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Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... #5807
03/21/03 11:46 PM
03/21/03 11:46 PM

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A year and one week ago I lost my first glider, Jonesy, to what an autopsy revealed as liver cancer. He was only three. I live in a "Cancer Disaster Area" where most Doctors (including my dad), vets (including all of my bosses), etc. feel that the water is highly cancer-causing. Jonesy showed no sign of illness until only days before his death. He was suddenly lethargic, uninterested in food, weak, jaundiced, etc., and extensive care couldn't help him. This week, his girlfriend, Smei, also about three, died of the same exact situation. Yesterday the specialist called to say that her autopsy revealed no sign of illness or infection except a large tumor on her liver. We have reviewed their diet many times and have decided it's not the problem, nor is their housing/lifestyle. He said to stop using tap water- but I already did after Jonesy died (maybe even before, I can't exactly remember). I have heard that glider livers can look "mottled" or "bumpy" on post-mortems, and fear that their deaths are just too coincidental. I'm afraid that it could really be infection and that my other glider, Lem, could get sick (as of now he's just fine, running away in his Woodent Wheel). Smei did not fall ill after Jonesy's death- whatever he had wasn't contagious. Anyway, I'm just afraid that their deaths could be due to something other than cancer, despite the autopsys. I've had the biopsy sent just to be sure even though the vet swears it wasn't infection. If anyone could shed some light on the situation, I'd be very grateful. As terrible as it may sound, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it was cancer- then at least I'd know that there was nothing else I could have done.
On a much happier note: When I picked Smei up after the autopsy, on the hour drive home from the vet's, there was a rainbow- but it wasn't raining or even sunny! There were two tiny breaks in the clouds, very far apart, and from each the arc's ends were sticking out. I truly believe that Jonesy was rolling out The Rainbow Bridge for his old pal Smei. It made me feel so much better about the whole situation to know that they're together again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />:glangel: <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/gliderangel.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5808
03/22/03 12:20 PM
03/22/03 12:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,354
Lexington, KY
Lucy Offline
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Posts: 7,354
Lexington, KY
I'm going to move this to Health & Hygiene to discuss this important topic. I'm so sorry for your loss, Amy.



Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5809
03/22/03 06:07 PM
03/22/03 06:07 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,078
USA
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Im so sorry. What an awful thing to have to experience. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
About the rainbow... I think that was just for you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
Again, Im so very sorry...


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Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5810
03/22/03 06:51 PM
03/22/03 06:51 PM

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Amy - I wish I could give you some helpful info about the little ones' deaths but...... Know that I am so sorry for your losses and am moved to tears over the rainbow story! I think BMXGirl is right - that was for you! Your babies obviously loved you very much <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5811
03/22/03 09:52 PM
03/22/03 09:52 PM

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Amy, is there any chance it could have been aflatoxins instead of cancer? My vet thought Kiki had cancer due to a large growth that had covered almost all of her liver, but I'm not convinced that was the case. She had just turned two, and like your babies, only exhibited symptoms two days before I lost her.
I wish I could be of more help. My thoughts are with you.

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5812
03/23/03 01:36 AM
03/23/03 01:36 AM

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Robin, the vet and I have discussed aflatoxins quite a bit. I do not give my gliders any form of nut or foods that might be stored in silos. Someone mentioned toxins a year ago when Jonesy died but the vet didn't feel it was toxins. He's an exotics specialist and often sees birds killed by aflatoxins, so he does know a ton about them and does not feel that they're my problem. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> The biopsy report should be in Monday or Tuesday.

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5813
03/23/03 02:03 AM
03/23/03 02:03 AM

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I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Amy. I do think your vet was on target, especially if you live in an area with a questionable water source. Please let us know what the biopsy results are... and take some comfort in knowing that there wasn't anything you could do, you provided the best life and lots of love for your two <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/gliderangel.gif" alt="" /> .

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5814
03/23/03 02:12 AM
03/23/03 02:12 AM

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One of my big concerns was that in both cases, the illness was sudden. Neither showed any sign of trouble or declining health until just before their deaths. Then again, when my dog had a hermangiosarcoma, he didn't show signs of trouble until the day his spleen erupted. It just seems odd because with people, cancer is slow.

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5815
03/23/03 02:15 AM
03/23/03 02:15 AM

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If it's liver cancer, perhaps it takes awhile to manifest itself? I know people can survive with just half a functioning liver... once it has spread to half the liver, it probably doesn't take long to spread through the remainder, thus the quick illness? That's just speculation on my part, but it seems feasible.

Not all cancers take a long time. Some are more aggressive than others. Hopefully your vet will be able to tell us more, though, when the results are back.

Re: Glider deaths due to cancer? I'm not so sure... [Re: ] #5816
03/25/03 11:42 AM
03/25/03 11:42 AM

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My Georgi died from lung cancer in November. He showed no signs of illness until a few days prior to his death.
I am very sorry for your loss, I know how it feels.


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