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Tests to ask for.... #9463
08/28/03 12:44 PM
08/28/03 12:44 PM

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I love the Health and Hygiene forum, and I think it is a tremendously helpful resource, especially when you have a sick glider and aren't exactly sure what to do....

What I would like to do now is to compile a list here of any tests you would ask the vet for if you had a sick glider...I know that when I had my first sick baby, I had no idea what to ask for, and I am sure there are many others out there in the same position. In a perfect world, the vets would tell us about the different tests and all our options, but at least from my experience, they just don't, and I've been to some pretty good vets...

So I will start off the list with the few things I know, and I invite anyone with experience or knowledge of the subject to add to the list. I would like a list of general tests and a list of tests that are more specific to the problem/symptoms. I would also love descriptions of the lesser known tests, or if some tests require the glider to be sedated.

General: Tests to have done for a wellness check or first tests to run on a sick suggie...

1) Fecal float and direct smear
2) Urinary analysis

Diarrhea:
1) Culture and sensitivity

Respiratory distress:

1) Culture of nasal fluids
2) X-rays (require the glider to be sedated)

Shaking:

1) X-rays to determine or rule out HLP

This is just a VERY basic list...Please help me fill it in as I think it would be a great resource for all glider owners, and possibly even glider vets.

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9464
08/31/03 11:45 AM
08/31/03 11:45 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,583
Sycamore Illinois
Karin Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
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Posts: 11,583
Sycamore Illinois
Great lists of basics Amie...good job. After the holiday, maybe more will check in and have more into to add.

Only thing I want to add, which isn't a test, is for the vet to be sure to check the mouth, teeth, gums. The mouth can tell a great deal to a vet if something isn't quite right.

Karin


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Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9465
08/31/03 05:49 PM
08/31/03 05:49 PM

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Bloodwork? This, too, requires the suggie to be sedated and it's kind of a last resort, but when you have a sick suggie, you want to have everything possible done.

Thanks for compiling this list, Amie.

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9466
08/31/03 09:14 PM
08/31/03 09:14 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
Judie Offline
Serious Glideritis
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
Hmmmm. I am not a vet but these are things I would ask for if my glider were being seen by a vet.....

Wellness check: Fecal smear and direct float.

Diarrhea: 1)Fecal float and direct smear. 2)Cytology panel should be done to try to determine type and % of bacteria and wither or not it is gram neg or gram positive. 3)Culture&Sensitivity This test is important if the bacteria is not sensitive to the med. Sending off to a lab takes about five to seven days to grow and several more days to determine med for treatment. It is important to have this test done on the first visit if the glider shows indications of a bacterial problem to prevent lose of time for correct treatment if first med is not affective.

Self Mutilation: 1)X-ray to determine if there is an impaction. 2)Fecal smear and direct float. 3)Urinalysis 4) Possible Culture & Sensitivity of nasal, oral and cloacal area and or urine. 5)Possible blood draw for lab.

Vomiting: 1)Fecal smear and direct float. May need a cytology panel 2)Urine analysis and possible C&S 3)x-ray to r/o impaction.

Resp. Distress: 1)x-ray 2)C&S of nasal and oral fluids. 2)UA 3)Fecal smear and direct float. Cytology panel. 3)Blood draw for lab

Swollen face: 1)C&S of abcess or oral and nasel fluids. 2) Fecal smear and direct float. 3)UA 4)Blood draw for lab

Gosh...this list can go on and on. Please understand...the vet determines what tests should be done according to what he feels is the cause of illness. The key is to make ourselves aware of tests that can be done and if not being done...to ask the attending vet why not.

I hope someone else comes along and helps with this thread who is more knowledgable than me.

Last edited by Judie; 09/01/03 02:26 AM.
Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9467
08/31/03 09:58 PM
08/31/03 09:58 PM

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Judie...that is exactly the reason I wanted to compile this list...

A question...what does the vet do the cytology panel on? Will he need a fecal sample?? Or do they do a swab...?

Thanks Judie...and everyone else for your help on this!!

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9468
09/01/03 02:23 AM
09/01/03 02:23 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
Judie Offline
Serious Glideritis
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
The vet will take some of the feces to do a cytology test. They use a dye on slides to look under the microscope . The dye stains the bacteria so they can identify it and wither or not it is gram neg or gram positive. Can also tell if there is fungus in it as well as pollens as well as any other matter that is in the stool that has passed through the gliders system.

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9469
09/01/03 10:33 AM
09/01/03 10:33 AM

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Thanks for this informative thread Amie! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I, too, have bookmarked it for possible future reference. Could someone explain the difference between a smear and a float to me please? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9470
09/01/03 05:08 PM
09/01/03 05:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
Judie Offline
Serious Glideritis
Judie  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 9,173
Edwardsville, Kansas 66113
Fecal smear: Ouick to prepare. No distortion of parasites if isotonic saline is used as diluent. Only way to see live trophozoites(isotonic saline must be used as the diluent). Useful for examining feces where trematode eggs are common). Disadvantage: can miss parasite if concentration is too low if too much debris or fat present. May take a long time to examine.

Fecal Floats
1)Saturated Sucrose or Salt: Procedure floats the most common helminth ova and coccidian oocyst. Solutions are inexpensive. There is little debris to obscure the view of the parasite. Disadvantage: Procedure will not float trematode ova and some tapeworm. Distorts Girardia cysts. Time consuming if centrifugation not performed. Unsuitable for fatty stool samples.

2)Zinc Sulfate Floation: Recommended procedure for most fecal exams. Procedure floats most heminth eggs. Best method for protozoan cysts, especially Giardia. There is little debris to obscure view of parasites. Disadvantage: ZnSO4 is expensive and hydrometer should be used to make up the solution.

3)Ethyl Acetate Sedimentation: Procedure recovers ALL types of helminth ova, larvae, and most protozoan cysts. It is the best technique for formalin-fixed samples and for stools with high fat content. Disadvantage: It is more difficult to perform than other techniques. Ethly acetate is flammable and expensive. There is more debris in the preparation preps than in other flotation preps-therefor will take longer to read.

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9471
09/02/03 02:31 AM
09/02/03 02:31 AM

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WOW, great idea to start this! I am beginning to think Judie should go to get her official DMV, lol, anyone else? So, what about prices, I know that was the second part to this post...and no one added if it's a yearly or bi-yearly wellness check-up...ANYONE????

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9472
09/02/03 09:52 AM
09/02/03 09:52 AM

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My exotic vet is rather expensive. For a wellness check, it's $38.00 for the first one and $28.00 for each additional glider. (Nail trims are $10.00 each)

It is recommended to have a check up at least once a year, and a fecal done every six months. My vet charges $18.00 per fecal float. Many vets, however, will do a combined float for the gliders that are housed together, simply because if one has giardia or something, then they should all be treated.

Hope this helps!

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9473
09/02/03 04:25 PM
09/02/03 04:25 PM

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You think that's expensive? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" /> my vet charges 58 for a wellness check! They are trying to charge 22 bucks a pop for nail trimming if you don't have a wellness appointment, and that's only with a technician!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" />

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9474
09/02/03 04:29 PM
09/02/03 04:29 PM

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[:"purple"]What does 58 canadian convert to??? My checks are $25 with nail trimming included for a basic...

Back to this thread tho is there any way we can get a list compiled of everythign in this thread b/c I'd love to print it out and put it in my glider book. [/]

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9475
09/02/03 07:45 PM
09/02/03 07:45 PM

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Tonia...I will probably go ahead and make a webpage where this list can be read without all the other conversation...when I get a chance. If anyone else has the time now and is up to it, feel free to do it...it won't hurt my feelings!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9476
09/02/03 07:46 PM
09/02/03 07:46 PM

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Amie I can probably do that this week or this weekend if you'd like. Since I'm looking for another job I have a lot of free time.

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9477
09/02/03 07:51 PM
09/02/03 07:51 PM

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That would be awesome...just remember to come back here and post the link for us!!

Re: Tests to ask for.... [Re: ] #9478
09/02/03 10:17 PM
09/02/03 10:17 PM

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You can find the sheet on my website.. please go to Glider Anonymous and then to Symptom and Test info <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


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