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Re: Meeko's cagemate has died!!!
[Re: SarahW]
#188373
12/19/06 05:36 PM
12/19/06 05:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542 Norman, OK
SarahW
OP
Glider Lover
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OP
Glider Lover
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542
Norman, OK
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Here's the news from the vet: The vet saw the girls today, checked their lungs and heart and activity levels, and palpated their abdomens. He said their lungs were clear, and their organs felt normal. We asked for a fecal smear/float, but the doctor said that since they had already had three doses of antibiotics, we were unlikely to find anything. He said to keep the girls on Bactrim, twice a day for nine more days just in case. We also brought in Joey for the necropsy, which the vet did himself. I was happy to hear that, because he had done a two year internship in Australia after he had gotten his VMD, and he had done sugar glider necropsies before. Also, it meant we got the results today. Joey's gross (= organ) necropsy revealed some hyperemia in the lungs (= more blood in the lungs than there should be), and some spots on the liver. However, we don't know how long Joey was dead before Brendan found him (2-8 hours), and the spots on the liver are similar to those that form a few hours after death through normal deterioraton. The lungs and liver have been preserved for histological (= tissue) examination, but that will take a while because it has to be sent out, and with Christmas coming up, a lot of labs are closed this week or next. So what does the hyperemia mean? The vet says it is consistent with a respiratory infection like Meeko's, but that Joey was hiding the symptoms better than Meeko. We might have saved him if we had brought him in with Meeko and started him on antibiotics at the same time, but perhaps not, because he only lasted two more days than Meeko did. It may also have been that the stress of being separated from Meeko, and then Meeko dying, pushed him over the edge. The girls had been with Joey for a week, but the vet said their lungs sounded great, so he thinks they will be fine. They will stay on the meds, though, just to be sure, and Brendan is to watch them for any signs of lethargy or darker noses or other indications of a respiratory infection. One good bit of news is that Sugar, who has been on a diet and has been exercising for the last two months, has lost 16 grams (this is expected and the weight loss is something I had noticed already, before Meeko was sick). Please continue to keep us in your thoughts. I really so appreciate all the love, kindness and support we've received so far.
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Re: Meeko's cagemate has died!!!
[Re: SarahW]
#188382
12/19/06 05:53 PM
12/19/06 05:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542 Norman, OK
SarahW
OP
Glider Lover
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OP
Glider Lover
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542
Norman, OK
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Oops! One thing I forgot---the Bactrim is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that works especially well on bacteria. This means that the good intestinal bacteria will be killed along with anything bad living in the girls' intestines. So, we should expect a little diarrhea from them. The vet recommended keeping fluid levels high and feeding them yogurt with active cultures during and after the medication in order to restore the normal intestinal bacteria (thank goodness they love yogurt!). The main lesson learned from all this seems to be, make sure your bring your sick glider's cagemates in to the vet along with the sick one, just in case. I should have brought Joey in with Meeko, and maybe that would have saved him. Thank god I still have my two girls... and I am praying that my second decision, to put Joey with them, won't cause me to lose them, too.
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Re: Meeko's cagemate has died!!!
[Re: SarahW]
#188390
12/19/06 05:58 PM
12/19/06 05:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,788 Cleveland, Ohio
sugarglidersuz
Glideritis Anonymous
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Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,788
Cleveland, Ohio
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Suz Enyedy Carina & Coobah Allira & Gizmo Picasso, Trinity Joy & Luna DaisyMae; Darwin; Mareki; Mambo; Pika; Cricky; Reggie & Bobo, Pepe & Bittah Suz' Sugar Gliders
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Re: Meeko's cagemate has died!!!
[Re: SarahW]
#188457
12/19/06 07:25 PM
12/19/06 07:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,233 cuero Texas
jmi
Serious Glideritis
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Serious Glideritis
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,233
cuero Texas
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Sarah I am so sorry to hear about your babies... I send my thoughts and prayers to you and your boyfriend...
In a realtionship with the man i am going to marry I am in Cuero Texas with 3 kids. I am the mother of 4 kids and the soon to be step mother of 5 more. I have only one set of gliders. My kids are Sandra 16,Alex 12, Juanita 7 and Kathy 4 Whitney 13, Taylor 11, Charity 9 Brent 10 and Austin 5
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Re: Meeko's cagemate has died!!!
[Re: jmi]
#188459
12/19/06 07:31 PM
12/19/06 07:31 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I am sorry to hear that it is never easy to lose a glider
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