Strange Growth

Mo has a really strange growth on his back. I would describe it as being kinda on the hip.

I noticed it recently, but haven't had a chance to get online and ask about it.

Well, tonight I noticed it is a lot bigger. It is a really dry, scratchy, scaley thing. You can see that it is literally coming out of the skin. It is about the size of a match head. It sticks out about the size of a match head too.

I've never seen anything like this. I'm really worried!!!!

It doesn't seem to bother him. I can touch it and he doesn't even make a sound. I put a lil peroxide on it, and that didn't bother him either (btw, it didn't "foam" or anything).

I'm going to try to attach a pic of it, but it is a horrible quality picture, and it was taken when I first noticed the spot. It looks kinda red in the pic, but it isn't, it is white scaley. I have tried to get a better picture, but apparently our cameras won't take a better one!

Oh, and I thought I would mention (for those of you who know Mo) he is overgrooming his head again!

Help please!

It almost looks like it has a head on it in the picture. Does it look like an abcess that needs to be popped? I would get him to a vet, ecspecially if he's overgrooming. He may be stressed by this thing, even if it doesn't hurt him, he knows it's there.

I suggest that you get him in to see a vet ASAP. If this is dry and scaley I would suggest to not apply anything to it until it has been checked out by a vet. I'm not sure as to what that could be.
Do you have a vet available? If not, here is a link to our Vet Database

I will keep Mo in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted on how he is doing.

Jennie, I don't think it is something that would just "pop"

It isn't like a pimple or anything.

I'm thinking we may be heading to the vet on my lunch break tomorow.

Thanks though.

It looks like a pimple to me.

Which is how a small abcess might look.

Yeah ... run it by a vet.

In that picture it does kinda look like a pimple, but I promise, in person it looks nothing like a pimple.

I wouldn't be so worried if it didn't look so strange!

I'll see if I can get a better pic, but I'm not having luck with my cameras.

It looks like some sort of abcess to me also, but being dry and scaly? Hmm, I curious to know what it is my self, I think a vet is a good idea, but you already knew that! I'll be thinking of Mo in my prayers!

If it is dry and scaley ... some sort of fungus (ringworm? or something like that?). Mange?

Just overstressed and over grooming?

A sore from catching it on something in the cage?

Let us know what the vet says ...

My mother said it looked something like she had seen on a cat before when one had worms of some sort.

I don't know that the overgrooming is because of this. When I brought Mo home he had practically no hair on his head or tail. I never noticed the spot until all of his hair was back (but it could have been there before... he doesn't let me handle him much).

He just started overgrooming again Friday. He has a bald patch above each eye. I think the cause of that is b/c i havent been a good mommy the past 2 or so weeks. Things have been really hectic and I haven't been able to spend time playing with my babies very much. I think Mo is depressed b/c of that. I've been giving him a lot of extra attention this week, but like I said, he doesnt let me hold him much, so I'm just now noticing the spot has grown so much.

I feel like I'm rambling... sorry.

Anyone have any more information about suggies having worms?

I've never seen worms causing anything like that. When an animal gets worms, they can show symptoms of diarreah, lethargy, bloating, not eating, excessive thirst, etc. I've not ever heard of worms that would make a show anywhere else. That doesn't even resemble ringworm which isn't a "worm" but a fungus.

Please take him to the vet ASAP! Whatever it is, he could be ill or in pain, gliders don't show you how sick they are until it's too late.

I have no idea. I've never had an animal with worms. And I learned something new today... I didn't know that ringworm isn't actually a worm, but a fungus.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I just wish I had a little more to take the the vet. Our local vet is still learning sugar gliders and doesn't know just a whole lot. but he is the only one in the area that will treat a sugar glider at all.

I would also get him to the vet as soon as possible. If it is an abcess or something else the vet can C&S the area and find out as much as he can by his examination and or lansing of the area at the time of visit. (I would only let a VET lanse the area) Mo may have an under laying infection that is trying to come out and this is how it's coming out of his system. We can only guess what this is. You are right to get him to the vet ASAP.

Please keep us posted and let us know what the results would be.

Just a couple of quick question. It doesn't look like a bite of some sort does it? Maybe a spider bite? Oh, does Mo have a cage mate? Sorry so many questions. Just want to help.

Sending healing prayers Mo's way........

Anita

My vet is a teaching vet. You might take my vet's number in with you and have your vet contact mine, maybe they can consult over the phone and he might be able to send pictures to Dr. Welch and get some help for your little Mo.
Dr. Paul Welch 918-299-8448.

I wish I had some insight for you, but I hope that your vet can figure something out for him! You are both in my thoughts and prayers that everything turns out ok!

Anita,
no, it is definately not a bite of any kind.
He does not have a cage mate, and there isn't anything in the cage that could have cut or scratched him.

And if it is just a cut, I don't know why it would grow like that in just a week or so.

What is "C&S?"

Do you have any other suggestions of tests to run? Like I said, my vet is a suggie beginner too, so I want to be as prepared as I can be when I take him.

OH thank you thank you!

That will be wonderful!

i wonder wat it is. there are many things that a sugar glider might or might not contract, and we
don't know enough information on this. so i hope everything is ok with him when he gets to the vet.
and that u can update us , on wat it is he has.
good luck.

C&S stands for Culture and Sensitivity.
You can also ask for a Urinalysis, Fecal Float/Smear. Also, have them check his ears, and teeth.

Just checking for an update. I hope all goes well at the vet today. I'll say another prayer for you and Mo!

When is he going to the vet?

I'll be looking for an update, also.

Just got back from the vet a few minutes ago.

He said he thought it was a wart and didn't think it was anything too serious (Like cancer or anything).

He froze it and said it should fall off in a few days.

The main part is gone and there is just a little bump left. But it is all red around it like it bled. I've never had a wart frozen, is it supposed to bleed or anything? I called the vet and she said she thought it was normal... but I'm not sure she understood what I meant. She said it should be "red and kinda inflamed" and I told her it looked like blood in the hair surrounding and she just said it sounded normal.

It has dried already, I'm thinking that on our way back Mo was messing with it... maybe he made it bleed.

What do you all think... I don't know anything about this sort of thing.


Thanks everyone for the prayers and encouraging words!



Oh yeah... the vet took a close look and Mo is most definately a boy... nuetered! I'm so glad to finally have that mystery 100% solved!

I just had to have a wart frozen off my son's hand, and when the wart fell off, it bled a little and looked "raw" underneath. I'd suggest an ecollar until it's healed if it's a spot he can get to with his teeth.

I'm so glad it was nothing serious! I agree, an ecollar is probably a good idea.

Anytime there is discomfort or pain, a glider may overgroom.

I don't have more insight, but from what I know, warts are caused by a virus, and I don't know that that virus can cross species. Hopefully having it gone will take care of it. Let us know how he does healing. You may want to put some PLAIN neosporin or silver sulfazadine (SSD) cream on it to speed healing. I don't think a collar is necessary unless he starts to mess with it. If it recurs, you might want to have your vet consult with a more experienced one (I think I read yours wasn't real experienced with gliders?)- this is something I haven't heard of before. Also, if it IS a wart-they are contagious (since they are virus caused) and cagemates or other gliders could be at risk also. Please keep us updated.

Mo is healing wonderfully.

The wart has completely fallen off and all that is left is a big red spot, which the vet said would be there.

Xfilefan pointed out that warts are contagious b/c they are caused by a virus.
Well, I had just swapped Mo and Leela's pouches (I'm trying to start the intro process for them), so should I be concerned about Leela developing warts. Mo's pouch was in her cage for just about 2 or 3 days, but he has had this spot for a while.

While typing that I already know the answer to my question: Keep a close check on her and if I notice anything, get her to a vet.


Thanks again for all the encouragement and prayers!

Kim so glad all turned out good for you and Mo!!!

I also wanted to say that I am glad yal liked the swing and 2nd cube. I thought that since the 1st cube was a hit I would do a second one for you since you have 4 cages.