Posted By: StitchsMom
Luna Autopsy Report - 08/27/06 03:18 AM
Well, I've been putting this post off for long enough. Bear with me as I try desperately to explain this as well to you guys as they did to me. Mods, if this is in the wrong section, please relocate it for me.
Because of their hours, it took me several days to get Luna's body ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> ) up to the clinic. My vet had warned me in advance that her body may not be at it's best by that point, but that it was worth giving it a shot. He instructed me NOT to freeze her body, but to keep her cool in the fridge until I could get her up to the clinic.
The autopsy didn't go as planned. There was more deterioration than we would have liked. They agreed with my vet that sugar gliders are very fragile and that they could still see what they could find. It was confirmed that she did in fact die from fluid in her lungs leading them to confirm the pneumonia diagnosis my vet had made.
Then came the tough part. How did she get it? They gave me a few options.
1. Existing bacteria or other infections in the throat and mouth can be breathed into the lungs. Normally, a person (or animal) would cough it up. However, if the animal has a weak immune system for any reason or simply fails to cough it up (while sleeping for example) it can develop into pneumonia.
I didn't buy this one. Luna seemed fit as a fiddle. I don't believe she had any kind of pre-existing illness nor do I believe she had a weak immune system. Again, I was reminded of their fragility by the doctors.
2. If a person (or animal) that is sick with a cold, flu, pneumonia, etc coughs and the sugar glider than breathes in those air droplets they can get sick as well. It works just like people. Basically, pathogenic organisms infect the respiratory tract and overcome the animal's immune system.
I had heard of gliders catching colds and such so this seemed more likely. However, I had no idea where she would have come into contact with an infected person or animal. Then I realized that, duh!, I take her everywhere with me. Any one of the dozens of strangers that have held her or animals at Petsmart could have been the culprit. I had no idea that allowing strangers to handle my gliders could be so dangerous.
The other sugar gliders checked out just fine. We had a moment of panic the other evening when Squeak decided to throw up after snack time. Because I'm super paranoid right now, I rushed him straight into my vet. He assured me that Squeak is just fine. He asked me what I had fed him and I had to confess that I had given him a few more treats than usual because he recently lost Luna and I wanted to spoil him. He said that it doesn't happen often, but that sugar gliders can get upset stomachs and that is what probably happened. Too much food and stress was what my vet said caused it. (No worries, I've laid off the treats for now and he has been fine). I have Squeak with me nearly 24/7 just because I'm so afraid of losing him. I have my sugs on a 30 day quaruntine. No new gliders can come in and they can't go out. So, no trips for them for awhile.
I think that's everything. I keep trying to explain this to people as well as they explained it to me. Understand that I am by no means a vet and some of this goes right over my head and I was very upset at the time so I'm trying to get it all straight.
The only thing that bothers me about all of this is that I haven't ever heard of another glider dying this way. Have any of you heard of any gliders at all that have gotten sick from another animal or person and then died within just a few days without showing any symptoms until the very last minute? I'm so worried about this happening again in the future. Anyone else have experiences with pneumonia or other respititory illnesses? I'd love to be more educated on the topic. I thought I was prepared for everything, but obviously, respiritory illness is not my specialty. Any help, advice, or anything would be greatly appreciated!
Because of their hours, it took me several days to get Luna's body ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> ) up to the clinic. My vet had warned me in advance that her body may not be at it's best by that point, but that it was worth giving it a shot. He instructed me NOT to freeze her body, but to keep her cool in the fridge until I could get her up to the clinic.
The autopsy didn't go as planned. There was more deterioration than we would have liked. They agreed with my vet that sugar gliders are very fragile and that they could still see what they could find. It was confirmed that she did in fact die from fluid in her lungs leading them to confirm the pneumonia diagnosis my vet had made.
Then came the tough part. How did she get it? They gave me a few options.
1. Existing bacteria or other infections in the throat and mouth can be breathed into the lungs. Normally, a person (or animal) would cough it up. However, if the animal has a weak immune system for any reason or simply fails to cough it up (while sleeping for example) it can develop into pneumonia.
I didn't buy this one. Luna seemed fit as a fiddle. I don't believe she had any kind of pre-existing illness nor do I believe she had a weak immune system. Again, I was reminded of their fragility by the doctors.
2. If a person (or animal) that is sick with a cold, flu, pneumonia, etc coughs and the sugar glider than breathes in those air droplets they can get sick as well. It works just like people. Basically, pathogenic organisms infect the respiratory tract and overcome the animal's immune system.
I had heard of gliders catching colds and such so this seemed more likely. However, I had no idea where she would have come into contact with an infected person or animal. Then I realized that, duh!, I take her everywhere with me. Any one of the dozens of strangers that have held her or animals at Petsmart could have been the culprit. I had no idea that allowing strangers to handle my gliders could be so dangerous.
The other sugar gliders checked out just fine. We had a moment of panic the other evening when Squeak decided to throw up after snack time. Because I'm super paranoid right now, I rushed him straight into my vet. He assured me that Squeak is just fine. He asked me what I had fed him and I had to confess that I had given him a few more treats than usual because he recently lost Luna and I wanted to spoil him. He said that it doesn't happen often, but that sugar gliders can get upset stomachs and that is what probably happened. Too much food and stress was what my vet said caused it. (No worries, I've laid off the treats for now and he has been fine). I have Squeak with me nearly 24/7 just because I'm so afraid of losing him. I have my sugs on a 30 day quaruntine. No new gliders can come in and they can't go out. So, no trips for them for awhile.
I think that's everything. I keep trying to explain this to people as well as they explained it to me. Understand that I am by no means a vet and some of this goes right over my head and I was very upset at the time so I'm trying to get it all straight.
The only thing that bothers me about all of this is that I haven't ever heard of another glider dying this way. Have any of you heard of any gliders at all that have gotten sick from another animal or person and then died within just a few days without showing any symptoms until the very last minute? I'm so worried about this happening again in the future. Anyone else have experiences with pneumonia or other respititory illnesses? I'd love to be more educated on the topic. I thought I was prepared for everything, but obviously, respiritory illness is not my specialty. Any help, advice, or anything would be greatly appreciated!