I am harboring a couple of refugees up from Fla. for friends of my neighbors. They were brought to me in the wee hours of this morning after having made a hard trip up from the Pensacola area. They were transported in the same small cage, and either due to stress or mating the male has bitten a sever hole into the female's back between her shoulderblades. I took them to the vet and they told me there was nothing they could do for her. The hole is pretty deep. It's not bleeding freely, and she acts pretty normally, but I don't know what to do! The vet says don't put any topical antibiotic on it because it is too deep. He said he couldn't stitch it because it was too small of an animal for him to work with. He pretty much gave her up for gone. I am at a loss. I spent 50$ of my own money to have her treated and I can't reach her owner, who lived in Pensacola. I understand the owner is having major difficulties right now, but what can I do? I don't want to leave her to infection, I can't talk to the owner to ask what she wants done... can any one give me advice on what I can do for her? I have them separated, and I am keeping her in as sterile an environment as possible.
I am going to try to add a pic of the bite, not a great one, but the best I could get. You can't see very well in it, but it's like the skin was ripped away exposing muscle, and towards the bottom of the bite there is a large deep "hole" about the size of a sharpened pencil tip.
From what I can tell it looks pretty nasty, but it's not a very good picture. I would take her to a vet that has dealt with sugar gliders before and is experienced with them. The minimum he should have done was to put her on an antibiotic so she didn't get an infection. I would think they would have flushed the area out and possibly wrapped her up even if they couldn't stitch. She definately needs to be seen by an experienced vet or it will get infected and then she's really going to be in trouble. God bless you for taking these two in. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Danielle owned by 4 dogs and 2 gliders really soon Formerly known as K & D Exotics
Ask the vet for a tube of Bactoderm (mupirocin) Ointment 2%
It is applied to the wound every 12 hours.
I recently used it for a glider who had a deep abcess that ruptured from a scratch inflicted by her mate. The Bactoderm Ointment did an excellent job of helping the wound heal. Within a period of 10 days the wound has healed over and reduced in size about 75%.
My vet sedated the female, shaved the furr off around the abcess and then flushed the wound out. Then perscribed the Bactoderm 2% Ointment. Cost $60.
Keep in mind...you may have to seperate the female from the male for several weeks till the wound is well healed. My male over groomed the female's wound till it was bloody within 24 hours of using the ointment.
I used tritop topical ointment on Gert for her nose and on Gracie for a hole in her back. Also used it on Rockie when he pulled his stitches out. All three sores healed up. I had to keep the hole full of the ointment to keep bacteria out. Also, next time you take a picture back up a little bit. The picture is out of focus because you are too close to Harriet. Keep us posted as to how she is doing. Merlin
oh my gosh, poor Harriet!!! That vet should not have charged you if he was inexperienced with gliders. He should have told you up front he wasn't comfortable with such little critters. sounds like a vet I would want to stay away from even for my dogs. How uncarring!!! Sorry, didn't meant to vent but sometimes I wonder why people become vets in the first place. Please see if you can find an experienced vet. It looks nasty and I would hate to think of the problems Harriet will have if it gets infected.
620-704-9109 Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.
I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance
The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" />Judie, I'm not sure but I think you are who I got my Dixie from!!!! I have had her about 4 years now. GrainValley isn't very big so I am sure it is you. Anyway she is the sweetest glider ever. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frostyangel.gif" alt="" />She is such a good mommy. Just thought you would like to know. And I am glad to see you on here so I could say thank you so much for her.
620-704-9109 Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.
I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance
The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Say, Dancing....I remember you. And yes, you purchased Dixie as a baby from me way back when.
Did Dixie have any more triplets? She was the only offspring I of mine that had and raised triplets. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Hey Judie!! So glad to be remembered!!!, No Dixie never had anymore triplets. She rotates between twins and singles but I have decided to have my males neutered. Unless she has some hidden embrios, these twins will be her last and I have decided to keep both of them. From now on I will just spoil the ones I have and rescue the ones I can. I will miss the little suck suck noises though. I am hoping to be able to (after all the males are neutered) put them all in one cage as a colony. They all play well in the tent so I think it will work. I have been seeing how many suggies out there are in need of homes so with luck I can offer a forever home to some. Right now it looks like I might be getting another pair (the male will be neutered right away). This pair currently has twins they are taking care of so am waiting for them to ween. I can hardly wait though. Oh, btw... Love your little white babies....how cute!!!!
620-704-9109 Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.
I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance
The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: Help! Ozzie bit Harriet!
[Re: ]
#26318 09/17/0409:15 AM09/17/0409:15 AM
Poor Harriet! That looks so painful! I hope you find a knowledgeable vet soon! Please, please listen to Judy and take her advice when you do find a vet. She really knows what she's talking about! Keep us updated!
Just a quick line to everyone know that Harriet is apparently healing. I took her to another vet and she cleaned her up and gave me some ointment for the wound. The difficult thing is the bandages! She advised me to keep it covered and showed me how to bandage it, but have you ever tried to keep a bandage on a glider who doesn't want one? Any way, I rinse the area daily with a sterile solution then pack it liberally with the ointment, and she is hanging in there. Thanks for all your help and advice!