GliderCENTRAL

Joey removed from pouch too early

Posted By: Anonymous

Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/19/16 10:29 PM

Long story short a Vet that will no longer have my business removed a Joey from the pouch and the nipple this afternoon.(the took forever getting it back in)
Joey was still pink and looked to be only 1/2 of OOP size.

Any thing I can do to help the chances that it might reattach?
Posted By: Feather

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/19/16 11:54 PM

I am sorry this happened. I don't know if the joey can reattach or not. You can only say a prayer and watch in the coming days.

Please take the time to register so that you can take full use of the site, I am going to move this post to the appropriate forum.
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/20/16 12:17 AM

Please feel free to call me. I have a great deal of experience with joeys.
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/20/16 01:11 AM

Thank you very much.
I just left another vet that would see me and she says the joey has not reattached and probably wont. She believes that it is too young to be nursed by hand, only about 3-4 weeks in pouch.
Can only hope now.
Posted By: Rebecca

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/20/16 10:21 PM

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry. Please keep us posted on the little guy or gal's progress.
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/21/16 03:51 AM

How much does the Joey weigh?
Posted By: LSinc

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/21/16 12:33 PM

This is so sad! How could a vet make such a mistake? I'm so sorry this happened! :'(
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/21/16 02:03 PM

I would suggest contacting the clinic where this vet practices (I know you do not want to do this) to make sure this does not happen again.

If they say they treat sugar gliders, there is no excuse for their not knowing this about any marsupial. Joeys dislodged from the nipple too young are not able to reattach.

Try your best to be calm when you contact them rather than angry (which you have a right to be) and confrontational. They will be more apt to listen to you if you do.
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/22/16 02:25 PM

Thank you all.

Found another local vet that treats gliders.
Took Genesis in yesterday. I was worried about her carrying around a dead joey. I didn't know if she would remove it herself and she was appearing depressed. The new Vet was wonderful. She read over the records from the previous idiot and "that dumb [censored]" was the kindest thing she said about him.
She checked Genesis out and using her scope checked in the pouch. She said that she could not see the face enough to tell if it was attached but that it was still pink and healthy looking.
The only thing she could think of was that Genesis being an experienced mother knew it was not feeding and moved it to another nipple. Seems the nipple swells and acts like a cork in a bottle to hold the joey on. I am absolutely positive the joey was detached. The Vet held them more than 18 inches apart at one point.

Nothing is 100% so we really just have to wait and see. But I believe I should be able to see tell a size difference soon if the joey is still growing. I will check during tent time in a few days. I don't want to stress her by constantly messing with her belly.

@Suggiemom1980
The Vet didn't weigh the joey. Just help it over to me and said "want to see before I try to put it back?" It was about 1 inch long and looked like a pinkie (baby rat)
I did not notice any details such as toe formation or such as I was a bit in shock at the moment.

I am really surprised there are so little know about these little bundles of love, joy and razor sharp claws.
Heck I spoke to a Professor of veterinary medicine that specializes in small exotic mammals at Texas A&M and he stated that he knew very little about joey development (other than it was mostly done in pouch and took about 2 months) and would have to look up info on the internet.

@LSinc
I honestly do not know especially after I got a copy of his exam and read it.

@KarenE
I did return to the clinic the next day and after getting a copy of the exam I spoke to the other partner vet. She apologized and offered a refund. I declined and let her know that I would give them bad reviews and would be filing a complaint with the Texas Veterinarian Board. She said she understood and that it was the other Dr's choice to see gliders and she had no say in what animals he treated but she would talk to him and suggest he not treat animals that he knew so little about.

I did leave a negative review on the SGH Vet page where he was the only one listed for my area. Soon as I can figure out how I will submit the new vet that we visited so someone one else will have a choice.

Again thank you all
Posted By: Rebecca

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/22/16 02:59 PM

Aftershock911,

What city in Texas do you live in?
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/22/16 03:26 PM

I am in Conroe... Northern most suburb of Houston.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/23/16 02:10 PM

Originally Posted By: Aftershock911
Thank you all.

Found another local vet that treats gliders.
Took Genesis in yesterday. I was worried about her carrying around a dead joey. I didn't know if she would remove it herself and she was appearing depressed. The new Vet was wonderful. She read over the records from the previous idiot and "that dumb [censored]" was the kindest thing she said about him.
She checked Genesis out and using her scope checked in the pouch. She said that she could not see the face enough to tell if it was attached but that it was still pink and healthy looking.
The only thing she could think of was that Genesis being an experienced mother knew it was not feeding and moved it to another nipple. Seems the nipple swells and acts like a cork in a bottle to hold the joey on. I am absolutely positive the joey was detached. The Vet held them more than 18 inches apart at one point.

The incident of removing the joey happened 4/19, so there are two possibilities. Are you 100% sure she was only carrying ONE joey when you took her in to that first vet? If so, and the joey she is carrying now is still viable, then we have to assume it did reattach to the nipple.

However, based on that vet's inexperience, can you be 100% positive there was indeed only one joey in her pouch to begin with? If you are not sure, then it is very possible you are seeing a healthy second joey dunno


Nothing is 100% so we really just have to wait and see. But I believe I should be able to see tell a size difference soon if the joey is still growing. I will check during tent time in a few days. I don't want to stress her by constantly messing with her belly.

@Suggiemom1980
The Vet didn't weigh the joey. Just help it over to me and said "want to see before I try to put it back?" It was about 1 inch long and looked like a pinkie (baby rat)
I did not notice any details such as toe formation or such as I was a bit in shock at the moment.

I am really surprised there are so little know about these little bundles of love, joy and razor sharp claws.
Heck I spoke to a Professor of veterinary medicine that specializes in small exotic mammals at Texas A&M and he stated that he knew very little about joey development (other than it was mostly done in pouch and took about 2 months) and would have to look up info on the internet.

@LSinc
I honestly do not know especially after I got a copy of his exam and read it.

@KarenE
I did return to the clinic the next day and after getting a copy of the exam I spoke to the other partner vet. She apologized and offered a refund. I declined and let her know that I would give them bad reviews and would be filing a complaint with the Texas Veterinarian Board. She said she understood and that it was the other Dr's choice to see gliders and she had no say in what animals he treated but she would talk to him and suggest he not treat animals that he knew so little about.

In your shoes I would only have declined the refund IF they insisted I sign something saying I would not file any complaints or post any bad reviews. Otherwise I would gladly take that refund. Why not? Did you also file with the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?

I did leave a negative review on the SGH Vet page where he was the only one listed for my area. Soon as I can figure out how I will submit the new vet that we visited so someone one else will have a choice.

Yes, we received your review.

Again thank you all
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/23/16 04:15 PM

@KarenE

No I do not know 100% there was one. Only that there was one "lump" I could feel on her right side and after the problem for at least the next 2 hours it would "float around in the pouch moving freely. I did take her to another vet in Houston that saw her free of charge that night and they used a scope and said the baby had not reattach at that time there was no mention of a second one at that time.
I found another local vet and went to see her because I could not get an answer as to if we should leave the joey in pouch and let the mother take care of removal and disposal or if a vet should remove it before that were issues. This is when I found that that it appears to be feeding again.

I declined the refund because i didn't care about the money and it probably would have been a lot of hassle for $65. Plus it wasn't going to unscrew the pooch so to say. I went in for a service and I received it even though it ended crappy. I am one of those (non confrontational people) that rarely asks for a refund unless I don't receive my product or service. I just chalk it up to learning a lesson and let them know I am not happy. He knows he has lost my business forever. He will miss out on check the check up I get after the joey is OOP for both Joey and mom. Neutering if it is male and future visits for my other little one. That is enough for me.

I am filing with the BBB and the State Board along with the county first thing Monday. Doing a little more research and getting all my notes together this weekend.

This has been a learning experience for me. I know I was overly cautious by taking her to the vet in the first place but better safe than sorry. I have also learned that my daddy was right (once again) when he told me "Son, there are a lot of educated idiots out there in the world."

Genesis is doing great now. No longer acting depressed and we picked back up with tent time Last night. She and Sega were beck to their normal playing though I can tell he is getting more protective of her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3wTS0CC4Dg
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/23/16 04:46 PM

Understand everything you have posted. I too am for the most part non confrontational.

Do you know if the joey is still alive today?
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/23/16 10:48 PM

it appears that it may be. It hasn't moved in the pouch.
I figure i should be able to tell a size difference in the next few days.
Posted By: LSinc

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/24/16 01:44 PM

"I know I was overly cautious by taking her to the vet in the first place but better safe than sorry."

You should be able to take your babies to the doctor if you feel that a wellness check is a good idea. Especially if your glider is expecting! Nobody expects the vet to be a quack. To me it's just common sense. "Don't touch"! I mean seriously, it's like a human doctor pulling out a human baby and then trying to shove it back in! There's going to be problems!

Sorry, I get a bit upset. I really hope that the Joey is okay! Please keep us posted.

Leslie
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/24/16 03:11 PM

@lSinc I know exactly what you mean.
That was my thoughts on it.
I am no vet but 20 min on the internet and I knew she was carrying a joey :D Kind of assumed a vet would too.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/25/16 10:29 PM

Originally Posted By: Aftershock911
it appears that it may be. It hasn't moved in the pouch.
I figure i should be able to tell a size difference in the next few days.


How is the joey?
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/26/16 04:41 PM

@ KarenE
It seems to be doing well. Thank you for asking.
It is still stationary in the pouch. Mother hasn't gotten rid of it. I think it has gotten a little bigger but it could be me just hoping.
Right now I am just on a wait and see.
Posted By: Aftershock911

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/27/16 07:36 AM

Apparently it was wishful thinking on my part.
I happen to get up about 1:30 and noticed that the parents hadn't eaten anything. I reach in the pouch and take them out to check on them. Sega kept clinging to Genesis. Neither was vocal as normal. I checked out Genesis and no little lump anymore. She was a lot more docile and allowed me to check her out good. Set her back in the cage and soon as I did Sega ran over and hopped right on top... seems I disturbed their sexy time.
Guess they are gonna try again.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/27/16 01:49 PM

So sorry hug2
Posted By: Feather

Re: Joey removed from pouch too early - 04/27/16 03:04 PM

hug2
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