White growth near eye (pics and video included)

[astrll]

Hey everyone!

I have a young wild named cinnamon who has started to visit. She’s an eastern grey (I think) and she was born this past spring. I am in British Columbia. When she visits she mostly drinks water, has a picky block, and takes some almonds to hide. She also mostly visits with the evening crowd.

Recently, I noticed a white spot right behind her eye. It was really small at first, so I thought it was just her fur pattern. Over a few days (I’m guessing six days), the “spot” has turned into a protruding bump. It doesn’t seem to be bothering her, and she’s still running around, climbing, jumping, eating, and drinking. It’s the only bump I’ve noticed, and I don’t think there are others. But I’m worried because it’s so close to her eye.

I went through the forum and landed on the possibility of abscess, pox, or some kind of bug. I really have no idea! Will cinnamon’s eye be okay without intervention? Is there anything I can do for her?

All I have on hand is a drop of Revolution left, and calcium carbonate, but I can definitely buy something else if she needs it. I read some things about Betadyne, but I have never used that. Also if I’m really patient with her she does come up to my hand, if that helps!

Here is a video and some photos!

https://youtu.be/PfddsbpxlpE

[island rehabber]

She is gorgeous-- what beautiful coloring! Problem is I am at a loss as to what that white thing is. Never seen anything like it. I see no signs of mange or pox elsewhere on her... all i can say is keep an eye on it and let's see what it does

[astrll]

She is gorgeous-- what beautiful coloring! Problem is I am at a loss as to what that white thing is. Never seen anything like it. I see no signs of mange or pox elsewhere on her... all i can say is keep an eye on it and let's see what it does

Thank you for your response! She and her sisters are really beautiful — one of them has a little red in her coat too!

I will definitely keep an eye on her, and hopefully be able to get a closer look tomorrow. This evening she wasn’t getting close because of a couple stellar jays that wanted some almonds.

Process of elimination helps too! I’m glad to hear that this isn’t likely to be pox or mange.

Thanks again ❤️

[astrll]

Did a little more googling and found these articles of something called squirrel ticks and it looks really similar to what cinnamon has — except she only has one and these photos are of multiple parasites.

Ugh they’re so gross! I think this is what she has though, since we have hard shell ticks in BC. And the weather has been so warm lately, the bugs are staying longer.

Ooof, poor cinnamon. What can I do to help her? Anyone have experience with wilds and ticks?




https://bugguide.net/node/view/705136/bgimage


https://www.juneauempire.com/news/th...sucking-ticks/

[stepnstone]

A white tick is just an engorged tick, engorged ticks can have a green-grey, silver or white appearance when they are full of blood.
Ivermectin has been used to kill and control tick infestation. Reportedly, they die when feeding off a treated host and drop off in a few days

[astrll]

A white tick is just an engorged tick, engorged ticks can have a green-grey, silver or white appearance when they are full of blood.
Ivermectin has been used to kill and control tick infestation. Reportedly, they die when feeding off a treated host and drop off in a few days

Thank you for your response! Does it look like cinnamon has an engorged tick by her eye, or could it be something else? Is Ivermectin the same as Revolution? I have one drop left of Revolution that I can put on a pecan!

If Ivermectin is different, do you know where I can get it in Canada?

Thanks again!!! ❤️

[stepnstone]

I do believe that is a tick... I can not say what "type" of tick it is.

" Revolution controls tick infestations only due to the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), a tick commonly found on dogs.
There are other common species of ticks that are not killed or controlled by Revolution.
Your veterinarian can recommend appropriate products to control or kill ticks common to your area."

Ivermectin is sold in Canada also likely under different names, one I've come across is stromectol.
I don't know about there but around here one can find it at feed stores that cater to farm animals.

[astrll]

I do believe that is a tick... I can not say what "type" of tick it is.

" Revolution controls tick infestations only due to the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), a tick commonly found on dogs.
There are other common species of ticks that are not killed or controlled by Revolution.
Your veterinarian can recommend appropriate products to control or kill ticks common to your area."

Ivermectin is sold in Canada also likely under different names, one I've come across is stromectol.
I don't know about there but around here one can find it at feed stores that cater to farm animals.

Ah, I see! Thank you so much for that info, I thought Revolution was kind of a “catchall”. I found ivermectin paste — would that work? If I gave her Revolution on September 10, would the ivermectin be too soon?

https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...ste-for-horses

I think what I’ve read here in the past was the dose needs to be the size of an uncooked grain of rice. Does that apply to this paste too? How often can you give ivermectin? With the wilds I have here, there’s a couple that seem to be prone to parasites, so I have been giving them a dose of Revolution once every six weeks. Is that how ivermectin works?

Sorry for so many questions, but thank you so so much for your guidance!!

[TubeDriver]

I think Step is 100% right, that looks like a feeding tick. You want Ivermectin paste that is 1.87% strength (should say this on the tube). Try to mix the Ivermectin paste up by squeezing the tube back and forth to try and mix up the contents. You want to put a uncooked piece of rice sized amount on a treat, they will eat it because the ivermectin is flavored. You can repeat the dosing 7 days later and again with a 3rd dose after another 7-8 days. Three treatment doses, all 7-8 days apart are used for mange treatment. To kill ticks, you probably only need a single dose.

Ah, I see! Thank you so much for that info, I thought Revolution was kind of a “catchall”. I found ivermectin paste — would that work? If I gave her Revolution on September 10, would the ivermectin be too soon?

https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...ste-for-horses

I think what I’ve read here in the past was the dose needs to be the size of an uncooked grain of rice. Does that apply to this paste too? How often can you give ivermectin? With the wilds I have here, there’s a couple that seem to be prone to parasites, so I have been giving them a dose of Revolution once every six weeks. Is that how ivermectin works?

Sorry for so many questions, but thank you so so much for your guidance!!

[astrll]

I think Step is 100% right, that looks like a feeding tick. You want Ivermectin paste that is 1.87% strength (should say this on the tube). Try to mix the Ivermectin paste up by squeezing the tube back and forth to try and mix up the contents. You want to put a uncooked piece of rice sized amount on a treat, they will eat it because the ivermectin is flavored. You can repeat the dosing 7 days later and again with a 3rd dose after another 7-8 days. Three treatment doses, all 7-8 days apart are used for mange treatment. To kill ticks, you probably only need a single dose.

Thank so much! I’ll go ahead and purchase the paste then. Do you think cinnamon will be okay until it gets here?

She visited yesterday, and the tick was bigger, but still hasn’t dropped. I haven’t seen her yet today, but I’m keeping an eye out. I hope it’s not hurting her and she can last until the paste gets here.

Thanks again!!! ❤️

[TubeDriver]

The tick is more of a nuisance and gross too. Squirrels are reservoir carriers of Lyme disease which means they can carry the bacteria but do not get sick from the disease. So the tick is not going to do any real harm.

[astrll]

The ivermectin paste arrived!

I’ve read that the dose is the size of a grain of rice, but I’m scared of ivermectin! So I’m using a pin to put like a hair’s width on a pecan — MUCH smaller than a grain of rice.

I hope that amount is still helpful to her. If you all think it should be more, I can redose her in two weeks?

Thanks again everyone!

[CritterMom]

First, use the proper amount. WE are afraid of advising people incorrectly so you can be sure if we tell you an amount, it is the LEAST POSSIBLE amount to be used. Most mistakes in dosing have to do with liquid meds which are being dosed with a syringe, because most Americans are pretty clueless of the metric system and don't really understand the decimal points and that 5ml, .5ml, and .05ml are some VERY different amounts. If you make a mistake with a decimal point, you aren't just overdosing, you are giving 10 or even 100 times the proper dose! When I calculate meds and dosing for people, the instructions take a couple lines, then there are several paragraphs explaining exactly how much the dose is, where on the syringe it will come to, etc. I especially love doing that and then finding out afterward that I am speaking to a doctor!

Normally ivermectin is given as 3 doses administered once every 7-10 days. As it doesn't kill the parasite eggs, this rate allows for eggs to hatch and then be killed by the subsequent dose. So in 7 days, give her the rice sized dose.