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Smegal had another seizure... #25394
08/20/04 08:45 AM
08/20/04 08:45 AM

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Last night Smegal had one of the worst seizures I've ever seen. It lasted for about 3 minutes and was the most painful thing I've ever had to watch. He hasn't had a seizure since the SGGA (he had a small seizure the first night). I thought he was doing so well... He's been putting on weight, running in his wheel, and flirting with the ladies <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Last night though, I thought I was going to loose him. Even after he stopped seizing, he was still really dazed for about 15 minutes. I'm worried that all of these seizures might cause brain damage. So far they haven't, but if he keeps having seizures like he did last night, it's definitely a probablity... Smegal is feeling much better now. He's still a little shaken up and wants to be with me constantly, but he's walking around and eating...
**I know some of you recommended a medication at the SGGA, but I talked to my vet and she said that with how random his seizures are, there's no point of putting him through the stress of medicating him if he may never have one again... Also, we're both worried that the stress of giving the medication might cause a seizure...

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25395
08/20/04 08:50 AM
08/20/04 08:50 AM

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I hope Smegal gets better, and if he goes then you know he lived a good life with you!

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25396
08/20/04 09:40 AM
08/20/04 09:40 AM

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Smegal never will get better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> He's a perfect example of the damage that people don't care about their animals do. In all reality, he should be perfectly healthy now, but the years of neglect and improper care can't be reversed. He will never get better.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25397
08/20/04 10:39 AM
08/20/04 10:39 AM

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I'll pray that your little guy will feel better soon and have no more seizures!!! The poor thing is so lucky to have you!

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25398
08/20/04 11:02 AM
08/20/04 11:02 AM

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I'm no expert and someone that know's about diet will need to step in here as well..

But i wonder if this could help..

We had a dog that was prone to seizures too... but the vet did not recommend medicine either because they were random as well instead recommened a diet that had a high protein.. and it worked

she did not have seizure for almost 3 years of any kind and her life expectancny for a siezure dog was only about 4 years.. however do to the diet she lived for 8 years and the last 3 with not even one seizure till the final one..

The vet set she lived a full life but she eventually had a grand mall seizure.. but she out lived what she was expected with out the high protien diet..

Bourbon what do you think about that for this glider.. not as a normal.. just curious. since i know the ratio isn't that great normally.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25399
08/20/04 11:10 AM
08/20/04 11:10 AM

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Leyna, I really hope the Smegal gets better. I am sure that he will, but I just want you to know I will be rooting for the little guy. I really want to see your suggies including Smegal at next years SGGA. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cory

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25400
08/20/04 11:58 AM
08/20/04 11:58 AM
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St. Johns, Florida
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Leyna, I am praying that Smegal goes for another very long time without a siezure. Im sorry you had to go through that yet happy that he was with someone like you that he knows loves him and cares about him.
Give him a glider kiss on the nose for me and tell him I too expect to see him at next years SGGA!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />


Peggy
Critter Love
Critter Love� Diet Center

If you want to know what a person is like, watch how he treats others.

You'll never know what the outcome is if you don't step up and try.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25401
08/20/04 12:16 PM
08/20/04 12:16 PM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I'm no expert and someone that know's about diet will need to step in here as well..

But i wonder if this could help..

We had a dog that was prone to seizures too... but the vet did not recommend medicine either because they were random as well instead recommened a diet that had a high protein.. and it worked

she did not have seizure for almost 3 years of any kind and her life expectancny for a siezure dog was only about 4 years.. however do to the diet she lived for 8 years and the last 3 with not even one seizure till the final one..

The vet set she lived a full life but she eventually had a grand mall seizure.. but she out lived what she was expected with out the high protien diet..

Bourbon what do you think about that for this glider.. not as a normal.. just curious. since i know the ratio isn't that great normally.

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

Smegal's seizures aren't diet related. If they were, trust me, he would be dead by now. When I got him, he was 5 years old, and is owners were only feeding him happy glider apple flavored pellets and pieces of apple. He didn't start having seizures until his mate Shmi died. My vet thinks they were triggered by stress and that they won't go away...
Thank you for the well wishes everybody. He's sleeping quite happily with the rest of the crew (Larkin, Samantha, and Goober) right now...

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25402
08/20/04 12:55 PM
08/20/04 12:55 PM

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Awsome Possums: just as I was typing up my post on Smegal, you posted the following:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
He didn't start having seizures until his mate Shmi died. My vet thinks they were triggered by stress and that they won't go away...


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

Amazingly enough, one of the neurological/psychological reasons that can trigger seizuring is stress. Anyway, I'll go ahead and post my thoughts on the issue anyway.


Seizures can generally be classified into one of three categories:

1) Primary Epileptic Seizures-those without identifiable cause (idiopathic).

2) Secondary Epileptic Seizures-those with an identifiable abnormality within the head (intracranial cause)

3) Reactive Epileptic Seizures-those due to metabolic disease or exposure to toxins (extracranial cause)

Causes of reactive (extracranial) seizures are generally identified as hepatic (liver) disease, hypothyroidism, or toxin exposure.

Causes of secondary (intracranial) seizures are generally identified as cerebral developmental anomaly (one or more congenital brain defects), neoplasia (tumor), inflammatory process, trauma, and cerebral vascular accident, CVA, (stroke). A common developmental abnormality would be hydrocephalus, which is commonly known as water on the brain. In this condition, fluid does not drain properly and builds up in the brain, causing pressure, which in turn destroys brain cells.


Animals that begin to seize at less than one year of age are suspected of having developmental problems or primary epilepsy. Animals that begin to seize after five years of age should be carefully examined for intracranial neoplasms, CVA, etc. Otherwise healthy animals who begin to seize at one to five years of age are highly likely to be primary epileptics, particularly if the seizures occur four or more weeks apart. Seizures that occur more than once a month, may be indicative of a developmental, metabolic or infectious process.

Possible Causes of Seizures and Seizure-Like Episodes

Neurological/Psychological:

Head injury
Brain tumor
Stroke
Degenerative brain disease
Movement disorders
Extreme stress
Panic attacks
Emotional trauma
Mental illness
Hyperventilation
Hysteria

Cardiovascular :

Abnormal heart rhythms
Cardiac outflow obstructions
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Blocked blood vessels
Heart valve disease
High blood pressure

Other Causes :

Other Causes:

High fever
Changes in hormones or electrolytes
Drug or alcohol abuse
Sleep disorders
Infections
Toxicity
Diabetes
Drug complications
Birth defects
Low blood sugar
Unknown


Do you know whether Smegal has ever sustained any head trauma? Has your vet ever done any skull x-rays to determine if any residual symptoms of head trauma were noted? Head trauma would be one of the more obvious reasons for seizure activity if the head trauma caused brain damage. Another more obvious cause would be a brain tumor.

Among less obvious causes could be:

A) extreme stress - we know gliders can stress easily. Some stress more readily than others. Might Smegal fall into the category of a glider who suffered an extremely stressful event at some point which triggered seizuring activity as a result? Does Smegel generally stress easily? Did he appear stressed for any reason just prior to this last episode?

B) Has the vet ruled out a CVA incident as a possible cause of Smegal's seizure activity?

C) Has parasitic/bacterial testing been done to rule out possible infections as a cause of seizuring?

D) Has low blood sugar level been ruled out as a possible cause of seizuring?

E) has exposure to a toxic substance been ruled out not only in terms of environment but diet as well? In terms of diet, I know that a lot of people give their gliders yogurt either as a licky treat, as a supplement once a week or during the course of antibiotic treament in order to maintain healthy intestinal flora. The problem is that some people use no-fat yogurt which contains aspartame. I won't go into the issues regarding the danger/toxicity problems involving aspartame. A great source of aspartame data can be found HERE


Also want people to know that aspartame can be found in other products such as:

instant breakfasts
breath mints
cereals
sugar-free chewing gum
cocoa mixes
coffee beverages
frozen desserts
gelatin desserts
juice beverages
laxatives
multivitamins
milk drinks
pharmaceuticals and supplements, including over-the-counter medicines
shake mixes
soft drinks
tabletop sweeteners
tea beverages
instant teas and coffees
topping mixes
wine coolers
yogurt

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25403
08/20/04 03:06 PM
08/20/04 03:06 PM
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I spoke with Leyna at the SGGA regarding this, My advice to her was to discuss this with Tom who also had a glider whose seizures was triggered by stress. the vet found multiple problems with his glider, and one of the treatments for the seizures was phenobarbitol, I assume by what Leyna said, that she has already discussed this with her vet.

I don't remember the circumstances behind the death of Smegals cage mate, but that may be something that is worth checking into. I know that Toms glider had a multitude of problems from pnemonia to bacterial infections, once those were taken care of the seizures did stop. The pnemonia was of a strain that couldn't be treated. but fortunatly the seizures did stop.

Again my suggestion would be similiar that her vet contact Tom's vet,and maybe and do a consult as to the testing and possible diagnosis.

It is highly unlikely for a glider just to develope seizures for no reason, some of the things in the past have been infections, and head injuries.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25404
08/20/04 10:16 PM
08/20/04 10:16 PM
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i would take him to a very good exotic vet and have a culture and sensitivity test run among other tests. and them u can get the right meds. it would even be worth traveling to a good vet that is glider knowledgeable . is he on a good diet. i would get him on the bml diet if hes not on it. it really makes a difference as far as ive seen in my own gliders. when my ruby had pnumonia all she got was bml nothing else. if he dont like bml my suggestion is put a little on your finger and when hes in the pouch put it by his nose and most likely he will lick it off thats how i got mine to eat it before they liked it. make sure your hands are clean before u feed it this way.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25405
08/21/04 03:09 AM
08/21/04 03:09 AM

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Leyna,
You didn't mention how often the seizures were occurring. A 3 minute seizure once a year wouldn't make anticonvulsants seem worth it. If they are frequent or you notice significant color change during the episode, then treatment might seem much more reasonable. Phenobarbitol is easy and cheap, and can be crunched and sprinkled in licky treats just like calcium or vitamins. Valproic acid would be another good choice, but ask your veterinarian.

(This sounds brutal, so skip this paragraph if you are easily upset.) There is a very old study done many years ago in puppies that demonstrated a phenomenon called kindling. They caused seizures with shocks, and noted that the more the animal seized, the less stimulus it took to cause seizures. That is one reason we tend to treat children with seizures, hoping that early and aggressive treatment might help to avoid allowing progression. Although that study was not done in children (or gliders) and never will be, that logic has often been used to decide to treat cases at the margin.

The post above from kehaulina that mentioned high protein diets has sound logic as well. It wasn't suggested that diet caused the seizures, but ketogenic diets (rigorous Adkins-like diets without carbohydrates) can help treat kids with intractable seizures. That is a severe diet, and can cause it's own problems. Given gliders' tricky needs and tendency to get hypoglycemic when ill or stressed, it seems worrisome. I've only seen it used years ago when all other treatment failed, and now we use seizure surgery more than such diets.

Glideroo did an outstanding review of causes and types of seizures. I would comment that the link to the aspartame article from Dr. Monte reminds me of adding two plus two and getting 469. Some of the associations made and inferences implied were pretty lame.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25406
08/23/04 11:31 AM
08/23/04 11:31 AM

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Schlep: I know that there are studies going both ways on aspartame. However, I would rather err on the side of safety's sake & avoid products with aspartame rather than assume the risk of any possible toxic/neurotoxic side effects for my gliders when it comes to aspartame. It's a known fact that hugh corporations have covered up evidence regarding dangerous side effects of products (in some cases for decades) all for financial gain. In the drug industry alone, think of how many drugs over the last 10-15 years have been pulled from the market due to serious side effects/deaths but only after overwhelming evidence and independent studies proved the drugs to be unsafe despite the companies having secret memorandums/test results for several years showing the drugs were unsafe. Let's face it, big companies like Monsanto don't give up on their cash cows without a fight to the bitter end. Furthermore, in researching the issue of aspartame, it was quite interesting to note that many of the studies done stating that aspartame was safe were funded at least in part by Monsanto. Doesn't make for totally unbiased/independent studies from my perspective. So as long as a cloud of suspicion hangs over aspartame as to its safety, my personal choice is to stay away from aspartame.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25407
08/23/04 03:35 PM
08/23/04 03:35 PM

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Okay, here's "Smegal's History"...
- I got Smegal and his mate (Shmi) this winter (January)
- He was being fed happy glider apple flavored pellets and apple, nothing else
- He was housed in an untreated pine nest box (the kind you hand up outside for finches)
- He weighed 64 grams when I got him (he now weighs about 76 grams)
- His mate Shim died after being with me for about a month. I had a necropsy performed and the cause of death was bloat caused by stomach ulcers from malnutrition (I guess I was too late to save her <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> )
- He began neurotic behavior soon after Shmi's death (not sleep, circling, urinating on himself)
- I took him to the vet and had a fecal float, fecal smear, and a culture and sensitivity ran on him (nothing showed up)
- He then began to starve himself. He wouldn't eat unless I was hand feeding him...
*This is when he started having seizures*
- He went back to the vet, we did another fecal float and smear, we also drew blood and tested for toxins... (nothing) My vet suggested cutting out his vitamins and protein on the off chance it was a liver/kidney problem that wasn't showing up on the blood test...
- I cut his protein and vitamins, but he continued to have seizures, so my vet suggested to try upping his protein, same results
- Then, one of Ian's gliders got a respiratory infection.
- We decided to put all of the gliders (except for Brodey and Honey because they had joeys) on baytril to prevent pneumonia and moved them to Ian's house to prevent any possible spread of infection.
*I didn't feed yogurt while giving baytril (none of my gliders like yogurt), instead, I was given some Bene-Bac to give my gliders after the finished with their baytril.*
- He went from having seizures every few days to having them every few weeks.
- I paired him with Samantha and his seizures stopped for a few months
- Smegal and Samantha began fighting and Smegal wasn't letting Samantha eat or sleep in any of the pouches, so I pulled Samantha and paired him with Larkin. Those two actually got along better than Smegal and Samantha...
- Ian (my bf) and I broke up and I didn't see Smegal for about 2 weeks. He hadn't had a seizure in a few months, but the first time he saw me after Ian and I broke up, he got too excited and had 2 seizures in 1 day.
- I took him to the vet and got a fecal float, fecal smear, urine analysis and culture and sensitivity done. (everything came back normal)
- Smegal was seizure free for 2 months until I went to the SGGA. He had a very small (5-10 seconds) seizure Friday night at the SGGA (too much excitement for him).
- Last Friday Smegal had the worst seizure he's had to date. It lasted for about 3 minutes. I got him out to play with me because all of the other gliders were still sleeping... He started to get excited about a small teaser toy I have and had a seizure.

**Smegal has never:**
- Tested positive for anything
- Had abnormal results to a test
- Been in a cage bigger than 1x1x2 (When I got him I kept him and Shmi in my medical cage because they were in such bad shape and he's never gotten to move out of that cage <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> , but his new cage, which will be 3x3x2 will be done Thursday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )
- He has never had any access to any chemicals. My gliders are housed upstairs at my house away from cleaning supplies, soaps, everything... I don't even use chemicals other than bleach and dish soap to clean their cages (1 cap full of bleach in 5 gals of water...)
- My gliders have never eaten yogurt (they don't like it), but I do feed low fat cottage cheese...
- Smegal refuses to eat BML, but I do feed a diet that has been approved by my vet. It has a positive calcium to phosphorus ratio and it's 50% protein... I've been tweaking it over the last few months and my current mixture is the most successful diet I've ever fed as far as weight gain, coat color, and general health go. Also, all of my gliders eat it.
- None of my other gliders have ever expressed any symptoms similar to Smegal's. The only other glider I've had that's gotten sick since I've gotten Smegal was the joey from my friend that had eaten some hair products and he actually ended up passing away...
- Smegal's symptoms have never been reflective of head trauma. This includes: the type of seizures he has, the frequency of the seizures, and the fact that he seems to have no other problems other than seizures.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25408
08/23/04 07:01 PM
08/23/04 07:01 PM
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thank you leyna, I really appreciate the history, it does help in our discussions regarding this. My prayers are with you all.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25409
08/23/04 09:04 PM
08/23/04 09:04 PM

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My vet and I agree on what we think the cause of the seizures are... We think that because of years of stress, neglect, and improper care his little body is just damaged beyond repair... The stress of Shmi dieing was just too much for him and that was the initial trigger for his seizures and he will continue to have seizures through out his life. He's a fighter though, so I have a feeling he's going to be around for quite some time <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25410
08/23/04 10:06 PM
08/23/04 10:06 PM
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I will continue to keep him in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sure he will be with you for some time. He's in good, caring, and loving hands and that means the most.


Danielle
owned by 4 dogs and 2 gliders really soon
Formerly known as K & D Exotics

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25411
08/23/04 11:27 PM
08/23/04 11:27 PM
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I hope so too Leyna <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />, he is one tough, and cute, cookie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Karin


Miss Lily and Bud
Prada and Armani
Tessa, Deuce and Cami

Tira and Misu angel Deja and Vu

Glider Daydreams



"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...It is about learning to
dance in the rain!"
Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25412
08/24/04 02:31 AM
08/24/04 02:31 AM

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Thank you everybody <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> Right now he's doing great <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I went to get him out to play and he decided he would rather wrestle with my hand <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> He even sniffed a bug tonight, lol. He usually won't even acknowledge them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25413
08/24/04 02:39 AM
08/24/04 02:39 AM

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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> [:"magenta"]poor little guy. what a tough life he has had! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" /> i hope his seizures taper off and decrease soon. you and he are in my thoughts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> [/]

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25414
08/24/04 12:08 PM
08/24/04 12:08 PM

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Oh my goodness, I hope your little one will be alright. Things like this are so scarey, I just hope that stress is what the root cause is. Best of luck to you and you hang in there.!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25415
08/24/04 01:50 PM
08/24/04 01:50 PM

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Awesom Possums:

Certain factors can contribute to/induce seizures or seizure-like episodes. These are to referred to as triggering factors. The following list of trigger factors serves as a guide but is by no means an exhaustive list.

1) Lack of sleep: is a common trigger factor of seizures not only for humans but animals as well. We all differ in the amount of sleep we need. It is important to avoid large fluctuations in the time one goes to bed to ensure one gets enough sleep to feel rested.

2) Stress: Stress unfortunately is a normal part of life. In fact, a certain amount of stress helps to motivate us and keep us healthy. Extreme stress, however, may lower seizure threshold and trigger seizures. It is important to learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of harmful levels of stress and to employ strategies which are helpful in reducing it.

3) Infections and Illness: in gliders, intestinal bacterial/parasitic conditions which siphon off appropriate nutrients, vitamins and minerals can cause hypoglycemia and subsequent seizure episodes.

4) Photosensitivity: a condition wherein one exhibits oversensitivity of the skin to sunlight or other radiant energy. However, photosensitivity can trigger seizures via sensory stimulus such as flickering sunlight, strobe lights, flickering television and computers. Photosensitive epilepsy is an uncommon condition in which visual stimuli, such as flashing or flickering lights (usually of high intensity, and/or certain patterns such as stripes) trigger epileptic seizures. It is one of a group of "reflex" epilepsies, so named because the seizure is a direct response to a stimulus. Some photosensitive people have seizures only when they are exposed to a flashing or flickering light source or to certain patterns; others may have spontaneous seizures as well as seizures due to photosensitivity. The type of seizure e.g. tonic clonic, absence, myoclonic will vary from person to person.

5) Stimulus-sensitive seizures: seizures that are elicited by specific stimuli or events. These are also called reflex seizures. For those with stimulus-sensitive seizures, the most common triggering stimulus is light, especially the flickering light of television or video display screens. However, in animals, stimulus-sensitive seizures triggered by certain events, such as unusual noise, car rides, and veterinary offices, have been recognized. It is important to realize that in this type of epilepsy the time from the stimulus to the seizure is short (seconds), the stimulus is specific, and seizures do not usually occur in the absence of the stimulus.

6) Severe changes in temperature: In some people & animals, a seizure may be triggered when the weather becomes very warm or rooms are overheated.

True Epileptic seizures vs. Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES):

Epileptic seizures are caused by a sudden, brief interruption in the way the brain is working. This is caused by a change in the electrical activity of the brain (how the brain sends messages to the body). What happens during an epileptic seizure depends on where this change in activity is in the brain. This may affect awareness and behaviour.

The words non-epileptic seizures (NES) are used to describe seizures that often look like epileptic seizures but which have a different cause. Unlike epileptic seizures, they are not caused by changes in brain activity. NES can take different forms and can have a range of causes.

What causes NES?

Some NES have a physical cause - relating to the body - such as fainting. Fainting is also called syncope. Some NES have a psychological cause - relating to the mind - such as panic attacks, extreme stress, anxiety, excessive stimuli to name a few.

If NES happen for a physical reason it is often easier to diagnose the underlying cause. For example a faint may be diagnosed as being due to a physical problem in the heart.

However, the term NES is usually used to describe seizures with a psychological cause . NES can happen at anytime and at any age. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the reason why non-epileptic seizures start. For some, NES episode(s) may happen shortly after a specific stressful event. For others their NES may not start after any particular life event. This can make finding the cause difficult.


During NES, like epileptic seizures, one may fall and hurt himself, convulse or be incontinent. Both types of seizures can happen suddenly and without warning. Because of this, it can sometimes be hard to tell epileptic and non-epileptic seizures apart. Non-epileptic behavioral events are often mistaken for epileptic seizures, but they are not due to epilepsy. During an attack, the patient often exhibits shaking of the limbs and body as in a seizure, and he or she may be unresponsive just as in an epileptic seizure episode.

Psychological causes of NES:

Experiences, whether good or bad, can have a deep and long-lasting effect. People and animals alike have their own way of dealing with their experiences. For some, the NES they have are their brain's way of dealing with past painful experiences.

The causes of NES may be past experiences such as bereavements, divorce, abuse, neglect or other emotional difficulties. On-going stress, excitement/excessive stimuli may also cause NES episodes.

Thoughts Regarding Smegal:

Based on the history you have presented with respect to Smegal, I tend to believe that Smegal's seizure episodes are NES-related rather than true epilepsy-based seizure episodes. I base my theory on the fact that Smegal was suffering from grief/stress over the loss of his mate, Shmi and at first exhibited this grief/stress via neurotic behavior, self-starvation (unless handfed) & then the onset of seizuring episodes. However, it seems there must have been some intervening contributing factor which actually led to the first seizure episode. If you can think back on what transpired just prior to that first seizure episode, it could be helpful toward verifying my theory that Smegal's seizure episodes might be NES-based.

I truly see several psychological factors that could be inducing NES-based seizure episodes in Smegal: neglect/poor diet while with the prior owner, stress/bereavement over the loss of his mate, Shmi, being paired first with Samantha and then Larkin, bereavement over the loss of you in his life after your breakup with your boyfriend, unintentional stressful situations (such as change in normal environment while at the SGGA), excitement/excessive stimuli during playtime since he had a seizure episode while playing with a small teaser toy (was the teasor toy made of different colored foil that might have shimmered in the light?)

If I am correct, stress/bereavement, excitement/excessive stimulus, and possible photosensitivity??? may all play into the onset/continuation of Smegal's seizure episodes. Some recommendations:

A) keep a journal of what transpired/continues to transpire just prior to each seizure episode. If the episodes are NES-based, the journal will help you pinpoint the types of situations that Smegal has a low threshhold to so that you can hopefully limit/reduce those situations in his life.

B) Try to keep Smegal's environment as calm/quiet as possible and make playtime a lowkey affair.

C) I noticed in your post regarding Smegal's history that you stated that Smegal and Larkin </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
"actually got along better than Smegal and Samantha".

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> It sounds like they are no longer together. Or are they? If no longer together, why? I ask because it may be that Smegal would psychologically benefit from having a permanent cagemate given the losses he's experienced in the recent past.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25416
08/24/04 02:21 PM
08/24/04 02:21 PM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
5) Stimulus-sensitive seizures: seizures that are elicited by specific stimuli or events. These are also called reflex seizures. For those with stimulus-sensitive seizures, the most common triggering stimulus is light, especially the flickering light of television or video display screens. However, in animals, stimulus-sensitive seizures triggered by certain events, such as unusual noise, car rides, and veterinary offices, have been recognized. It is important to realize that in this type of epilepsy the time from the stimulus to the seizure is short (seconds), the stimulus is specific, and seizures do not usually occur in the absence of the stimulus.

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

That actually kind of sounds like Smegal... He's never had a seizure when inside of his cage. Also, he only has seizures when I get him out, not when anybody else does <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Could I be causing the seizures? He doesn't have them every time I get him out, but when he has seizures it's usually because he gets so excited to see me...

**Smegal and Larkin are still together. Right now they are sharing a cage with Samantha and Goober as well. We refer to them as "the crew". Right now I'm in the process of finishing up a special cage for Smegal and Larkin that's more suited to Smegal's needs... Samantha and Goober will get their breeding cage to themselves again soon. Ian makes fun of me because I was so nervous about putting Smegal in a taller cage that I made 2 special hammocks that cover the whole length of the cage and split it into 1 foot tall sections.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25417
08/24/04 03:19 PM
08/24/04 03:19 PM

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Awesome Possums:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
That actually kind of sounds like Smegal... He's never had a seizure when inside of his cage. Also, he only has seizures when I get him out, not when anybody else does Could I be causing the seizures? He doesn't have them every time I get him out, but when he has seizures it's usually because he gets so excited to see me...

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

In the history you provided on Smegal, there are indications that this seems to be true: his refusal to eat unless you handfed him after his mate's death; his having a seizure episode when he saw you after a two-week absence as well as during your playtime with him with a teasor toy. So indirectly, you may be a cause of his seizures. If so, it is most likely due to the fact that Smegal has forged a special bond with you that he has never had with another human and which he has so desparately needed since the death of his mate, Shmi. If my hunch on this is correct, Smegal is probably experiencing stress/anxiety when you're not there with him. Then when he sees you, the excitement and stimulus of seeing/being with you becomes so strong, he goes into an NES seizure episode. In fact, I sort of wonder if he does it subconsciously as a way of getting more attention from you. Animals can be quite smart at finding ways to get attention.

If our suspicions about the cause of Smegal's seizures are correct, then he needs to know that you are/will be there for him every day if possible. He also needs to have a calm/quiet environment for the foreseeable future until he resolves his pyschological issues. As for playtime, keep it lowkey to avoid too much excitement and/or stimuli for the time being. Additionally, I'm glad you will be putting Smegal & Larkin in their own cage setup shortly as he may then begin to bond more permanently with Larkin. Being in with Samantha & Goober may be causing stress/anxiety for Smegal with respect to what his relationship with Larkin is. If so, having his own cage with Larkin will go a long way to resolving that stress and anxiety. Ultimately, Smegal needs to feel safe/secure again as he did when he had Shmi with him. Once he does, the NES episodes hopefully will diminsh in time until they are only a memory.

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25418
08/24/04 03:25 PM
08/24/04 03:25 PM

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Glideroo thank you for looking into this so much for me. I've researched it a lot, but I just can't seem to make sense of what I find when I try to relate it to Smegal. Maybe I was just trying to deny to myself that I might be the cause... If Smegal had the choice, I think I would be his mate. He prefers me over any of the gliders, lol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> When I get his cage finished, do you think I should just leave him and Larkin alone for a few weeks in hopes that he'll begin to replace my part in his life with her? Do you think that would cause more stress?

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25419
08/24/04 04:18 PM
08/24/04 04:18 PM

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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> My prayers go out to you and your little one. Keep fighting the good fight <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25420
08/25/04 02:09 AM
08/25/04 02:09 AM

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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> [:"magenta"]leyna, i am certainly no expert on this subject. however, i would think if you were to avoid smegal, it would definitely cause him more stress/anxiety. he has already lost shmi. i do not think "losing" you, even temporarily, would help his condition. just my thoughts. [/]

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25421
08/25/04 10:41 AM
08/25/04 10:41 AM

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Poor smegal I feel his pain seizures of the epileptic or non suck! And I say this from personal experience. Just to put my two cents in, sounds like stress. I know when I get stressed my bs will temporarily go nuts. I don't think seperating yourself from him would be such a good thing. My husband can sympathize on how hard it is to deal with it, and I sympathize with poor smegal his poor little head must hurt soo. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> and prayers coming your way

Re: Smegal had another seizure... [Re: ] #25422
08/25/04 10:54 AM
08/25/04 10:54 AM

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AwesomePossums: Agree with Charlesex on this one. Putting Smegal and Larkin in a new cage by themselves will probably cause stress/anxiety for Smegal as it will be yet one more change he must adapt to. Distancing yourself from him for a two-week period will only add to that stress/anxiety given the strong bond he has with you and will most likely cause a NES episode when he sees you for the first time after the two-week period. What I would suggest is that in addition to special playtime regularly with Smegal, you also consider joint playtime sessions with both Smegal and Larkin so Smegal comes to realize that he has not only you but Larkin as well for companionship.


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