GliderCENTRAL

Diarrhea?

Posted By: SugarBaby22

Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 02:24 AM

[:"blue"] I have been answering questions for people and have realized that there are things that I don't know how to deal with or treat if I get a glider or rescue glider with them. So here is my first question.

What do you do if a glider has diarrhea? What are the causes of it?

I know what to do about constipation but have never dealt with diarrhea before so I'm curious to know. [/]
Posted By: Karin

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 02:35 AM

Most times with a rescue it would be very hard to pinpoint the "why". Any upset to their system could cause diarrhea...stress, bacterial/viral infection, diet changes, parasites etc. Personally, I think keeping them hydrated is number one, and if the diarrhea is not very short term, a vet visit is in order beginning with a fecal check. I hope others come it and offer their thoughts too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Karin
Posted By: SugarBaby22

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 02:47 AM

With my reading on it I have seen that, to feed them grapes and stuff. Why would you give them something like that? Wouldn't it make it worse? That's why I am confused. If a glider is constipated things like grapes and apple juice help.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />

Speaking from a Chinchilla point of view, I know if a Chinchilla gets diarrhea that you are supposed to pull the pellets and just give them thier hay, burnt toast, and charcoal blocks to dry it up.

I am just not understanding this.
Posted By: Critter Creations

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 03:19 AM

No you are right grapes and things like that will make it worse so don't feed those. Just keep them well hydrated and what I have done in the past (if I know it is from stress) is give them some baby cereal that has iron in it and this helps it. Now if they are sick they need to have that diarrhea to get rid of the parasite, bacteria or whatever is wrong so you don't want to do that you want to get a stool sample done, get them on meds, and keep them well hydrated. Hope this helps.
Posted By: SugarBaby22

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 04:44 AM

Interesting stuff. I need to add this to my glider book of knowledge!

Thanks!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 05:04 AM

Hi,
As a rule, even with any rescues that come in here, any diarrhea lasting over 24 hours, requires a vet visit. I have found that diarrhea lasting less then 24 hours is usually diet related. At the first sign of diarrhea, all fruit is stopped except apple slices. Usually the problem clears up quickly.
Angie
Posted By: SugarBaby22

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 05:08 AM

Well at any sign of something not right a vet visit would be in store. I don't have a glider with diarrhea, I was just wondering what would be done. I've never experienced diarrhea in a glider but if I do I want to be prepared. I get questions from newbies a lot too, questions like this that I wouldn't have thought to find out about!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 05:25 AM

Way back when I had my Vince and Jesse they would have opposite diet problems. Vince would get constipated and Jesse would get diarhhea.

Vince was prone to constipation because he wouldn't eat his fruits or veggies. We had to hand-feed him fiberous foods that we knew he would eat. Jesse would get diarhhea because she stressed herself out a lot (she was an awful wild crabber when we first got her) and she doesn't react well to new situations. We took her to the vet once for it and had no problems getting a stool sample if you know what I mean...

We ended up feeding Jesse more crickets, pinky mice, chicken, tuna, and other high protein items. We also fed her yogurt to keep her bacterial balance, and apple sauce.

Apples are kind've unique in that they can help both diarhea and constipation. They are good sources of fiber, but they also contain Pectin. Apple Pectin is a good supplement for dietary health.

I wouldn't recommend apple juice however, because normally in the "juicing" process the natural pectin is lost. Some juices add pectin to make up for this- but to be on the safe side I would go with plain old apples or apple sauce.
Posted By: Charlie H

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/25/04 11:35 PM

Changes in diets will cause diarrhea in sugar gliders just as it will in dogs and other animals. One thing that I have not seen mentioned is giardia. It is not uncommon for a glider to have a round with giardia when it changes enviroments, eg. being transferred from one owner or home to another. I have seen posts where a person got a joey or adult glider from a breeder or another owner and the glider developed a case of giardia. Most who respond automatically think the giardia stems from the original owner. This is not necessarily so. Most times the giardia is brought on by the change in diet or enviorment.
Charlie H
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/26/04 02:03 AM

Hi Charlie,
Its true, we all have (animals do too) bacteria in our intestines, usually there is a balance created naturally by our bodies. But in some cases, excessive stress, illness, medications, and a weakened immune system can casue an overgrowth of bacteria.
I am so lucky I have not had any gliders with giardia, although Sydney my first had c-diificle which took a long time to cure. I had several patients over the years that had it and they all were in lots of pain. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
Angie
Posted By: Bourbon

Re: Diarrhea? - 06/26/04 04:52 AM

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
It is not uncommon for a glider to have a round with giardia when it changes enviroments, eg. being transferred from one owner or home to another. I have seen posts where a person got a joey or adult glider from a breeder or another owner and the glider developed a case of giardia. Most who respond automatically think the giardia stems from the original owner. This is not necessarily so. Most times the giardia is brought on by the change in diet or enviorment.

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

Charlie forgive me if I am a tad bit confused here..

Giardia is a protozan parasite, which is not natural in the system, I can see the over growth of bacteria due to stress, but a gliders body can not produce the giardia, it must be introduced into the system, stress will not create the giardia out of mid air, it can however, bring them out of their dormant state, which in essence would mean that the giardia was there to begine with.

Bacteria however is very different, because it is already a norm in the system, the stress can induce the over production of it, it does NOT have to be introduced into the system first like giardia.

could you explain to me how the body produces giardia?


as for the answer to Linda's question, my best advice I would give is to have the glider checked out by a vet, if it is only stress then at the least giardia and bacteria is ruled out, and you have a better piece of mind.

To self medicate or even advise to do so, could potentially put a glider that should be seen by a vet, on hold, while the owner tries to determine what it is themselves, by changing things around in the diet, or offering things that may work. It may be possible to elliminate the symptoms, and not the problem, there for hiding it for a longer period of time.

Just my opinion.
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