Sugar Glider Community Calendar

Please click here to see larger view
Articles
More coming soon!!
Today's Birthdays
B1u3sky, StellaLuna
Member Spotlight
Feather
Feather
Wisconsin
Posts: 13,979
Joined: January 2008
Show All Member Profiles 
Last 10 Posts
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Feather. 03/27/24 07:04 PM
Logging in Problem
by Feather. 03/26/24 06:07 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Hutch. 03/16/24 11:51 PM
Wheels, Toys, Toy supplies, pouches and more.
by Ladymagyver. 03/07/24 11:16 PM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:52 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Hutch. 03/04/24 12:12 AM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 02/29/24 08:55 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 02/27/24 04:23 PM
Google+

Facebook
Join Us On Facebook
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Clostridium! #18016
02/24/04 07:21 PM
02/24/04 07:21 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I've seen a couple mentions of clostridium on the board, but not a whole lot of info on what it is, what causes it, and what can be done about it...

Well, as most of you know, Kai has been sick a couple times in the past, but we never got an actual diagnosis. We figured it was something bacterial because nothing helped until we tried Baytril and Flagyl on him. Well, he got sick again last week, and we decided to do the one thing we hadn't done before, which is a culture and sensitivity. (We didn't do it before b/c the vet said it wouldn't show anything if he didn't have diarrhea...) The results came back today and it is clostridium. So I did a little research and came up with some info about clostridium that specifically pertains to my case (Kai), but that I thought would be important to share with you guys.

First of all, there are different strains of Clostridium, two of which cause tetanus and botulism <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> The vet said they found 2 strains in Kai, but I'm not sure which two...I'll get more details tomorrow.

Causes:

http://www.cehs.siu.edu/fix/medmicro/clost.htm
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
C. difficile: Pseudomembranous colitis (PC) results predominantly as a consequence of the elimination of normal intestinal flora through antibiotic therapy. Symptoms include abdominal pain with a watery diarrhea and leukocytosis

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/path/00001496.htm
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
C. difficile
Clostridium difficile is a motile bacterium that can be part of the natural intestinal flora. Infection can occur through the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics which lower the relative amount of other normal gut flora. When this situation occurs, C. difficile proliferates and infects the large intestine. The bacterium then releases two enterotoxins that destroy the intestinal lining and cause diarrhea.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

http://www.animal-haven.com/ConstDia.htm
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Stress can cause an overgrowth of clostridium, a naturally occurring bacteria in the stomach and intestine.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Prevention:

http://www.avianbiotech.com/diseases/clostridium.htm
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Minimize stress and overcrowding; Provide proper ventilation; Prevent malnutrition with a proper diet.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Treatment:

http://www.anmldr.com/PalmVet/SA-18-7-8-9.htm#clostridium
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Ampicillin, amoxicillin or metronidazole given for 7 days will resolve most acute cases. Animals with chronic disease may require antibiotics for several weeks. The addition of fiber to the diet also appears to help resolve and perhaps prevent reoccurrence. Soluble fiber, in particular, increases volatile fatty acids in the colon, thereby decreasing colonic pH which tends to inhibit proliferation and sporulation of C perfringens.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

And one last bit of info... </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Clostridium perfringens - This organism is capable of producing type (A, B, C, D, and E) toxins that can causes necrosis of
the surrounding tissue including muscular tissue. The bacteria themselves produce gas that leads to bubbly deformations of the infected tissue. C. perfringens is capable of necrotizing intestinal tissue and can release an enterotoxin that may lead to severe diarrhea.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> which, if you remember, sounds an awfully lot like what happened to Kylie...

So...make SURE if you have a sick glider, you get a culture and sensitivity run. Having a diagnosis is half the battle!!

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18017
02/24/04 07:39 PM
02/24/04 07:39 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Let me get this straight... It looks like the cause of this is from taking antibiotics that eliminate the normal intestinal flora but the treatment is to take MORE antibiotics?????

I hope that your baby is fine now that the diagnosis has been made!!!

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18018
02/24/04 07:50 PM
02/24/04 07:50 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Traci...it looks like that CAN be the cause of ONE of the strains...that's why it's usually suggested that you feed yogurt after giving antibiotics, because the yogurt replenishes the GOOD bacteria in the digestive system.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18019
02/24/04 08:06 PM
02/24/04 08:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Charlie H Offline
Glider Slave
Charlie H  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Amie there was recently a post by big ern about the use of probiotics. Although I am not strong on their use, in this case you might ask your vet about their use. Also the Stoneyfield yogurt is supposed to be a better grade of yogurt for supplimenting with live bacteria cultures.
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
[]glidertree@toast.net[/]
Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18020
02/25/04 12:36 AM
02/25/04 12:36 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I havent had any experience with this in gliders, but this has happened to me before. I was on an antibiotic after surgery, and apparently if you're on them too long they start destroying the good bacteri in your body allowing the others to take over.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18021
02/25/04 01:05 AM
02/25/04 01:05 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Amie, does your baby have toys in with her that would come apart in small pieces? I noticed in one of the links you posted it had said something about that as being one of the things that could cause this. Other then that I really could not see anything Else there that you might have missed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. All the other causes are pretty basic and normally things we watch out for already <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> I guess we will have to wait and see what the vet finds. I wish we had a smiley graemlin with a thinking hat on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I sure do have mine on <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Please let us now what he says.

I am also glad that everything turned out okay for your <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> baby.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18022
02/25/04 03:03 AM
02/25/04 03:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,071
u.s.a.
the gliders angel Offline
Glider Addict
the gliders angel  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,071
u.s.a.
im a big beleivver in yogurt i giv e mine daily yogurt like charlie said i use stoneyfield they get about half tsp. daily. darcy lived on yogurt and ensure when he was very sick. and thats all that kept him alive.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18023
02/25/04 03:08 AM
02/25/04 03:08 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



the gliders angel,

Is this a brand of yogurt in your area or do you special order it? I have never heard of this brand before this is why I ask.

Thanks, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18024
02/25/04 03:40 PM
02/25/04 03:40 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Targeted antibiotics can be used to reduce the amount of clostridium in the glider. Too much yogurt on a regular basis can cause runny stools. Keeping your cages, toys, food, and water devices clean and sanitized regularly is a good preventative. I have a glider have this which was caused by overdosing my gliders on baytril ( the vet made an error writing the prescription). This eventually weakened one joey to the point where the infection she originally had caused sever neurological damage and seizures and I had to put her down.

Ushuaia

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18025
02/25/04 04:13 PM
02/25/04 04:13 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



My little sister had htis happen to her when she was a year old... she was in the hospital for a week.. i can't imagine what it can do to a glider.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18026
02/25/04 11:51 PM
02/25/04 11:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,071
u.s.a.
the gliders angel Offline
Glider Addict
the gliders angel  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,071
u.s.a.
boots. to answer your question. i buy stoneyfield farms in most supermkts. if they dont have it a local health food shop has it. but i find it in most supermkts. usually on an upper shelf by the yogurts. i also use yoplait custard style they love strawberry flavor. but the yoplait in the custard only has a higher calcium cotent than the other yoplaits. or dannon or others thats why i buy that one only. and most gliders dont finish all their bml at least mine dont always eat it all.

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18027
02/27/04 04:33 AM
02/27/04 04:33 AM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Pockets Offline
Glider Slave
Pockets  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
After discussing this with an Aussy wildcare friend she thought that perhaps we need to know that -
( 1 ) capsule of acidophillus equals( 22 )tubs of yogurt.
Carers might be better to use 1 capsule of the powder in either each bottle of the formula or sprinkled on fruit.


:grey: We will be known forever by the tracks we leave :grey:

Re: Clostridium! [Re: Devil_Bunny_Girl] #18028
02/29/04 03:44 AM
02/29/04 03:44 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Wouldn't there be a chance of overdosing them if it is equal 22:1 compared to yogurts? How much is needed so as not to overdose?

Ushuaia

Re: Clostridium! [Re: ] #18029
02/29/04 12:39 PM
02/29/04 12:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Pockets Offline
Glider Slave
Pockets  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
I would imagine that the answer to that is yes they could overdose & the amount prescribed would depend on each individual case.
The <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s digestive systems are not totally reliable on gut flora & I would advise <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> caretaketers to speak with their veterinarians in regards to a prescribed amount of the acidophillus powder capsule.

(I was speaking with her about the Clostridium topic)


:grey: We will be known forever by the tracks we leave :grey:

Update on Kai... [Re: Devil_Bunny_Girl] #18030
03/15/04 04:17 PM
03/15/04 04:17 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Update:

Well, 2 weeks after the original culture (and after 7 days of treatment w/ Baytril & Flagyl), we did another culture, and it came back negative for Clostridium (or anything else). He has also been gaining weight, from 82 at the second vet visit (about 2 weeks ago) to 87 a week later here at home, to 92/93 last night!

Re: Update on Kai... [Re: ] #18031
03/19/04 04:37 AM
03/19/04 04:37 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



[:"purple"] Amie:

Hi... Well Rocket Man's C&S showed negative for anything on Rocket Man, but I really believe he must have had this... his bowels were runny a bit the night b4 and very smelly, all his tests came back negative for any infection, but he's been on a combo of batryl/metrodiazonal, and he's 90% better!!!!!

I am concerned tho... you or someone mentioned for 7 days... the dr. originally told me once a day for 3 weeks... I'm sure once I call him tomorrow he will tell me to discontinue it, but what do I do if he's getting so much better... do you think 3 weeks is too long? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> [/]

Re: Update on Kai... [Re: ] #18032
03/19/04 01:38 PM
03/19/04 01:38 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I'm glad Rocket Man is doing so well! That's great! About the meds, 2 weeks is really the longest I've ever heard of giving them...and that's really a "just in case" measure...I'm not sure if anything bad could happen with giving them for 3 weeks or not...

It is strange that they didn't find anything...but I guess the important thing is that he's getting better! Was the C&S run before the meds were given?

Re: Update on Kai... [Re: ] #18033
03/20/04 11:43 AM
03/20/04 11:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
KattyM Offline
Serious Glideritis
KattyM  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
Wow, interesting thread! Glad to hear Rocket Man's doing better!


Forever owned in my heart by my :grey: "Eight is Enough" colony:

:rbridge:
• 2002: Keiko (F) + 2003: Hiroshi (M) = 2004: joey Tomoki (M)
• 2009: Sammy (F), Charlie (F), Murray (M), Herbie (M)
• 2010: BJ (M)
Re: Update on Kai... [Re: ] #18034
03/22/04 03:43 PM
03/22/04 03:43 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



[:"purple"] Amie,

No meds had been given him except the Neocalgucon (sp?)
So other than that it was a clean sample. The vet said it had to have been one of those false negs so to continue the meds as long as he's doing better. So I guess I will! Last night tho he worried me as he didn't want to wake up and play until 3:30am, But then he was as alive as ever! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Katty:

Thanks!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> [/]


Moderated by  Feather, KarenE, Ladymagyver 

Sugar Glider Help Page



Please click above to see how you can help!!

Moon
CURRENT MOON
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 383 guests, and 88 spiders.
Key: , , Owner, Admin
Newest Members
Mellefrl, klowvrrr, gracefulguardian, KiyokoTheDoll, Hazelneko
7324 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums132
Topics10,374
Posts159,160
posts in the last 24hrs0
Members7,324
Most Online2,693
Jan 2nd, 2020
Last 10 New Topics
Logging in Problem
by Anonymous. 03/24/24 11:43 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:50 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Mellefrl. 03/04/24 02:39 PM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 08/15/23 02:37 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Ladymagyver. 05/25/21 09:57 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 02/12/19 11:35 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 06/03/14 10:25 AM
Popular Topics(Views)
849,554 TEXAS
679,070 OHIO
487,140 OKLAHOMA
432,145 UTAH
321,667 NORTH CAROLINA
Supported Browser
This site was tested and is best viewed in Google Chrome & Mozilla FireFox



Firefox 3

Download your copy today!!!
Home Forums Links Sitemap Vets Breeders Sounds Contact Us Names Rules & Policies

GliderCENTRAL
©1998-2024
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software
(Release build 20180918)
Page Time: 0.039s Queries: 14 (0.015s) Memory: 1.3808 MB (Peak: 1.6326 MB) Zlib enabled. Server Time: 2024-03-28 12:05:27 UTC