PLEASE HELP! Beza has a lump on her throat. What can I do to help her? See photos!

[juliaE]

Beza is an adorable three year old healthy, active, and pretty smart gray squirrel who lives in our oak tree in Massachusetts. She is nursing now, her third litter I think. A couple of weeks ago I noticed she developed a swelling (lump?) on the upper part of her neck that seemed to be getting larger and slowly moving to the left side.

I also noticed that she moved her nest to the other side of the street. It's kind of far but she has been coming to our feeder to eat and drink, sometimes twice a day, so she has been crossing the street at least twice a day. This can be dangerous.

Yesterday I was surprised to see that the lump is larger and moved under her neck. I was able to touch it briefly and it felt solid. Didn't see any open wound but can't tell for sure.

I called a rehabber and asked if I could mix a tiny hint of Solid Gold Seameal on a piece of avocado. I told her she was nursing. She said it wouldn't be a problem, actually it could help. Beza ate the whole piece and drank water. She was making a funny squeak sound while drinking though.

I should have asked the rehabber about dissolving Echnacea in the water, I've done it before when Beza's mom Lola and her uncle Mo had squirrel pox few years ago, but she had already left. Shall I mix Echinacea on her water? Would that be a good idea?

Last night I was reading about the bot fly on the 2007 Mr. Ear thread "Young squirrel has a lump on his neck". If this is the case she certainly will heal. Hope it is not a tumor or an abcess.

I haven't seen her today. If anybody has a suggestion to help Beza I really appreciate.

Thanks a lot SB and everybody. This site is a real treasure!

NOTE: SORRY, I'M HAVING PROBLEMS TO ATTACH FIVE PICTURES OF BEZA'S LUMP! I'M GETTING A QUESTION MARK AND A BROKEN ICON. CAN'T FIND OPTION TO DELETE THE ATTACHMENTS. I'M USING FIREFOX VERSION 27.01 AND A IMAC OS 10.8.5.
HERE IS A LINK TO ACCESS THE PHOTOS:

[stosh2010]

NOTE: SORRY, I'M HAVING PROBLEMS TO ATTACH FIVE PICTURES OF BEZA'S LUMP! I'M GETTING A QUESTION MARK AND A BROKEN ICON. CAN'T FIND OPTION TO DELETE THE ATTACHMENTS. I'M USING FIREFOX VERSION 27.01 AND A IMAC OS 10.8.5.
HERE IS A LINK TO ACCESS THE PHOTOS:

Send pics to my e-mail--

stosh@jpcfl.com

and I'll post them here..photos always help the rehabbers.

[juliaE]

Sorry, I forgot to add the link with photos.
http://www.121pro.com/Beza/lump.html

Thanks!
JE

[SammysMom]

to TSB. It has been too cold in Mass. for it to be likely that it is a bot fly. I would more likely think it may be an abscess. Giving her good food and making water available is a good idea. Do let us know how she looks when she shows back up.

[CritterMom]

Yeah, that is an abscess. Your idea regarding immune system boosters is a good one. It will likely burst on it's own - the surrounding fur will be wet looking and the lump will have gone down and you will then know it has burst.

Your oak tree - do you have a nestbox for her? If not, I bet one would lure her back to the safety of your yard - the girls have an eye toward nice real estate.

[stosh2010]

Here are the photos from her link.

[juliaE]

to TSB. It has been too cold in Mass. for it to be likely that it is a bot fly. I would more likely think it may be an abscess. Giving her good food and making water available is a good idea. Do let us know how she looks when she shows back up.

Thanks, SammysMom!
You are right, it has been a horrible winter in Mass for us, imagine for the wildlife. Today we had snow and the crazy wind... they are terrified of wind! Maybe that's why she didn't show up today. I agree, it looks like an abcess, hopefully she will recover soon. I will post news from Beza here.

[pappy1264]

I am assume since you got snow today, you are in southern MA (I am in MA as well, but north of Boston). That does look like an abcess. Possibly from a squabble with another squirrel (perhaps why she moved her nest)? None of my regulars were out today, just too windy!

[SammysMom]

for trying to help Beza, Julia! I know I am in CT and I saw almost no squirrels out today in the howling wind. Even the one indoors was ensconced in his box today!

[farrelli]

Hello from Brookline! Yes, probably an abscess, but please keep a close eye on her as I would worry about it interfering with swallowing or breathing.

[juliaE]

I am assume since you got snow today, you are in southern MA (I am in MA as well, but north of Boston). That does look like an abcess. Possibly from a squabble with another squirrel (perhaps why she moved her nest)? None of my regulars were out today, just too windy!

Hi Puppy1264! Thanks for the reply. I was meant snow in Mass. I'm close to the Fells in North of Boston as well . Nice to meet all you guys. We did not have snow but the wind was terrible. Yes, Beza could have moved because of other squirrels, one other reason is could be raccoons, now that is time for little ones the raccoons are around. She probably knows what is best for her babies . I haven't seen her today either! Hope she comes say hi.

[juliaE]

Yeah, that is an abscess. Your idea regarding immune system boosters is a good one. It will likely burst on it's own - the surrounding fur will be wet looking and the lump will have gone down and you will then know it has burst.

Your oak tree - do you have a nestbox for her? If not, I bet one would lure her back to the safety of your yard - the girls have an eye toward nice real estate.

Hi CritterMom! Thanks for the information. How about adding Echnacea to her water? Would that be an issue since she is nursing? I'm not sure if this will affect her milk, do you think?

Yes, she has a nice pine nest ( what my husband calls "The Five Star" ) LOL! We build it for her grandfather who was orphaned, he fell from our Oak tree back in 2007. We placed the nestbox and added a ground up big cage around the tree so he could get a nice and easy adaptation period. Her mom and uncle lived there for a while and for the past year or so Beza inherited it. She was living there until a month and a half ago. Not sure exactly. She left the Five Star for her young ones (two black and two gray) to spend their first winter, and moved to a different site, in the same tree, to have her third litter. What a nice mom, hum? Maybe the young ones were giving her trouble and she moved, maybe the raccoons...

I'm probably confusing everybody. I'm sure she had a good reason to move across the street.

[juliaE]

for trying to help Beza, Julia! I know I am in CT and I saw almost no squirrels out today in the howling wind. Even the one indoors was ensconced in his box today!

Thanks, I wish I could do more

[juliaE]

Hello from Brookline! Yes, probably an abscess, but please keep a close eye on her as I would worry about it interfering with swallowing or breathing.

Hi there! So nice to meet all you guys. Yes, I know. Last time I saw her two days ago she was making that squeak noise while drinking water, as if she was catching her breath to sip. I'm concerned about that. One good thought to hold is that rodents are so strong and have a tremendous ability to properly adapt so I have faith she will be all right, and back soon. Thanks!

[stosh2010]

Praying for WARMER weather--for you...
(I don't need any more DANG warm weather ...HERE !) ]It was 84 degrees--inside the house--this morning at 4:30 am...squirrel breakfast prep time