Possible cyst above eye

[Sarah Hancock]

ve

Hi,

I have and adult female fox squirrel (1118 gr) at intake 6 days ago.
She had a cloudy eye and I wasn't certain at first but I think it may be a cyst around the upper eye. It feels more firm than soft. There was what appeared a cut just above the eye itself so I am thinking she got attacked or into a fight.
I've tried to attach pictures. One of, "day one" and another today. Hopefully they show. I started her on Baytril and Ofloxacin eye drops upon intake. The cloudy has improved very much and discharge has stopped so far.
However, the mass around the eye (cyst?) has me wondering what to do. She is wild and so I can't do hot compresses. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. I'm considering switching antibiotics after 7 days. I have clavamox, SMZ or Amoxicillian but have been told no "cillian".

Thank you

[Sarah Hancock]

ve

Hi,

I have and adult female fox squirrel (1118 gr) at intake 6 days ago.
She had a cloudy eye and I wasn't certain at first but I think it may be a cyst around the eye. It feels more firm than soft. There was what appeared a cut just above the eye itself so I am thinking she got attacked or into a fight.
I've tried to attach pictures. One of, "day one" and another today. Hopefully they show. I started her on Baytril and Ofloxacin eye drops upon intake. The cloudy eye has improved very much and discharge has stopped so far.
However, the mass around the eye (cyst?) has me wondering what to do. She is wild and so I can't do hot compresses. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. I'm considering switching antibiotics after 7 days. I have clavamox, SMZ or Amoxicillian but have been told no "cillian".

Thank you

And I have prednisone but dont know that would be appropriate as an inflammatory. Sorry, I forgot to mention she is also on metacam.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi,

I have and adult female fox squirrel (1118 gr) at intake 6 days ago.
She had a cloudy eye and I wasn't certain at first but I think it may be a cyst around the upper eye. It feels more firm than soft. There was what appeared a cut just above the eye itself so I am thinking she got attacked or into a fight.
I've tried to attach pictures. One of, "day one" and another today. Hopefully they show. I started her on Baytril and Ofloxacin eye drops upon intake. The cloudy has improved very much and discharge has stopped so far.
However, the mass around the eye (cyst?) has me wondering what to do. She is wild and so I can't do hot compresses. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. I'm considering switching antibiotics after 7 days. I have clavamox, SMZ or Amoxicillian but have been told no "cillian".

Thank you

Hi Sarah Hancock and thank you for finding The Squirrel Board! Please note that I am not a Veterinarian and not an ophthalmologist (an eye specialist). From what you have written, I too suspect an attack or injury of some sort involving her right eye and the surrounding skin. Consistent with that "working explanation" I am doubtful that the mass you are feeling on her eyelid is a true cyst but an abscess which is a pus pocket which is cystic (filled with fluid) nevertheless! Also, being consistent with the assumption that there was an injury of some sort to this Squirrels eye and surrounding skin; The cloudiness may be from a number of resultant conditions. Ideally, this Squirrel should be evaluated by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist or at least a Veterinarian who has experience with small rodents (if not Squirrels) and who has the equipment and knowledge to perform a thorough eye examination. I know that this is usually just a dream but if it is possible to have this Squirrel seen by a professional, it would be the best option!

Does the cloudiness seem to be of the cornea itself (the ordinarily clear part of the eye) or does the cloudiness seem to be behind the cornea and more inside the eye? Is there any drainage from the eye or from the involved skin around the eye? Does the Squirrel seem to be light sensitive (avoiding being in bright light, holding the eyelids closed)? Can you see any definitive injury to the eye such as a scratch or some sort of defect?

Assuming that there was a scratch on the eye itself and an infection has ensued; Ofloxacin is a good choice for a topical ophthalmic antibiotic and is often my preference for use with rodents with eye infections such as a corneal ulcer or for use with eye conditions that are high risk for an infection to develop such as a corneal scratch. Frequency of Ofloxacin dosing usually depends upon the diagnosis. As we do not yet have a definitive diagnosis, there are number of options. I can give you some of these if you prefer but dosing instructions are given on TSB through Private Messages only and not put on the Open Board.

Ordinarily, steroids should not be used in the eye and systemic steroids are not used for eye injuries. One major exception to this is if the cloudiness may be from uveitis which is an inflammation of some of the structures in the "middle layer" of the eye and this can result from trauma and from many other causes as well.

Please keep us up to date on how your Squirrel is doing!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

However, the mass around the eye (cyst?) has me wondering what to do. She is wild and so I can't do hot compresses. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. I'm considering switching antibiotics after 7 days. I have clavamox, SMZ or Amoxicillian but have been told no "cillian".

Hello again Sarah:
I am at work and my time is kinda divided! I apparently neglected to make some other comments about the mass, the antibiotic plans and the use of steroids systemically with the prednisone.

IF the mass is an abscess as I feel it may be, antibiotics do not as a rule penetrate into an abscess very well and these are usually drained by a surgical procedure called an Incision and Drainage (I&D) but this is a small mass and antibiotics may indeed be beneficial. I would not suggest performing an I&D near the eye or near any other particularly vulnerable area without sedation and this would be best done by a Veterinarian. Abscess do commonly drain spontaneously and this may occur which would be a decided benefit!

In regard to the steroids and the use of Metacam; these two families of antiinflammatory medications should NEVER be used together systemically. Metacam is an NSAID (a Nonsteroidal antiiflammatory drug) and Prednisone is obviously a steroidal antiinflammatory medications. Again, NSAIDs and Steroids should NOT be used together!

Antibiotics that may be beneficial for treating a skin infection of even the abscess include the Baytril you are currently using and the Clavamox and SMZ/TMP as well. Plain Amoxicillin is not an ideal antibiotic for this purpose. I have some sort of understanding where the "no cillins" originated but there really is no family of medication called "cillins!" There is the Penicillin family of course, and this includes amoxicillin, Clavamox, and various types of Penicillin along with many other antibiotics. We frequently utilize Clavamox (this is a Veterinary brand of Amoxicillin plus Clavulanate) or plain amoxicillin for treating certain infections in Squirrels so the "no cillins" is really NOT a valid "no-no!" One particular formulation of Penicillin called Procaine Penicillin which is incidentally given IM, not orally should ordinarily NOT be given to Rats and Mice and as such, IMHO should NOT be given to Squirrels either!

It may be worth trying a different antibiotic and if that is what you would like to do; my suggestion would be to chose the Clavamox. If you would like some dosing recommendations please post the weight of the Squirrel and the formulation and strength of the Clavamox you have. One of us will then send mixing and doing instructions to you via a Private Message as all mixing and doing instructions on TSB are communicated by PM.

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Sarah Hancock]

Thank you for the reply. I will move forward with Clavamox and will see over the next few days if there's improvement. As far as they eye, when she came in the entire eye was cloudy due to what I believe was an infection. I don't see any visible scratches and it has cleared very well. I have also been trying to reach an eye specialist who also rehabilitates squirrel. Thanks again for your time and the information received.

Sarah

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Thank you for the reply. I will move forward with Clavamox and will see over the next few days if there's improvement. As far as they eye, when she came in the entire eye was cloudy due to what I believe was an infection. I don't see any visible scratches and it has cleared very well. I have also been trying to reach an eye specialist who also rehabilitates squirrel. Thanks again for your time and the information received.

Sarah

Thanks Sarah! Please keep on eith updates!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel