GliderCENTRAL

Help she's blind!!

Posted By: Merissa

Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 04:47 AM

I know i havent been on here in a LONG time! But anyways. We have a new glider. We babysat one of our friends gliders while they went out of town (The mother had 2 babies) We kept them all for a week. Well I decided to buy the female baby (I completely fell in love with her) The babies are 12 weeks old now. We officially got her when she was 9 weeks. Well every thing has been perfect with her! Until tonight. I got her out for play time and her eyes were white! Both of them. I checked her out and made sure there was no injuries on her eyes and they look perfect. But they are white. They wasnt like that yesterday. I was talking to her and she wasnt looking at me like she usually does. and I moved objects in front of her and nothing. She acting okay. playful, loveable. Its just her eyes! & she not looking at things that are moving. What do i do? Im calling the vet Monday morning! Do I need to call an E-vet? Or wait till monday?
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 04:58 AM

I would definately take her to your vet on Monday. Always good to make sure their is not unlying health issues.

I have a blind glider. his name is Stevie and he knows it. I really do not have to do much different with him. Their other senses take over and Stevie does very well. I always put his pouch and his food in the same place but other then that he is a happy healthy 3 year old suggie. He has no fear thou so during playtime I have to watch him like a hawk so he doesnt hurt himself... in his cage thou he is KING

If you need any help or advice of just someone to talk to feel free to PM me and I will do what I can.
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 10:03 PM

How is she today?
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 10:15 PM

She doing good. Her eyes are still white though. Its not her whole eye. Just her pupils. Only problem I have is that when I go to rub her when she sleeping and I wake her up she crabs. Idk if its where she can't see and I shock her? We are taking her to the vet in the morning.
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 10:17 PM

Im going to PM you.
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/20/11 11:09 PM




(Without flash)





(Without flash)





(Without flash)





(With flash)






(With flash)






She wouldnt sit still so I was just snapping pictures lol. She's a cutie. Poor baby :/
Posted By: StitchsMom

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 12:51 AM

Poor baby. She does look like she has some sort of cataracts. This can result from injury, but I don't usually see it in two eyes if that's the case. I had a guinea pig that was blind in one eye when I got her. She had some hay poke her eye and it turned white (that's what the previous owners told me anyway). What diet is she on? Has she seen a vet previously? What diet was she on before? What is in her cage with her?

I had a ferret years ago that developed cataracts in both eyes in about two weeks. It was really fast as it set in, but it still didn't happen overnight. It's odd that her eyes did this so quickly.
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 12:52 AM

With something this serious that happened this fast, I wouldn't wait. I'd get her to an e-vet ASAP. It may be from an abscess or infection in her eyes that needs to be treated immediately so the blindness isn't permanent.
Posted By: Johannasgliders

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:01 AM

They do look like cataracts. Poor baby. heart
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:09 AM

Keeping your Baby in my thoughts I hope she gets better Poor Little baby <3
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:31 AM

Let me know what your vet thinks after your appt tomm. If your vet is looking to talk to another that is treating a blind glider just let me know... Mine has an eye specialist that comes to his clinic 2 times a month also and Both vets will consult with any vet....

She is adorable. I will be hoping it is not total blindness or reversible! good luck at your visit!
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:38 AM

Stich's mom: She's on BML. She has been on it since she was weaned. & Yes. My friend took her to the vet when she was 6 weeks opp. for a check up and everything was okay. She has a hanging pouch, a wheel, 2 food bowls, a couple blankets, and 2 foraging toys.

Suggiemom1980: I will call the E-vet and see if they want me to bring her in tonight or wait until in the morning.

Janie: & okay I will let you know. Can you PM your vets number so I can bring it in just in case?

& thanks everyone. Please please please keep her in your thoughts.
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:45 AM

Sent you a PM with my vets contact info =)
Posted By: pappy1264

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 02:38 AM

This is my little Helen. She was born this way. Light gets through to the optical nerve, so her eyes will 'pin' in bright light, but she cannot see, even in shadows. But it does not stop her. I always announce myself when approaching her, and move my hand very slowly so she smells me before my hand touches her, so she knows it is only me. She is with her sister, whose eyes are fine. These babies came to me extremely malnourished (at almost 6 mos, Helen weighed 38 grams, Sydney weighed 48. With a good diet, they doubled their weight in 2 weeks! They are now both little chunckettes!) Here is Helen playing with my hair, those are her eyes, not from flash.

Attached picture Helen playing with my hair.jpg
Posted By: Johannasgliders

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 03:40 AM

Originally Posted By: pappy1264
This is my little Helen. She was born this way. Light gets through to the optical nerve, so her eyes will 'pin' in bright light, but she cannot see, even in shadows. But it does not stop her. I always announce myself when approaching her, and move my hand very slowly so she smells me before my hand touches her, so she knows it is only me. She is with her sister, whose eyes are fine. These babies came to me extremely malnourished (at almost 6 mos, Helen weighed 38 grams, Sydney weighed 48. With a good diet, they doubled their weight in 2 weeks! They are now both little chunckettes!) Here is Helen playing with my hair, those are her eyes, not from flash.


She's precious!!!! heart
Posted By: pappy1264

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 01:50 PM

Thank you. She is a sweet girl to people and her sister, but hates any other glider (I am sure this is a defensive thing on her part.) She came to me days from death, malnourished, half bald and what fur she did have the an awful reddish brown sort of color and man did she smell! But thankfully it was all diet related, no parasites! She was followed very closely by our vet, she gained weight and never had any other issues, her fur grew in beautifully. And now, she is a chunky monkey! lol
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/21/11 03:17 PM

Good luck today Merissa ... I am thinking about you and your little girl =)
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 07:03 PM

Sorry it took so long to reply. I took her to the vet yesterday morning. She has cataracts in both of her eyes. The vet said it was not an injury. She said it it weird how it happened over night. She said she can see bright lights but can not see objects. So she is blind. She said the only concern is that she might catch glaucoma in her eyes. She said she probably wont but it could happen. She said if that does happen her eyes will turn reddish color. Like its irritating her. If that happens I have to take her to the vet ASAP. She said she will give me eye drops if that happens and if the eye drops dont work then they will have to remove her eye.She doesnt think it will happen though. So please keep my baby in your thoughts. Maybe everything will work out. & She said that as she gets older her eyes might get stronger and there is a slight chance that as she gets older she might get some vision back. But she not sure if it will happen or not. She wants me to bring her back in next month for a check up on her eyes.
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 07:13 PM

poor little girl... glad your vet is staying ontop of it for you =) If you need anything let me know
Posted By: Johannasgliders

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 07:21 PM

Don't be sad. The good lord put her in your hands for a reason. He knew you would take care of her. No matter what happens shes happy and loved. heart


Is there any way to fix the cataracts? They fix them on other animals. It's just a thought. dunno
Posted By: yiyo

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 07:52 PM

hug2 hug2
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 08:37 PM

There is no reason why she won't adjust and have a very happy life. Animals adapt to things like this better than we humans. You may want to keep everything in the same place in her cage, to make it easier for her to get around. You can put hammocks at different levels too, in case she falls. They will catch her and keep her from getting hurt.
Posted By: JillMarie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 09:03 PM

Originally Posted By: Johannasgliders
Don't be sad. The good lord put her in your hands for a reason. He knew you would take care of her. No matter what happens shes happy and loved. heart




agree
Posted By: Janie

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 09:51 PM

Actually I switch things around in Stevie's cage.. The only things I ALWAYS leave in the same place is his food and his sleeping pouch. If she is anything like him I bet she will appreciate changes and new things to explore... I do use hammocks at various levels incase Stevie looses his balance and falls although he usually doesnt. Also you might want to put treats inside toys ..Stevie has a fantastic sense of smell and loves to go and find all the goodies I hide for him and although his siblings that can see are with him... it is usually stevie who finds treats first ...

I use treats in his playroom also and he loves to explore... I never let him unsupervised in the playroom thou because He likes to climb high and then glide.. since he cant see where he is jumping to my hubby or I make sure we catch him LOL....

Stevie is very happy and although I feel badly he is blind, just as I do for your little girl ... he is very happy and I am sure she will be too... =) He loves life and I do my best to spoil him with a variety of toys and treats and playthings=) If you want some ideas for safe toys just let me know ...
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 10:41 PM

Yeah I planned on buying some hammocks to put in her cage. I have some extra ones I just got to find them lol. I noticed last night when ever she wakes up and I let her out she slowly walks around slow for maybe 10 minutes like she making sure there is nothing in her way and then she just takes off running lol So far she doing good. She stays in my shirt more then she does in her cage. I dont want to leave her in there because 1)She by herself for right now. and 2) Because I wanna watch her and make sure nothing happens to her. Ive never had to deal with this and it just makes me paranoid. lol. But she a happy little girl and it doesnt seem to bother her that bad.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/22/11 11:26 PM

thats good to hear! I Wish her a Long happy life!
Posted By: MIbabe

Re: Help she's blind!! - 11/23/11 07:42 AM

She is blessed to have such a wonderful mommy. Sending good thoughts and strength to the both of you. I know you two were meant for each other as you both will learn together and guide each other through this journey. Blessed Be. mlove hug2
Posted By: SecretSquirrel

Re: Help she's blind!! - 12/30/11 05:18 AM

I was wanting to check in and see how your little girl has adapted.
Posted By: Mikini

Re: Help she's blind!! - 12/30/11 05:46 AM

Awww... such a sad story for both gliders, but happy endings with good mommies. Good luck to all.
Posted By: Merissa

Re: Help she's blind!! - 01/03/12 02:40 AM

She doing good!! Only problem is she falls alot! She loves to explore and I feel bad for following her around every where she goes but every time she gets up high some where she falls off of it. Its making play time real hard!! & Another thing we can only have time to bond when she asleep (She sleeps in my shirt) but when she wakes up she wont have anything to do with me. She wont come to me, Play with me nothing. & I cant never catch her. I know its because she cant see me but its really hard. But we will get used to it!!
Posted By: SecretSquirrel

Re: Help she's blind!! - 01/06/12 04:31 PM

I'm happy that you two are adapting, and that you are caring enough that you are willing to adapt with her. :gluck: on keeping everything progressing and getting you both used to the change.
Posted By: manje

Re: Help she's blind!! - 01/07/12 05:33 AM

Cataracts can develop pretty quickly. I know this is a little off topic but my husband went blind w/in a week from cataracts (diabetes). There is usually some light perception but that's about it. She'll be okay, she'll learn to adapt and will never know the difference. She's a cutie!

I don't know much about blind gliders, but I am a teacher of blind students and when I work with young children and babies I find it helps to put a rattly toy within reach and let them move around to find the toy. It gives them the encouragement to explore their environment so they can learn what's there. Maybe you should look around for some noisy toys just for her and present them during playtime. Stick some treats in them or something so she'll be motivated to look around and see what else she can find. I'm curious to know how she reacts. smile
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