It has been a long evening spent in the emergency vets office with Pepe, my oldest glider.
I went to feed, and found Pepe laying on top of the covers. when she is usually on the bottom of the pile. When she lifted her head, I could see something was wrong with her eye. Grabing her, I stuffed her into a pouch and off to the vet we went. Now Pepe is not a glider I have ever carried much, she's too grouchy and nippy. So she isn't used to being in a pouch and she rolls and moves about, won't be still.
When we get to the vets, and I ease her out of the pouch, I can tell, she has completely lost the eyeball. I found it in the bottom of the pouch.
Treatment is to be antibiotics for infection, and a baytril conpound for pain. I'm to take her to another vet more experienced with exotics on Friday. These 2 vets decided together on treatment tonight. No surgery because there isn't enough loose skin on the skull to pull together to close the sore spot. They are hopeing it will heal from the inside.
Pepe must be kept seperate from her cagemates until she heals up good. I am going to have to take her to work with me tomorrow, because one of the meds has to be given every 6 hours.
The only thing I can think of that might have caused the problem, would be a toenail. Although the vet tells me it is not that unusual for something like this to happen because of the way the eyes extend outside the face.
Not one time tonight did Pepe crab, and she only nipped me a couple of times, not a strong bite at all. This is the glider I call my Grumpy Grandma because she will crab every time I even walk by the cage. She allowed me to hold her and pet her, and even trim her nails without a fight when she usually does the aligator roll as soon as I touch a foot. It's enough to make you wonder if somehow she knew I was trying to help her.
Kathy God Bless America RIP Sneakers\Abby\Pepe\Missy/Shelby/Buddy
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#135750 08/22/0602:13 AM08/22/0602:13 AM
Oh Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear about Pepe! It's good to know that you got there & got her to a vet before it was made worse by picking or something. Poor baby. She's not giving you any trouble because she's not really a crabby [censored], it's all an act - now she needs you & she knows you're the Mama & you're going to take care of her. Oh goodness. Give that little girl extra kisses from me, even if she crabs - tell her I'm not scared!
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#135751 08/22/0602:13 AM08/22/0602:13 AM
Oh, heavens! Poor little Pepe! Yes, she knows you are there to take care of her, and any strength she had she wasn't going to waste on her facade to keep you away. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />
So, wait, the vet says it's not that unusual for a glider to scratch an eye out, literally, with a toenail? I wonder how many others on the board can relay similar stories, or stories of the eyes being scratched by claws? I don't challenge what the vet says by any means; I'm certainly no expert, but it just seems like the gliders would know better. Unless another glider was scratching and inadvertently scratched and caught her eye. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> It certainly adds another sound (and sobering) reason to keeping the toenails trimmed.
Great job on being so observant, noting her behavior changes, and taking her immediately to the vete. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" /> And do give her extra hugs and mealies. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Forever owned in my heart by my "Eight is Enough" colony:
[:"green"]The only time I've ever heard of a glider's eye coming out of its socket was my own Pika before I got her. She had been attacked by a cat though. I've not heard of any other gliders having their eyes come out of socket... I'm very sorry that your Pepe is going through this. I hope that she will be better soon. She's very lucky to have such a good glider Mama... Please keep us posted on her recovery. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Kathy, big hugs to both you and Pepe for going through such an ordeal. I have to say though, the only time I had ever heard of the eyes missing is once a glider is dead and that is the first thing the others will remove. Did you by chance have any other tests ran on her to see if there was something else going on to where they may have wanted to *remove her* from the colony?
With the care and love you have for your gliders, I dont even have a thought it may have been something in the cage, but this does seem like an odd thing to happen. Maybe this will bring the two of you closer now and she will know that mommy is there for her no matter what. Poor lil baby.
Poor Pepe!!!!! Poor Kathy!!!!! That must have been so traumatic on both of you. My best to you both and please keep us informed on Pepe's recovery progress.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOOOO HOOOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!
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#135756 08/22/0610:17 AM08/22/0610:17 AM
Oh poor little baby! So glad you found that baby in time, what a wonderful momma you are and know that suggie for sure knows it and is gonna be your sweet suggie for sure for a while. PLEASE keep us updated as to the progress. Hugs to the both of you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> I must also say, I've never heard of this being "not uncommon", hmmmm. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />
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#135757 08/22/0612:53 PM08/22/0612:53 PM
I have only heard of the eye and eyeball falling out from swelling from a severe infection behind the eye and eyeball. Usually there will be extreme facial swelling befor all ruptures.
Goodness, this has to be painfull. No wonder Pepe is not herself. Poor baby.
I'm so sorry about Pepe. Hope she (and you) are doing better now. I know you will give her whatever she needs to heal, and it sounds like you may even get a little snuggle time during the process. Please let us know how she's doing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Today has gone well for us, I kept Pepe in her pouch at work till lunch time, then let her have the lunch box to sleep in. She seems to doing OK, but I'm a wreck!
Pepe is over 8 years old, the eldest in my trio. It was most likely (I think) that one of the other two scratched her eye and started this.
I made a mistake in saying it was baytril for pain, it is a Torb compound, and she hates it. Must taste really nasty the way she carries on after getting it.
Kathy God Bless America RIP Sneakers\Abby\Pepe\Missy/Shelby/Buddy
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#135760 08/23/0601:09 AM08/23/0601:09 AM
Good to hear Pepe is doing much better. You should see a really big improvement with her in about three to five days.
draw up about .60 ml of Orange Juice and then the Torb. This way... she will get the med first... followed with something good. Do not remove the syringe till she swollows first.
And now, you take care of yourself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about Pepe. I know she is in good hands. Yes, the reason she probably didn't fight you like normal is because she knew you were there to help her and the little bit of crabbing was her way of telling you Thank you and her nipping you was her giving you love bites for getting her the so needed help. She knews you love her.
Sending hugs your way and hoping for a speedy recovery for Pepe and you too.
Oh Kathy, how distraught you must be and poor Pepe! I'm so sorry to hear this, but I'm glad you caught it when you did. Hopefully she is on the road to full recovery now and both of you can get some much needed rest. Sending prayers and hugs to you and Pepe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Please keep us updated on her progress.
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#135764 08/23/0608:21 PM08/23/0608:21 PM
The sore was drying up nicely, but looks yucky this afternoon. She is not dehydrated, been eating grapes today. Ate at least part of her food last night and a nice mealie snack this morning.
Kathy God Bless America RIP Sneakers\Abby\Pepe\Missy/Shelby/Buddy
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#135765 08/23/0610:48 PM08/23/0610:48 PM
You may want to call your vet to let him know that the socket is no longer dry looking. He may want to do a med change or have you flush the wound with a solution or both.
That is one nasty looking wound-and it does look somewhat infected. I know gliders and other animals can do well without an eye, if that helps any. Perhaps once it heals, the vet will be able to close the wound.
All my thoughts are with you and little Pepe-do keep us updated! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
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#135770 08/25/0612:30 PM08/25/0612:30 PM
Just back from the vet. He says she is healing nicely, no sign of infection. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/multi.gif" alt="" /> Finish out the antibiotics. He gave me some Silvadene to put on the wound. Also told me to give her yogurt (which I have been). I've been feeding soft, cooked foods so she doesn't have to chew hard. He checked her lymph glands and said everything seems great. He also took her temperature, which she really hated and crabbed the whole time. I'm quite sure she would have bitten one of us if she could. He held her by the scruff of her neck, and I held her feet. She was very unhappy about that. I have to keep her seperated from the others for a while longer. But the bottom line is, she's doing very well and healing fast. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" />
By the way, Monday Pepe weighed 120 grams, today she weights 123 grams.
Last edited by kb2e; 08/25/0607:49 PM.
Kathy God Bless America RIP Sneakers\Abby\Pepe\Missy/Shelby/Buddy
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#135773 08/25/0610:10 PM08/25/0610:10 PM
That's really great news Kathy, and I'm so glad to hear it! Hard to believe she'd gain weight while she's ill, but that's terrific! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" /> Keep up the good work Nurse Kathy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
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#135776 08/26/0604:41 PM08/26/0604:41 PM
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />It is with great sadness I must report that Pepe died today.
This morning I found she had not left her bed, and had not touched her food last night. She was very lethargic, and dehydrated. Off to the vet. He did a SubQ injection, and gave a paste to get the good bacteria in her gut a boost.But Pepe died before I got home.
So I must say goodbye to my little grumpy grandma, a friend of 6 years. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/needhug.gif" alt="" />
Kathy God Bless America RIP Sneakers\Abby\Pepe\Missy/Shelby/Buddy
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#135777 08/26/0604:55 PM08/26/0604:55 PM
Oh Kathy I'm so sorry for you!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />Hugs and Kisses to you!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />