Miss Lyah had another mouth surgery yesterday. This time she lost 5 teeth, 3 on the upper left jaw (opposite side from before) two on the lower left, plus one of her front lower ones is loose and causing infection to impact in the middle of her jaw. It's not loose enough to pull yet, without risking breaking the jawbone, though. So...
Her jaw is unstable from all the infection impacted in there, and because the tooth is loose, it's making room for it to impact down inside. The vet had to trim and seal her lower incisors and wire her lower jaw to keep it from moving and help keep the infection out. This should help her be more comfortable, and keep the infection from getting so bad, until those teeth are ready to come out-she's probably going to lose all of them. She shortened them to keep the roots from moving around and abscessing every time she bit on something. (Dang, I can't stand even thinking about that!)
I've got plenty of pain meds for her, and antibiotics. We reevaluate in about 2 weeks. Her face is still swollen, but her nose color is better. My poor baby girl! I don't have a new pic yet, but I'll try and get a couple in the next day or so.
EDIT: For new folks, or any who don't know...don't EVER, EVER trim a healthy glider's teeth. This was done in a crisis, and they're sealed on the ends. It causes a healthy glider a lot of unnecessary pain (just like if yours were cut)-because their teeth don't grow like a rodent's do-and decay in a healthy tooth. Even though I know Lyah's are diseased, and will be removed, just the thought still is making me ill.
Last edited by Xfilefan; 04/06/0708:28 AM.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Lyah's Poor Teeth#254347 04/06/0708:41 AM04/06/0708:41 AM
Oh Jen! I'm so sorry Lyah is going through all of that! Hugs to both of you! What caused her teeth to become like that? Is it something that is hereditary or is it because of infection? Is it preventable? I will pray for your baby to be better and for you to be at peace also!
Kristin :glider: Sparkles & Flower Loving Husband Christopher Proverbs 3:5,6
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth
[Re: BlndGrl8]
#254350 04/06/0708:48 AM04/06/0708:48 AM
Lyah is a rescue. She came to me starving & neglected at between 1 & 2 years old, Oct 2005. I don't know her breeding (other than she and her sister came from the Custom Cageworks guy, but don't know for sure if he was the original breeder, even though he said he was, the condition they were in, and some of the things he said, makes me question it). It's nothing that's happened since we got her, that much I am certain of. I know genetics can be a causative factor, but in her case, we probably won't ever know. Bad diet, malnutrition, etc, can all do this, too. I know she was malnourished, and fed hard pellets before I got her. Beyond that, who knows?
Thank you for the good thoughts she can use all she can get!
Last edited by Xfilefan; 04/06/0708:49 AM.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth
[Re: Xfilefan]
#254357 04/06/0709:16 AM04/06/0709:16 AM
Jen - you've been thru so much already. I'm so very sorry that you and Lyah have to go thru this. It is just terrible.
I know that Lyah is lucky to have you. And, altho you may not feel like it, especially financially right now, you are lucky to have her. She is a blessing, and you are doing such a wonderful job of nurturing her. You are truly a glider angel. Thank you so much. I've learned so much from you - and I'm sorry that you seem to have the role of "teacher" right now. Hopefully this phase will pass soon.
Big hugs.
Alden "Animals can communicate quite well. And they do. And generally speaking, they are ignored." Alice Walker
Mom to Valhalla; 6 cats; 1 macaw; 2 hedgehogs; and very many great gliders!
(plus the 2 skin kids) valkyriegliders.com
Kyrie, nothing will ever fill the hole you left in my heart.
Jen, I know EXACTLY what you are going through. I know how hard it is to watch them try to deal with this. I've been through it with my Sassy & with my Nickers. Dental problems are insidious because it's so often hard to tell that anything is wrong until it is BAD. Lyah, will do fine tho without her teeth. We've talked about this & I know that too. Once her gums heal up, she'll feel alot better. Her lower incisors will be missed & you will have to make some adjustments with her diet because of them but as Nicky has shown, a glider can do just fine without them. Call me if you ever need or want to talk to someone who's been there.
Chris Illusion, Malcom, Isabell, Annabelle, Zach, Isis, Aly & Indy AND Miss Emmy & Miss Chloe kitties
My Angels: You are always in my heart.
You've flown to the rainbow and wait there for me Someday I will join you together to be
Jen, I would say I'm sorry, and I am sorry that she is going through the infections and such. But I'm not sorry that you got her help, and are making her better. Yes, she is in pain, no she doesn't understand it. But she has her momma to take care of her and cuddle her, lots. And all kinds of love and good wishes coming from her glider aunts and uncles all over the world. Question, if her jaw is wired, how is she eating?
Shawna Who are you networked with? Networking could save your gliders life. Create one now.
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth
[Re: USMom]
#255054 04/07/0712:47 AM04/07/0712:47 AM
I'm glad you wrote about this because I am going thru the same thing with Boo. I don't think Boo's teeth are quite as bad. Her problem is just in the lower incisors. She had to have her teeth trimmed as well which just makes me feel terrible. The teeth just aren't loose enough to pull yet without hurting her jaw. I have to swab her teeth every night with some isoflorine (sp?). She hates it and I feel so bad but she has to have it done. I noticed something was wrong when her breath started to smell really bad.
I hope Lyah starts to feel better soon. Keep us posted.
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth
[Re: ]
#255093 04/07/0702:27 AM04/07/0702:27 AM
Jen, I feel just awful for you and your little one. I admire your strength and determination to keep these little ones healthy. You have a heart of gold, and with all that has been challanged will prevail in light and love. Thank You for everything that you do.
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth
[Re: LSardou]
#268430 04/23/0712:20 AM04/23/0712:20 AM
I know I'm overdue for an update-there's just been a lot going on (and a lot of other gliders needing help). So here's Miss Lyah's update.
First, after the 5 teeth came out, etc, she wasn't supposed to go back to the vet for at least a few weeks. However....
The side of her face they did NOT do surgery on swelled horrendously. And it wouldn't get any better. At the time of the 5 extractions, the vet couldn't find anything loose over there. So, last Sat., the 14th, I took her back in. Her face almost looked like it was putty and just dripping off the side!
This time, I got to watch (fascinating, BTW) and sure enough, the very last molar on the upper right was loose, and had to come out. That brings the total of lost teeth to 9. Her face is looking MUCH better, though there is still some swelling a week later. We've added Flagyl (metronidazole) to the Clindamycin to see if it helps with the infection.
Her activity level is now up, and she's using her wheel quite a bit-and visibly losing some weight (this one needed to-I'm theorizing that some of her earlier eating disorder may have been due to a sore mouth (only a THEORY), either that or she just HATES the babyfood, lol.
In any case, here are 3 pics, 2 taken 6 or so days after surgery with the major swelling still on her right side, 1 just this morning-the difference is very apparent. While I know she'll lose more, at least now it's under control.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Only a few days of adding the Flagyl to her meds, and the swelling is way, way down. Adding that has made a big difference! Here's some new pics I just took, you can compare to the "less swelling" pic in the last post:
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth-Update
[Re: Xfilefan]
#270334 04/25/0701:08 AM04/25/0701:08 AM
I'm fearful that Willy Wonka and I will be going down this road in the not-distant future as well. This evening when I was giving him his evening dose of antibiotics, I noticed that his top incisor (mind you, there's only ONE there) was jutting out..I very gently put my finger on it & it wiggled rather freely. This would definitely give an explanation as to WHY he's always been so slender but it's given me still more to worry about with his current neutering infection...maybe the dental issue is compounding the problem?
Any info you can give me, Jen & Chris, would be deeply appreciated. I need to take as much info as I possibly can when I see the vet about THIS problem.
Minkasmom (Papillon Kisses) Slave to: 25 gliders,4 cats, and ONE husband (can't handle two, lol!) Remembering all my lost loves
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth-Update
[Re: minkasmom]
#279230 05/05/0704:36 AM05/05/0704:36 AM
Well, the combo did keep the swelling down, and though it was nearly gone for 2 1/2 days, it came back, tho thanks to the Clinda/Flagyl her face didn't get really bad this time. She saw the vet again today, and lost another 5 teeth (two lower right, 3 lower left, both just behind the lower incisors). So her total is up to 14 teeth taken now. 2 of these had lost the roots from the recurring infection.
My poor bleedily mouth little girl! I've had teeth pulled, and KNOW what it feels like! I've never seen a sadder looking glider. Our ability to comfort her is limited...she tolerates human touch now, but still doesn't enjoy it (she used to go into seizures if you touched her).
We have gotten into a dinner routine: Babyfoods: applesauce, green beans, papaya or guava, corn casserole
Through the garlic press (used only for her food): canteloupe, shelled peas, watermelon
WHPL (staple)
yogurt
gliderade
The vet is thinking now it's genetic (See, Chris-Nicky has a long lost cousin! lol). Since she's a rescue, I have no history on her, but that the infection should stop once all the teeth are finally gone. I hope so. It's so hard to see her like this.
One upside is she's maintaining her 20 gram weight loss (she is a BIG girl!) at 174 from 193 grams her high weight.
minkasmom-it may be. There's frequently some facial swelling with tooth issues, but not always, even if infection is there. If it's loose, have the vet look and decide whether to take it, and medicate (esp. on upper teeth that go into the sinuses, even if no visible swelling). I added what we're feeding now to help if you do have an extraction.
Last edited by Xfilefan; 05/05/0704:38 AM.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth-Update
[Re: Xfilefan]
#279258 05/05/0708:30 AM05/05/0708:30 AM
((((((HUGS)))))))) Jen I know EXACTLY what you are going through....other than the swelling. Sassy never swelled when his teeth were hurting, he just sucked on the end of his tail. And well Nicky's was limited to his front incisors rather than his back teeth. I definately agree, I believe there is a genetic basis for this. Some could be diet or getting an infection but overall to be continual & progressive I believe it's genetic.
Chris Illusion, Malcom, Isabell, Annabelle, Zach, Isis, Aly & Indy AND Miss Emmy & Miss Chloe kitties
My Angels: You are always in my heart.
You've flown to the rainbow and wait there for me Someday I will join you together to be
Was debating about running Lyah back down to the vet yesterday-though I don't know what they'd do for her that I'm not.
Yesterday morning when I got home from work, I got her meds ready, and then opened up her nestbox to take her out for them...and her eye was actually bulging, and third eyelid partly over it from so much swelling in her face! It just looked terrible! Losing her from this actually crossed my mind.
So I watched her all yesterday, and last night her eye was gunked shut..but not as swollen. Gently worked the gunk out of her eye-it still looked bad, but not nearly as bad. I'll be calling the vet and see if she wants to do anything, or see her. But I got some updated pics last night.
Also noticed that even though they're wired, the lower left long incisor in the front is very, very loose, even with the wire to stabilize. You could move it with your finger, so she needs to know about that, too-my impression is it wasn't supposed to...at least yet.
The left side of her face improved a lot after this last extraction of 3 on that side-lower right lost only 2, but we've been struggling with tons of swelling over there the last few weeks or so for some reason-and that's where you can see the swelling. Just keep putting the meds down to control it, I guess. Today she's still very swollen, but no eye involvement that's visible, thank goodness!
Anyhow, here's some updated pics taken around 10pm last night.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Lyah's Poor Teeth-Update
[Re: Xfilefan]
#281692 05/08/0709:06 AM05/08/0709:06 AM
Jen, with the loose front tooth, could she have gotten something caught between them? I know that with Nicky whenever he'd get something in between his teeth it would flare up & become looser, once it was cleaned out the tooth would stabelize a bit.
Chris Illusion, Malcom, Isabell, Annabelle, Zach, Isis, Aly & Indy AND Miss Emmy & Miss Chloe kitties
My Angels: You are always in my heart.
You've flown to the rainbow and wait there for me Someday I will join you together to be
No, I talked to the vet this morning. The swelling in there is massive-the pics just don't show it all, and the last 5 teeth came out on either side of those We didn't see anything in there Sunday night, and had her mouth pried open at the back with a syringe-she'd had nothing but liquids/ straight babyfood fruit/veggies (no meats or anything to chew at all-no solids, not even the strained stuff, no leadbeaters-she's got Ensure instead for now) since surgery, (and still hasn't with the degree of swelling-and isn't eating most of it anyway) and it had been cleaned then, and were also stable at that point on Friday afternoon. The opinion is that it's from the swelling/infecton down in there, and for now, we wait to get things under control before dealing with those and increasing the irritation in her jaw/face even more. Especially since it's messing with her eye as it is. I'll take her in next week for a follow up, sooner if anything else goes haywire, and we'll see where it stands. For now, she's getting her meds twice a day, and we're trying to be careful not to bump it when giving her her meds.
I'm not sure yet if she's (the vet) going to try and stabilize it by tightening the wire in her jaw, since the other one isn't ready to come out yet, and it would be hard to wire in just the one, or what yet-will have to wait until we go in and see what's going on in there then. For now we need to get the infection and swelling under control and down, so there's room in there for it to expand with the next set-right now there isn't anywhere for more swelling to go-except what it was doing Sunday and coming out her eye.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Jen, Just wanted to let you know that I'm keeping Lyah in my prayers. Your doing such a remarkable job with taking care of her, even though she is in alot of pain just looking at her she shows that she knows that she is loved deeply! I wish there was more that I could do, your always reaching out and helping so many, and here you have so much to deal with your own. We are here for you too!
Thanks, Linda She can use all the thoughts she can get!
I just made about a dozen attempts at some good pics that will show better the swelling. At least her eye is clear. She's was feeling so bad Sun. morning I didn't have the heart to put a camera in her face when her eye was gunky-though if it does it next time I'll try for a pic so you can all see.
Anyhow, these are at a better angle than the ones the other night (gave yogurt lickies in the nestbox for them, lol) so you can get a clearer idea what I'm talking about...
Last edited by Xfilefan; 05/08/0706:55 PM.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
The swelling in her face was WAY down when I got her up for her meds last night....FINALLY! Hoping it's still that way when I get home from work this am...the right side of her face almost looked normal
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
We seem to have developed a problem. I wasn't going to take her in again this soon, her swelling isn't gone tho it's better still, but she's going to have to go tomorrow. When I got her up for her meds tonight, she had an unusual bump under her chin, and what looked like a little spot of dried blood-remember she has the wire in her lower jaw, which did come outside the skin on the twisted end. I got a better look, and apparently those wire ends are now INSIDE the skin! How she managed that is just beyond me. But it has the potential to cause damage in there if left, so in the morning we're going to see the vet, and I hope they can fix it, or it doesn't poke out where it shouldn't between now and then-my ER vet isn't geared for this. I'm worried, but since she's already on antibiotics, at least infection isn't a concern overnight as well.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Well, I think she caught the wire on something and jogged it loose-so it wasn't solid in there. One of those bottom teeth is probably ready to be pulled, but the other isn't, and the teeth are supporting the wire...so removing the wire and one tooth would leave the jaw unstable. *sigh* Anyway, the wire got tightened up. She doesn't have any more teeth quite ready to come out, so that's all that was done today. vet did say that can't be done much, since the wire will break eventually.
The vet likened it to having braces tightened...since I haven't ever had braces (I was lucky my teeth came in straight), I don't know what it feels like, but she told me it hurts. Poor girl had blood all over her chin and chest once she woke up and started moving also (she's since groomed it off)-it stopped bleeding quickly, and as soon as she got home I gave her some Torb and she seems much more comfortable. She kept pawing at her mouth though. So we can continue with the antibiotics, and see how much swelling this triggers. She has gained a couple grams-she weighed in at 181 g today.
Thanks for any good thoughts-this little girl's trials aren't going to end (likely) until most or all of her teeth are gone-we have 26 left.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley