GROWTH UNDER TESTICLES - NEED HELP

[miko]

Any advice is appreciated!!!

I’m in a state that doesn’t see squirrels at the vet. My baby is 6 years old (February was his birthday) and I’ve noticed there is a growth between his testicles & anus. It’s about the size of 2 dimes & it’s hard to the touch. It doesn’t seem to bother him or is painful in any way. His fur on his stomach/underside is thinning & falling out. It also seems to be thinning on his inner thighs/legs. He doesn’t seem to be itching/biting any more than usual. He’s been losing weight lately and he’s a little thinner/bonier than I’d prefer for him to be. He’s been very active & playful lately so I assumed it was due to exercise. He doesn’t seem lethargic in any way, though his anxiety seems to be spiking randomly. I’m really worried and not sure what I can do.

Google searches seem to indicate that it could be a fungal infection or hormonal imbalance. The house we live in had a mold problem recently that our landlord treated. I’m wondering if that could have anything to do with a fungal infection. It also appears that mites could cause some of these symptoms. He had mites about 3 years ago due to the apartment we were living in having a mouse problem. I gave him baths daily in scabies soap and he hasn’t had a problem (that I’m aware of) since. I can’t find any information about whether they could’ve gone deeper than just skin irritation.

Any advice or help is so very appreciated. I’m missing work because I’m so worried about him. I’ve attempted to call 8 different exotic pet vets and none of them see or treat squirrels. I’m desperate to find out what’s wrong and what I can do to help. He’s my whole world.

[CritterMom]

First things first. Can you get some GOOD, CLEAR photos of the area so we can see what you are seeing? Different angles and as close as you can get with clear focus.

[miko]

Here's a picture of his fur missing

[miko]

First things first. Can you get some GOOD, CLEAR photos of the area so we can see what you are seeing? Different angles and as close as you can get with clear focus.

Hi yes!! I'll attempt to get some of the growth in just a little bit (I ran to the store to get coconut & meal worms cus I read those can help) I just uploaded one of his fur missing! Thank you for responding!

[miko]

Here's a different angle - I'm not sure if you can see the growth any more here

[CritterMom]

Does he lay somewhere that leaves him lying in his own urine? Like a solid shelf he pees on and then lays in? His fur looks wet and urine will absolutely burn the fur off.

I can't see the lump you are referring to.

So just to get started on something, I would suggest you run to the drug store to the area where the stuff for wound care is, and buy a bottle of 10% povidone iodine. The "brand" name is Betadyne but most drug stores sell their store brans a little cheaper. It looks like a squeeze bottle full of blood!

I would mix it at 1/2 teaspoon of the Betadyne to 1/4 cup water. Use a cotton ball and use it to completely wipe the entire bare area down. You want to saturate the skin. Let it dry naturally. It is gonna dry him orange for a while. I would do it twice a day if he will let you or at least once a day if he really puts up a fuss. It tackles bacterial and fungal issues, so if that is causing this, it will help. It doesn't sting and burn. A week shoould tell you if there are improvements.

So male squirrels have scent glands. They do what looks like a dog with impacted anal glands - butt scooting - to leave their scent on surfaces. These glands look like cashews - I only know this because long ago, one of our members vet surgically removed their squirrel's because he didn't know what they were! They are located on either side of the anus, are are positioned like parenthesis around the anus. Could that be what you are seeing or is it elsewhere?

[miko]

Does he lay somewhere that leaves him lying in his own urine? Like a solid shelf he pees on and then lays in? His fur looks wet and urine will absolutely burn the fur off.

I can't see the lump you are referring to.

So just to get started on something, I would suggest you run to the drug store to the area where the stuff for wound care is, and buy a bottle of 10% povidone iodine. The "brand" name is Betadyne but most drug stores sell their store brans a little cheaper. It looks like a squeeze bottle full of blood!

I would mix it at 1/2 teaspoon of the Betadyne to 1/4 cup water. Use a cotton ball and use it to completely wipe the entire bare area down. You want to saturate the skin. Let it dry naturally. It is gonna dry him orange for a while. I would do it twice a day if he will let you or at least once a day if he really puts up a fuss. It tackles bacterial and fungal issues, so if that is causing this, it will help. It doesn't sting and burn. A week shoould tell you if there are improvements.

So male squirrels have scent glands. They do what looks like a dog with impacted anal glands - butt scooting - to leave their scent on surfaces. These glands look like cashews - I only know this because long ago, one of our members vet surgically removed their squirrel's because he didn't know what they were! They are located on either side of the anus, are are positioned like parenthesis around the anus. Could that be what you are seeing or is it elsewhere?

hey there!! I spent a while last night trying to upload the pictures I got of the area but it doesn’t seem to like my phone, I’m going to attempt to upload them when I get to my computer at work, it sounds like it could very well be scent glands but they’ve never been this large before - is that something i should be concerned about? he has been butt scooting a lot more often lately, do you know if they can get compacted or anything like that?

I also just read one of the forums that was saying ivermectin is dangerous for squirrels that have seizures/tremors and I realized I never put it on my original post that he was a calcium deficiency baby. he hadn’t had any seizures for about 4-5 years, tremors or twitches are most common but he had a seizure again about a month ago that I also took off work for. I’ve been giving him even more calcium & he seems to be doing fine in that aspect, but I just wanted to double check that the betadyne is still safe for tremor babies! I never thought about it until I read about the ivermectin!

his cage does have solid shelves in it & that’s where his litter box is, he does tend to pee on the shelves but the doors stay open & he free-roams, I think I’ve seen him laying on the shelf once or twice in the past month but I try to clorox them often.. could that still be it? I’ve also noticed he’s had a tendency to “piddle” lately or leak as he walks - it’s not a full pee, just a few drops as he’s moving, but I imagine that’s sticking to his fur as he’s going.. it looks like he almost lowers himself to drag his undercarriage in it? & he always turns around to smell and/or lick it afterwards.. I’m praying that’s normal too lol.

Thank you so much for all of your help, it’s taken my anxiety down tremendously just to know that someone has an idea of what’s happening ♥️

[Charley Chuckles]

I just saw the part about sent glands. Not to scare you as my Charley Chuckles had spinal issues but my vet ended up removing his sent glands and she showed them to me they looked like big plastic marbles. They were preventing him from pooping 🙄
Again he had different issues.

[CritterMom]

hey there!! I spent a while last night trying to upload the pictures I got of the area but it doesn’t seem to like my phone, I’m going to attempt to upload them when I get to my computer at work, it sounds like it could very well be scent glands but they’ve never been this large before - is that something i should be concerned about? he has been butt scooting a lot more often lately, do you know if they can get compacted or anything like that?

I also just read one of the forums that was saying ivermectin is dangerous for squirrels that have seizures/tremors and I realized I never put it on my original post that he was a calcium deficiency baby. he hadn’t had any seizures for about 4-5 years, tremors or twitches are most common but he had a seizure again about a month ago that I also took off work for. I’ve been giving him even more calcium & he seems to be doing fine in that aspect, but I just wanted to double check that the betadyne is still safe for tremor babies! I never thought about it until I read about the ivermectin!

his cage does have solid shelves in it & that’s where his litter box is, he does tend to pee on the shelves but the doors stay open & he free-roams, I think I’ve seen him laying on the shelf once or twice in the past month but I try to clorox them often.. could that still be it? I’ve also noticed he’s had a tendency to “piddle” lately or leak as he walks - it’s not a full pee, just a few drops as he’s moving, but I imagine that’s sticking to his fur as he’s going.. it looks like he almost lowers himself to drag his undercarriage in it? & he always turns around to smell and/or lick it afterwards.. I’m praying that’s normal too lol.

Thank you so much for all of your help, it’s taken my anxiety down tremendously just to know that someone has an idea of what’s happening ♥️

Oh, yes, Betadyne is fine - it isn't given orally, it is strictly a skin/wound disinfectant. If you have ever awakened from surgery and it looked like someone painted the surgical site orange, you have used betadyne.

It is right now mating season, so sniffing, scooting to territory mark, piddling to do the same and yes, they MUST sniff and even lick it (just in case someone else's pee came out of them???) is all pretty normal.

My first squirrel was named Mister P and the P stood for Peepants. He loved to pee on top of his nest box. He loved to lay on top of his nest box. These things happened at the same time, and his tummy was just nasty - brownish and stinky. He got a thorough bath which nearly killed one of us and I got rid of his wooden top nestbox (there was no saving that) and all of his wooden shelves and pancaking sites got cotton placemats on them. They were replaced daily and pitched in the squirrel wash and his tummy got white and I didn't smell squirrel pee all the time!

[miko]

Oh, yes, Betadyne is fine - it isn't given orally, it is strictly a skin/wound disinfectant. If you have ever awakened from surgery and it looked like someone painted the surgical site orange, you have used betadyne.

It is right now mating season, so sniffing, scooting to territory mark, piddling to do the same and yes, they MUST sniff and even lick it (just in case someone else's pee came out of them???) is all pretty normal.

My first squirrel was named Mister P and the P stood for Peepants. He loved to pee on top of his nest box. He loved to lay on top of his nest box. These things happened at the same time, and his tummy was just nasty - brownish and stinky. He got a thorough bath which nearly killed one of us and I got rid of his wooden top nestbox (there was no saving that) and all of his wooden shelves and pancaking sites got cotton placemats on them. They were replaced daily and pitched in the squirrel wash and his tummy got white and I didn't smell squirrel pee all the time!

That’s a good idea!! I’ll have to look into something like that.. he has a cat tower currently that I don’t believe he’s peeing on but I guess I can’t be too sure.. I’m running to the store now to get the Betadyne, should I give him baths in conjunction with the treatment? He’s not a fan but he tolerates me at least.. I’m really hoping that’s what’s happening & I’ll be able to get him back to normal soon. I ended up staying home from work again today from my own illness so I haven’t been able to upload the pictures - I’m gonna attempt to have my boyfriend upload them on his computer when he comes over. He also thinks Miko’s been pooping less & I’m worried that might be why his glands are swollen (if that’s what the problem is - it’s sounding like it is)

[miko]

I just saw the part about sent glands. Not to scare you as my Charley Chuckles had spinal issues but my vet ended up removing his sent glands and she showed them to me they looked like big plastic marbles. They were preventing him from pooping 🙄
Again he had different issues.

Oh gosh! My boyfriend thinks he’s been pooping less lately, we’ve been wondering if he might be backed up.. Is there anything that you know of that you can feed them to help with that? I’ve been trying to have him eat more beans but I’m not sure it’s working lol. The glands definitely look larger than usual. I don’t want them to get worse especially because removal doesn’t sound like it’ll be an option for us

[Charley Chuckles]

Oh gosh! My boyfriend thinks he’s been pooping less lately, we’ve been wondering if he might be backed up.. Is there anything that you know of that you can feed them to help with that? I’ve been trying to have him eat more beans but I’m not sure it’s working lol. The glands definitely look larger than usual. I don’t want them to get worse especially because removal doesn’t sound like it’ll be an option for us

I gave Charley Chuckles pumpkin from a can, possibly coconut oil

[TomahawkFlyers]

I gave Charley Chuckles pumpkin from a can, possibly coconut oil

Excellent suggestions. I would add that if your boy is peeing a lot while in the throes of mating season, he can easily become dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the things that cause constipation. Get as much water into him as he will take. Then offer some more. A little drop of honey in warm water will sweeten the deal and make him want to drink more. Easy on the honey - you don't want a diabetic squirrel on your hands. Give him some watermelon. He won't know or care that it's out of season.

For what it's worth, during mating season here in the land of the Tomahawk Flyers, the number of times we need to replenish water sources gets close to ridiculous. Years ago when our little friends found us, we were confounded by this and it took us awhile to put 2 and 2 together - but then the pattern and cause became crystal clear. X liquid out requires X liquid in.

Jamie