GliderCENTRAL

vet trip

Posted By: Anonymous

vet trip - 03/11/03 05:20 PM

I had a prob come up with Binx this Saturday. I woke up to get him out of his cage and his back legs where not working right. It was like he couldn't fully extend them. I ended up make an emerg vet trip. He told me that the calcium wasn't sticking to his bones and that he needed more Vit D3. He told me that his bones were 40% below the strength they needed to be. I do feed Binx the BML mix and it still wasn't enough. So I just wanted to let you all know to make sure that your gliders are getting enough vitamins and calcium.
Alicia and Binx <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 05:55 PM

Jaz...
So sorry to hear about Binx. I hope he is back to full strength soon! Did the vet say it was HLP? Did he prescribe any kind of liquid calcium? As for the BML, does Binx eat it all? Again, I'm very sorry that he is having problems. If you need anything, let us know.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 07:01 PM

He just said the bones weren't strong enough. Binx did eat most of the BML and I also gave him cottage cheese and yogurt. He told me to start feeding something called primate diet and some baby bird hand feeding food. They are both high in Vit D3 and calcium. The VitD3 is supposed to help the calcium stick the his bones.
Alicia
Posted By: BeetleJuice

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 07:33 PM

Alicia,

Many times, HLP is a symptom not the cause of an illness. Did your vet run fecals or cultures to determine if there was something else going on that is preventing calcium absorption? If he was that low on calcium, the vet should have given supplemental calcium through injection or a stronger oral concentration to help fight the HLP from progressing. If your vet didn't run any of these tests, you may want to contact him/her and see about getting them ran and about calcium supplementation.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 07:51 PM

The vet took X-rays of Binx and you could see how fragile his bones were, they didn't show up to well. He can still use his legs just fine. The vet said it was a warning sign and the stuff he gave will help his bones grow stronger. Today and yesterday it was like it never happened he moves really well and tries to play and jump still.
Alicia
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 07:57 PM

Alicia...
Please don't take this the wrong way. I am not trying to say that you or your vet is wrong, but I am really worried that something else may be going on here. It is extremely unusual for a glider on BML (that actually EATS it) to come down with HLP or a calcium deficiency. When a glider gets sick, it uses up their calcium stores very quickly, making it look like HLP, and when you get them some more calcium, they seem to get better for a while because their body did need the calcium, but there is still some other problem hiding somewhere. Did the vet run any other tests or just take the x-rays? I don't mean to scare you or anything, I just think it is better to be safe than sorry, especially with these unusual circumstances.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 08:25 PM

Alicia - I have to agree with Aggiesgirlamie - there almost HAS to be another problem somewhere. The baby bird hand feed you mention - is it seeds? If so, I don't think I would feed them. We are not vets but it truly sounds like there is more to Binx's problem than you have been told, or that your vet is aware of. Please, insist on more tests or perhaps seek another vet's advice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Lucy

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 08:53 PM

Does Binx have a mate? I know sometimes it's really hard to figure out which glider is eating what --

I had a glider on BML who developed a slight case of HLP, and it turned out that she had giardia, which is a parasite that basically gobbles up good nutrients. It's rare that a glider on BML would develop HLP if a) there's not another illness going on, and b) if the glider is actually eating the BML.

Regardless, it sounds like in addition to the x-rays, Binx would benefit from having a fecal analysis done to see if there's a possible parasite present.

Keeping my fingers crossed for Binx, and I hope things improve quickly. Please keep us posted!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/11/03 10:22 PM

I must concur with Aggiesgirlamie and Lucy. Internal parasites such as giardia and trichomonas attach themselves to the intestinal walls and drain off the nutrients and minerals including calcium so the glider does not receive adequate nutrition to stay healthy. A direct fecal smear can easily determine whether giardia or trichomonas is present and does not cost much. My vet charges $11.65 for the test.

Additionally, enterococcus can be a possibility. Eatting contaminated food items can cause it. Enterococcus is a bacteria that can live in the digestive tract. While it is not dangerous if a person/animal has a strong immune system, it can be dangerous/deadly if the balance of healthy flora in the digestive tract has been disrupted. A simple bacterial culture done using a special swab on the cloacal area can determine if enterococcus bacteria are present in sufficient number as to cause illness.

Too many times a vet looks only at symptoms being displayed and tends to treat those symptoms not realizing there is another underlying primary cause for the symptoms which needs to be determined/treated. Please consider having your vet do the above testing ASAP to rule out the above-mentioned conditions.
Posted By: Lucy

Re: vet trip - 03/12/03 12:53 AM

Jaz, I'm just thinking about how upset I was when my glider was sick, and how awful it was. I just want you to know that we're here to talk and to support you as you help Binx recover. Please keep us posted, and if your vet hasn't checked out these things, it would be a good idea....

We're here if you need us!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/13/03 02:01 AM

Alicia,

How is Binx today? I hope you know that we are all here for you. If you can, please keep us posted on how your little one is doing.
I will be keeping Binx and yourself in my thoughts. I wish him a speedy recovery <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

Thank you
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/13/03 09:20 PM

Binx is doing good right now. Its like it never happened. I will be checking with my vet to make an appt for a fecal smear. Thanx for the addvice. The bird food is a powder you add water to and turns to a paste. I read the ingrediants and it is high in calcium and Vit D3. The primate diet is canned and kinda reminds me of firm dog food, it is high in Vit D3. But Binx is doing great, every morning his toys are moved around and played with. He is active and attentive and still eats great. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Alicia and Binx <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: vet trip - 03/15/03 10:03 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your Binx. I hope he recovers fully. My Riker is on the same baby bird formula, and improving-but alot longer recovery time, probably because he is so young. Will keep you in our prayers. Glad to hear he is doing better. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: vet trip - 03/17/03 05:11 PM

I took in the stool sample on Saturday. The vet said the results all came back neg. So yeah about that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" /> Does Riker eat the formula and the BML mix both??
Thanks for all the addvice and help.
Alicia and Binx <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: vet trip - 03/18/03 07:55 AM

Hi jaz- <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />
He is now, because he isn't eating as much on his own as he needs to stay healthy. He's almost there though. We should be able to stop the bird formula in a day or two. In addition, he gets fresh fruits and veggies, fruit nectar, and Gliderade, along with meal worms and crickets about once a week (only 1 or 2).He also likes applesauce, gerber fruits and veggies, especially sweet potatoes, and the gerber pureed turkey (though if he ever were to see a turkey, I don't think he'd like it very much! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />). Let me know if I can help further. I was wondering, jaz,if your little one is ill? I hope not. If so, please let me know. I will add him(her?) to my prayers.Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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