A couple days ago, I noticed that the smell coming off one of my cages ("The Indy Crew") was a little stronger than what I would define as 'normal'. I wrote it off to the increasing temperature and humidity that Indiana got blessed with literally overnight. Then last night I noticed that the colony father (Hunter) was "lighter" in weight than I recalled...so I got him on the scale and weighed him: 88 grams (ooh yeah, NOT good). I proceeded to pull out the other members of the "family" one by one: weight ranges were from 100 to 130 grams. The last one out of the pouch (Little Bear) graced me with a pee sample while he was being weighed, and I noticed the color being a bit darker yellow than 'normal'. I grabbed my urine reagant strips, waited the 60 seconds...and my jaw hit the FLOOR! I was getting readings that were WAY high in pH, white blood cells, and protein!! I called my vet this morning and discussed the numbers with him...he suggested I take another sample & check THOSE numbers, then come in if I thought there was a problem.

Well, between then and lunchtime I kept remembering one of my glider angels named Wendy Darling...I lost her to TOTAL RENAL FAILURE from a severe kidney infection. With those painful memories flooding back, I ran by the house to grab the WHOLE pouch & headed to the vet's office. We got a second reading from Little Bear AND a urine reading from Hunter as well....SAME HIGH NUMBERS. FROM BOTH OF THEM!!! I also got a fecal sample from Hunter which came back negative We got antibiotics, I just finished mixing up a batch of "homemade Pedialyte", and I'm going to spend the next 10 days making the world of 5 little fuzzbutts VERY VERY UNHAPPY!!! We will be forcing fluids down them for a day or 2, forcing antibiotics down them, and fussing with them DAY AND NIGHT!

What I need now (other than prayers from all my glider sisters and brothers out there) is a pair of TOUGH LEATHER gloves...my hands already look like I lost a fight with a bramble bush after just ONE dose; imagine while I'll look like after 10 days!

Holy Smokes......That is a problem.....I am praying for your gliders and your hands. I am sending all my positive thoughts to you and your crew!

I am sorry to hear that you have so many sick at one time. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. I hope they get well quick.

Okay, 5 more babies and 1 more momma on my prayer list

But, how in the world do all of them end up with infections at the same time?! What causes kidney infections anyway?

Every time I turn around I hear what someone else is going through and make notes to myself to learn and to be prepaired to handle the same thing. It's that little bit of nerdiness I have that turns everything into a lesson!

So very sorry you have sick babies If I was close I'd come be the bad guy and give all the meds.

Oh man! I am so sorry to hear that Denise! I wish I lived closer to be another pair of hands for you!

Where do you get urine reagent strips?

for the babies and a HUGE for you!

I'm so sorry, Denise. Huge hugs to you and your fighting furry crew. Prayers for you all.

Good luck! I wish you and your babies a quick recovery!!

Crystal, it isn't really that difficult for the infection to get spread from 1 to another if you think about it: Infected glider #1 "marks" the pouch, the cage, whatever--glider #2 walkes through where glider #1 was, washes his paws & ta-da, he has it now too...glider #3 sleeps in the same pouch as #1 and #2. You got the idea.

How to get RID of it (other than antibiotics and forcing fluids) is the challenge: Not only do I keep the babies on an increased liquid regimen, I have to wash their cages like EVERY OTHER DAY! Until their immunity levels get back up again, they can get re-infected over and over.

And Jessica: I got the strips from here:

http://www.calvetsupply.com/product/Urine_Test_Strips/Diagnostic_and_Testing_Products

No they're not cheap, but.....I'm just grateful that they're AVAILABLE to me without going through the vet's office. After doing a couple tests, you learn what is "normal range" for suggies & when you see abnormally high readings here or there, then you know it's time to high-tail to the vet!

Oh no, I'm sorry...I'll be keeping you (& all ur fingers) and your 5 babies in my prayers! I can't even imagine...hugs! Good luck!

Wow Denise ((((HUGS)))) to you. Will be praying all turns out well!!!

Well, they've had their second round of antibiotics (seems to go down a LOT easier with a little mango yogurt ) and 5 sets of toenails have been clipped. Now if I could only do something about those TEETH!! Squirt is EARNING her name, she sinks those teeth into my thumb and WON'T let go!

I'm sad to say that I've had to take their butterfly toy out of the cage...it seems that a couple of the gliders think they can "hide" from me by tucking way down into the wings (which have built-in pouches). It'll go back into the cage once everybody is better.

The one that I'm worried about the most is Little Bear. He seems to be a little dehydrated, so I gave him .4cc of pedialyte on top of his medicine and yogurt. I'll be checking on him throughout the night, hopeful that he improves.

It's going to be a long night.

Lots of prayers and hugs coming your way.

Wow, Im also sending prayers...and Im sure your tired this morning. Your babies are lucky you caught it early and took them straight to the vet

Oh Denise....I'm SO sorry to hear this! What a mess! I, too, wish I was closer so I could bring another set of hands to the mix. Thinking of you...good luck and please keep us posted on the happenings. *sigh*

C'mon Little Bear! Be strong!

Oh, Denise, I can only imagine how terrified you are!

Thank goodness you were so observant and realized something was wrong.

Thank goodness, you took them to the vet right away and got them diagnosed and started on treatment!

I know they're in the best of care! As for Little Bear, have you thought about sub-q'ing a couple times a day?

For "jaws", have you thought about holding her in a thick pouch or wrap her like a burrito in thick fleece?

Sending lots of prayers your direction!!!

I've given it some thought Connie...my friend Jonalle/Talking Feathers has a sub-q kit AND she's had years of experience with sub-q'ing.....and believe me, if I thought it was THAT BAD, I'd have been to her house last night! Little Bear was improving when I last checked in on him at 4pm (it's about time to check again): his fur was snapping back after a count of 3, but with his weight loss the past few days I have to check the middle of his back instead of his shoulders. He seems to have a "surplus" of skin right now (he's lost a few grams these past couple days) so I'll be keeping a close eye on his appetite.

And "jaws"....trust me I've been using fleece & some of them find a way to wiggle PAST that & nail me! I'm not gonna give up though!!! At least they don't have sharp nails to SCRATCH with anymore

I've gotta move on: there's chicken on the grill, a storm brewing & a boy that needs to be tent-tested. I'll be back later.

Are the strips specifically for animals or can you use the ones humans use?

Hope the chicken was good and the storm moves on by! We have stormy clouds here in Michigan right now too!. I'm glad you caught this before it became more serious and was thinking you might find some gloves at a motorcyle/sport utility vehicle type store. My son rides everything from a crotch rocket to quads & a Harley and gets all of his riding gloves at that type of store. It would be the only place I could think since it's summer now. Hope that helps!

These strips are for animals only...but I know that the human ones can test the glucose level of suggies and just about any other creature. It seems they have strips that test 2 things at once: glucose and ketones, is it? But the ones I have test 10 things with one pee sample...but they don't rely on the specific gravity results, I'm told. If those come out with "wonky" numbers, there's a different test to peg the problem better.

Well, Little Bear is doing much MUCH better on his tent testing: his skin snaps back almost immediately! I think he's out of major trouble now. I see evidence that the antibiotics are kicking into EVERYONE'S systems...I'll try to test tomorrow for changes in readings.

I'm EXHAUSTED and going to go pass out.

That is great news!

Hugs n prayers coming ur way

Sue
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That's fantastic news! I'm so happy for you!!!

This is GREAT news, Denise! So happy that things seem to be turning around. Your hard work is paying off! Hope, too, that the chicken was good and finished before the storms. :-)

Time for another update:

The chicken got a little "crispy" because I was rushing it before the storms hit...nonetheless, it was delicious!

Just finished with giving another round of antibiotics: I'm TICKLED PINK to say that Little Bear willingly gave me a hefty pee sample (wish I'd had something nearby to catch it with besides a square of toilet paper!) and the color is less yellow than it has been! Equally tickled to say that everyone is realizing that Mom is going to give them medicine whether they like it or not, so there's less fighting and squirming going on. Appetites are very good, their dish is nearly empty from last night's feeding---BML is licked CLEAN, just a few pea shells left to wipe away. So things are progressing forward in a positive fashion.

For new folks following along who have never experienced the "joy" of giving meds, I'll fill you in on a couple tips: I'm filling my 1cc syringe with the alloted amount of antibiotic, then adding about .4cc of berry-flavored yogurt before I grab my "patient". After that syringe is emptied, I fill ANOTHER .3cc of just yogurt and give THAT to my "patient" as well. The yogurt is helping to offset the effects of the antibiotic (replacing some of the intestinal bacteria being killed off) AND it helps the medicine go down a little better. Putting the syringe at the side of the mouth and adding a little at a time prevents me from getting bitten and also cuts down on the struggling. When I see the tongue has cleared everything in the mouth, I repeat the process until the syringe is empty.

I'm anxious to get a pee sample from a couple "patients" and see if we have any reduction of numbers in some of the test results...only THEN will I be breathing a little easier and be less stressed out.

This is GREAT news...sounds like things are headed in a definite positive direction - yayyyyyy! Little Bear sounds like a regular trooper - he needs extra kisses and lovin's! hehehe

Love getting the updates...and hey, I'd say the chicken was a job well done, considering the circumstances!

Congrats on the progress, Denise!

I am also anxiously waiting for the next sample. Please let us know. I know we will see some reduced numbers.

Here's the update you all have been waiting for: (drumroll please)

Leukocytes (white blood cells) still up there, more favoring "moderate" than "small". Protein has come down a notch (from 100+ to 30+). pH has come down from 7.5 to 6.5 (that's a drop of 2 notches ). Ketones fluctuating between small & moderate, but at least lower than Friday (between moderate & large).

And the best part? Hunter needed a little "inspiration" to give me his sample....but Little Bear gave me a RIVER freely!

So.....this says that the meds ARE kicking in, we just need to keep up the regimen we have going on (which we can do) and NOT WAVER. Easy cheesy.

Keep your good thoughts rolling in, they ARE working! and and heart-felt THANK YOU'S from all of us here.