most part and I suspect the sibling is involved, too. I tried stimulation to observe where the urine comes from but the baby wasn't having it...possibly because it was painful from it's little parts being so irritated. I know it is passing urine and feces for sure but can't say for sure where it's coming from.