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Seizures and HLP (Calcium Deficiency)

Posted By: Bourbon

Seizures and HLP (Calcium Deficiency) - 05/14/03 10:41 PM

If your glider is Calcium Deficient, seizures will not be one of the first symptoms. usually in gliders what happens is that they slowly lose the use of their back legs, starting to drag one leg at a time, this is the time where most owners notice, and possibility of bones in the legs being broken, commonly refered to as stress fractures. By the time the HLP advances to the point where they can no longer stand (starts slow, but noticable) and they can't use their back legs at all, the system then goes into what we refer to as shut down mode. where the organs and brain functions also shut down totally. This is when the seizure activity is noticed, by this point this is little hope of recovery.

One of the most common things we are seeing right now, is vets are treating gliders for HLP based on blood tests and what the patients are suspecting, who is not actually Calcium Deficient. Please if your vet thinks your glider is, or if there is reason to suspect it, please have an X-ray taken.

Seizures can be caused by many many things, from too much of one Vit or another, (commonly VIT A), head injuries, bacterial infections, wrong meds or improper dosages of meds. so many more things as well. Complete testing should be done before any administering of meds. A VET visit is a must. this is not something that can wait, nor is it anything that you can treat or diagnose without proper testing by a VET.
Posted By: the gliders angel

Re: Seizures and HLP (Calcium Deficiency) - 05/15/03 05:57 AM

i agree Bourbon, too many wait too long to get to the vet. They need to go at once even if its the middle of the night. to an emergency vet. If you notice anything in your glider go to the first emergency vet. Its better to be safe than sorry and stay on the board to learn what test to make your vet run if he/she if not glider knowledgeable if you must go to an emergency vet. By taking my glider to an emergency vet laaast winter. it saved her life. If i would of waited she would not be hear now. Better safe than sorry. If you luv your glider as i do mine take then at once if you notice anything out of the ordinary.
Posted By: Judie

Re: Seizures and HLP (Calcium Deficiency) - 05/15/03 06:56 AM

Bourbon, are we really seeing HLP as a primary illness lately?

I myself feel we are seeing vets treating for HLP too much with what appears to be HLP. Seems to me...what the Primary illness is...is being overlooked. Seems to be a large number of Emerg and Vet Clinics not checking for other causes....such as bacterial and protozoa infections which deplete the glider of calcium which is needed to substain the gliders life. Other words to many gliders are being missed DX and are improperly treated for something that is secondary rather than the Primary Illness.

I do agree that an x-ray is the only way to determine HLP. But because of the cost...many vets do not suggest to their clients of having one done. So...perhaps what you are saying then is that owners need to be aware...first hand...that if the vet is suggesting HLP then the owner then should request the x-ray if the vet does not. Is this what you are saying? I would think that a simple fecal smear to r/o bacterial or protozoa first....and if this does not show results then an x-ray is next in order to determine bone density.

Also, because of the depleation of calcium during a serious illness...often a glider does need added calcium for support until he is able to recover enough from his illness and is able to asorb and retain Ca. Some of these unfortunate gliders are draging their legs...when it is not HLP.

Anyway, just trying to figure out why the post as I feel maybe I missed something and I am confused. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/read.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Bourbon

Re: Seizures and HLP (Calcium Deficiency) - 05/15/03 07:33 AM

that is correct, most gliders with seizures are being misdiagnosed, just as you said. you covered it well judie and also reiterated in detail.
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