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Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment? #9019
08/11/03 11:26 AM
08/11/03 11:26 AM

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I found this rather disturbing. It looks to me more of a calcium deficiency. I not sure how someone can claim insufficient lighting was the problem for a nocturnal animal.

http://www.courier-journal.com/features/2003/08/20030811.html

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Denise Beckovich, a veterinary nurse at Shively Animal Clinic, said, "Most of the problems occur because the animals aren't properly taken care of, and most owners don't know what they are supposed to do and not supposed to do. "One gentleman brought his sugar glider in because it was having a hard time climbing. Well, he didn't have the full-spectrum lighting, so it wasn't absorbing the nutrients in its food properly. That caused it to have soft bones, and it couldn't climb."

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Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9020
08/11/03 11:33 AM
08/11/03 11:33 AM
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Rocket,

She is actually stating that it is calcium deficiency, just not directly. It seems her assertion is that the broad spectrum lighting not being used is preventing the absorption of calcium (among other nutrients) and in so causing calcium deficiency. If some agent is not used to aid in calcium absorption (such as vit D-3), then the lighting is needed to properly absorb the calcium. Even though they are nocturnal, in the wild they do get more exposure to light (albeit filtered light) then they do in most owners homes.


Craig
Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9021
08/11/03 12:00 PM
08/11/03 12:00 PM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Rocket,

She is actually stating that it is calcium deficiency, just not directly. It seems her assertion is that the broad spectrum lighting not being used is preventing the absorption of calcium (among other nutrients) and in so causing calcium deficiency. If some agent is not used to aid in calcium absorption (such as vit D-3), then the lighting is needed to properly absorb the calcium. Even though they are nocturnal, in the wild they do get more exposure to light (albeit filtered light) then they do in most owners homes.

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

Hmmmm...if the problem is that not enough calcium is not being provided in the glider's diet (which is a common problem for anyone not familiar with the diet needs of sugar gliders), then providing broad spectrum lighting is not going to fix the problem.

Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9022
08/11/03 12:10 PM
08/11/03 12:10 PM
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That is true, but the article doesn't state what the diet was. Assuming that there was enough calcium in the diet, but that it did not contain vitamin D-3 or some other type of metabolizing agent, then broad spectrum lighting would be required to help with calcium absorption. I don't think that the short segment on this particular case provided enough data to make any particular assertions. With just what was provided, it is in the realm of possibility and possibly probability that the prognosis was correct.


Craig
Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9023
08/11/03 12:36 PM
08/11/03 12:36 PM
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another thing we are finding is that even if the diet was up to par, that there is a bacterial infection that is draining the system of it's nutrients, Without the proper testing to see if it is deed a bacterial infection, then all the calcium in the world will not help it without the proper meds to go stop it.

Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9024
08/11/03 12:47 PM
08/11/03 12:47 PM

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Since pet owners often rouse the gliders during the day for bonding or playtime, I would argue gliders get more light exposure in captivity than they do in the wild.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
the article doesn't state what the diet was. Assuming that there was enough calcium in the diet, but that it did not contain vitamin D-3 or some other type of metabolizing agent

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

Either way, the root cause of the problem is clearly a diet issue, not a lighting issue. I would say the vast majority of the calcium defiency cases involving sugar gliders are because of the lack of the proper amount of calcium in the diet. Fixing the diet will fix the problem, and doesn't require supplemental lighting.

Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9025
08/11/03 12:54 PM
08/11/03 12:54 PM

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Good point on the bacterial infection. I would assume then the vet would have noticed a fever or other symptoms related to infections. Nevertheless, the prescription for an infection would probably be antibiotics, and not supplemental lighting.

Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment [Re: ] #9026
08/11/03 03:04 PM
08/11/03 03:04 PM

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I agree Rocket <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: Veterinary Nurse Misdiagnose Sugar Glider Ailment? [Re: ] #9027
08/12/03 04:55 PM
08/12/03 04:55 PM
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Rocket, that is not necessarily true.., just be cause it is a common knowledge thing amoung the vets and many diagnosis, that many vets do not run proper testing, many just take the symptoms, others just draw blood, but the fact remains that many many do not run xrays to see if there were broken bones, or bacterial cultures.

In many of the cases with bacterial infections, the glider is exhibiting the symptoms of advanced HLP, meaning dragging the hind legs, and seizure activity, along with that some are vomiting,, on the other end of the coin for those that have had multiple gliders come down with it at the same time, several will show symptoms, while some will not.. those that do not show any sumptoms at all , are many times not given the meds, only to have them found dead only days later.

In the case of the glider "Baby that Mary H has now, the symptoms were also hlp symptoms.. with no xrays taken that glider was sent home with calcium.. (dietary), when mary recieved him and got him to the vet, they did the gammet of tests, to only find out he had a separated spine.

NO ONE can assume anymore that hlp symptoms are a cause of bad diet lighting etc.. proper testing needs to be run..

By the way... in this case lighting is diet related, as the UV lighting is used with many nocturnal reptiles to help metabolism their calcium.

I would have been more interested in the tests that were run to elliminate other causes in that article.

I think this whole article needs to be read in it's entirity, it sums everything up..

many people buy exotics and they haven't the knowledge, time or money to care for them properly, sadly the same goes true for gliders, they also stated that over 90% of the exotics bought each year die within the first 2 years. again this goes with lack of knowledge, on both the vets as well as the owners part, the lack of time that is required to research more, and the lack of money to pay for the medical care when it is needed. Those bacterial teats run about 80.00 for me.. a full gammet of tests can easily run over 200.. now mix that with the long term treatments that are needed and special care.

Look at how many rescue homes are filled to the gills with gliders, everyone wants babies, what about the neglected, sick and injured that they don't want.. gliders are not for everyone, and rescues are for far fewer...


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