I have seen a few lately ask about spaying a female, and why isnt it done.
Well, not long ago, I lost my very first glider Bug to a urinary bladder infection. During the necropsy, Dr.Tristan showed me all the different parts inside a female glider, as all the other necropsies I stood in for were always males... Although it was difficult to do, as this was one of my own, you have to be able to learn where and when you can...however, this is not the way for most as many do not have a stomach to watch a necropsy.
As he was looking for the cause of death, he took the time to teach me why they are so hesitant to do a spay on a female. The organs are so small and fragile, and lay behind other parts of the anatomy. So for one, they have to go *in deep* to get to the parts, secondly the parts are too small and fragile to try and work on.
Attached is a pic of the female organs. Please DO NOT LOOK at this if you have a weak stomach. For those of you that do and are able to look at it, keep in mind the largest part you see, is actually smaller than a quarter.
WOW! Is the large red organ the bladder? I can tell the fallopian tubes and what looks to be a horned uterus. And is this from your Bug? If it is then her life definately had a higher purpose... teaching other! How hard this must be for you! And thank you so much for sharing!!! You were a big help to me recently when I had troubel with my babies.
I'm a nurse, so I am all over the pic, zooming in... LOL But hopefully the weaker bellied members will stay away! It's not for the timid!!!
Robin, you are correct. Yes, this was from my Little Bug. She was able to teach me more and I am hoping through her, we will be able to help at least one glider out there.
I forgot to mention how zoomed in this actually is... it had to be, in order to get a good visual of it. If it helps to give an idea of how zoomed in it is, it is sitting on a hand towel...I had one person ask me via email if it was on a piece of carpet....
Thank you for posting this, Peggy, I hope the mods will save it for others to see in the locked anatomy 101 section. I am so sorry about Bug, but at least she could give you one last gift.
Beth
Glide free Dimitri and Tegan and right-side up!
Re: Why Spaying is complicated
[Re: kitsune]
#657865 10/17/0803:19 AM10/17/0803:19 AM
Peggy, Thank you for sharing this picture and the information about why spaying is not recommended for gliders. I know it was difficult for you to witness the necropsy of your little Bug, but the information you learned and are able to pass on are invaluable. Thank you
Peggy, thank you for not only posting this, but having this done so more could learn. I imagine this had to be very hard on you. I have been in on a few necropsies and they are tough. I am very you lost Bug, but hopefully her legacy will live on in those the knowledge gained helps. God bless.
You know that my heart goes out to you about loosing your little Bug but all I can say is WOW! Most of us would never get a chance to see something like this if it wasn't for you and Dr Tristan. Thanks to both of you for your dedication to sugar gliders and your efforts to educate this community.
Anita Rae StealthWheels, MagnumWheels and more at Atticworx
Another note about spaying... When I worked at a veterinary clinic in high school I learned that spayings are the bloodiest surgery they do. I actually got the chance to watch a few and even have pictures somewhere. Imagine that much blood loss for a sugar glider? It would be so much more difficult to control it and ensure they do not lose too much blood because there would such a fine line between acceptable blood loss and fatal blood loss.
My bird's vet has performed many spayings on cockatiels ('tiels are small, cockatoos are big, many people confuse the two) but he is also very well known for his surgical skills and his skills as an avian vet in general. Also, he only does them in cases where it's absolutely necessary, such as with a hen that has hormonal problems causing her to lay too many eggs too often, which can cause a variety of problems that may lead to the death of the hen. I went through this with my own cockatiel years ago and if I'd had a vet back then that could have spayed her and put an end to it I would have done it, but only because we'd already had too many close calls with egg-binding and calcium defficiancy. It went on for about four years and I can't even count the number of vet trips I thought would be her last. Ultimatly, she stopped laying and is still around today at the ripe old age of 16 and enjoying her golden years in about as much comfort as a geriatric bird can.
Sorry about your baby It must have been really hard for you to watch that, let alone take pictures of it and post them here. It truly was for "the good of the glider", though, and I am sure many people here will benefit from it.
No it is not the same as a UTI. Her story is in Real Stories, and it IS very hard for me to talk about. Bug showed NO SIGNS at all of being ill. She was a very petite glider and I shared my fears of that with many, including the vet who had done blood work just a couple months prior and everything came back normal. No signs at all.....
Thank you for sharing that. As painful as it is. It bring us back to reality and makes us all aware of just how tiny ALL of their bodily systems are and just how fragile they are. These are after all, exotic animals and must be treated as so. Thanks again for sharing.
Thank you for sharing that. As painful as it is. It bring us back to reality and makes us all aware of just how tiny ALL of their bodily systems are and just how fragile they are. These are after all, exotic animals and must be treated as so. Thanks again for sharing.
It could not have been better said! Very well said, jonglider!
Wow, Peggy! You have brought forth an education most of us would never have gotten, through your little girl, Bug. Bug lives on through all of us! Thank you, Peggy!