DSN: Dermal Septic Necrosis

DSN; Dermal Septic Necrosis:

DSN is a FATAL disease! It can be caused by any number of different bacterias that have entered the body; a scratch, bite or other injury to the skin, or a broken tooth. If you suspect your possum has this, it is imperative that he/she is seen by a Vet asap. DSN sores can be found all over the body, not just on the ears. Possums with DSN need to be on antibiotics (both internally and externally).

These are images of DSN: AKA: Crispy Ear:

Photographs By; Katelin Welles and Racquel Ringling

DSN on the fingers, body and tail:

Here is little Clay who lost 1/2 of his tail to infection while he was in my care, due to his incessant chewing at it. We had to have a large part of his tail amputated because of it. When he went to reside at my friend’s house, he later had to have some of his toes amputated as well.

Clay's hind end is lame and despite all attempts to keep him from doing so, he kept chewing at his back feet. The toes had to be amputated. He did very well after that point, and as you can see, it didn't affect his appetite!

LEROY'S STORY

As told to me by Brenda Ice 3/21/2006

Leroy came to me from a woman who is also a rehabber in a neighboring town. Her thing is bats and she just didn't know what to do with him. He wasn't using his back legs, but otherwise healthy except for a small wound or two, at least this was what I was told on the phone. When we met and I got a look at the little fellow I saw that he had more than one or two little wounds -he had been grabbed by something big, probably a hawk. The wounds were deep and in a pattern of a claw. He was pretty thin but calm. He has never been very nervous except if you move over his head! He appeared to be about 3 or 4 months old and small for his age.

The vet checked him out and said that the injuries would heal ok and maybe he would regain use of his legs. He couldn't find any broken bones and the spine wasn't severed or broken. It could be swollen tissue pressing on the nerves that was causing the paralysis or it could be permanent. Only time would tell.

Well, time did tell-he was paralyzed. No other issues, healthy a really good little fellow didn't seem to make a big deal out of not having the use of his back legs. The only problem he had was this tail thing behind him that really seemed to bother him. It would jerk around sometimes all on it's own, or so it seemed.

He began to lick it a lot and then one day there was a small sore then a bigger sore then a really large sore. So out came the creams and more creams a visit to the vet-another cream antibiotics bandages. Nothing deterred him from making the area bigger and bigger. It would start to heal and then he was at it again.

When I found a bed full of blood-well maybe not full, but lots for a little fellow, one morning I knew we had to do something more. I wrote to just about everyone to ask opinions, consulted the vet and even had a talk with Leroy. What it boiled down to, was I was going to have to make the decision to remove half of his tail. I was afraid he would chew it off and bleed out before I found him. He had actually narrowed the tail in the middle by about half!

So surgery was scheduled and done successfully. His tail is healing nicely and so far he is leaving it alone. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Leroy Before Surgery:

Pictures Compliments of: Brenda Ice

Pictures of Leroy getting his tail shortened because of a DSN infection:

Treatment:

Please consult a Vet or Wildlife rehabber knowledgeable in this species. DO NOT take it upon yourself to administer any medication to a possum without knowing what you are doing.

In Babies:

Treatment protocol is to use amoxicillan, or clavamox . Baytril (Enrofloxacin) should be avoided in babies as it can adversely effect their growth. Bathing the animal with MicroTek shampoo, and using silver sulfadiazine cream on the skin lesions is advised.

In Adults:

Amoxicillan, Clavamox, or Baytril (Enrofloxacin). Bathing the animal with MicroTek shampoo, and using Manuka honey, sugar. or silver sulfadiazine cream on the skin lesions is advised. ALWAYS start with either Amoxicillan or Clavamox....never treat first with the more heavy hitter antibiotics like Baytril. This is why so many diseases are becoming antibiotic resistant.

I have not had great success with amoxicillan in adults, and had to resort to either Clavamox or a course of injectable Baytril to rid the animal of this disease. If you do use injectable baytril, it is very important that you draw up some sterile saline in the syringe with the Baytril to help prevent the skin from breaking down at the injection site.