Broken Leg

My little girl Spryte broke her leg.

Last night I noticed she was not using one back leg. She was her usual hyper self, ate her dinner, was bouncing all over the place but not using her back leg.

Today I took her in to the vet (earliest I could get her in) and even though it put her ip joey at risk, we decided we had to do some xrays.

She was put under anesthsia and two xrays of her leg were done. Her right femur is broken in the middle. It is a clean break (luckily) but...

Surgery was preformed where her leg was pinned. They used part of a syringe needle as the pin as that is the smallest thing they have (and they often use them on birds). There is little to no chance of her joey surviving. The joey is about 4 weeks ip.

She is on 2 pain meds and an anti-biotic. Doc said if I can keep her from self mutilating, then she should make a full recovery. Cost of everything...$606.35 Thankfully I have an emergency vet fund!

Wow! Sorry to hear the little one broke her leg. I wish her a speedy recovery. Sorry about the little joey in the pouch too. I know it must have been a hard decision for you but sometimes you have to make those and I think you made the right one by getting her leg fixed.

Sorry to hear about the joey Great to hear she is doing better though!

Oh, poor Spryte. I'm sorry you both had to go through this, and I'm sorry about the joey.

I am so sorry to hear about her broken leg. I am glad they were able to fix it. I wish her a fast recovery and soon she will be back to her old self again. I am VERY sad to hear about the joey. but like Megan said you made the right decision. My thoughts and prayers go out to you both.

Teresa, I'm so sorry to hear about your little Spryte. I hope her leg heals quickly and that she doesn't start to SM. Sending suggie prayers your way for a speedy recovery.

Teresa, I talked to you earlier about Spryte. How did she do tonight? Is Duncan (her mate) still upset & calling for her?
I wish I was closer & could come over & give you a break so you could get some rest.

T...I know we talked yesterday, and I'm so sorry about the joey!! We can always pray tho! I was on my way to work on black ice, or I would have picked up the phone...I'm only going to have a few minutes for now. I have a couple of Qs tho...

When the vet did the Xrays, how did her bone density look?

And do you have ANY clue how she could have broken the leg?

I'd have called tonight during one of the 3 few minute breaks I've taken to catch my breath, but I don't want to disturb you if you're catching a few min. of sleep. Hang in there!

Bone density was one of my big concerns but Doc said her bone density was great. The other thing (guilt) was, did she snag up because I didn't trim her nails soon enough. But the break is a clean break, not a twisted break so Doc said it is unlikely from snagging up in/on something.

My son is absolutely THE best! He took Spryte for almost 6 hours for me so I could sleep. He watched her like a hawk and made sure she ate. She ate almost all her normal dinner plus some ensure. He just went to sleep and told me to wake him if I need more sleep.
(for those that don't know, my son is 24. He is getting ready to go into the military in Jan. Why did he have to wait so long to become the son I always knew he could be?)

Teresa, that is so terriable, I am sorry that this has happened and wished I was a little closer to help. Give your son a "huge" hug and let him know I am proud of him for being there for you.
If you do need anything, please call, you and Spryte are in my prayers! Take Care Sweetie

She is being such a good girl though and so far has left her leg alone. (as far as grooming) I am trying to keep her out of an ecollar as much as possibly because it causes her to thrash around so much I'm afraid she will hurt her leg. So, we are just holding her and watching her like a hawk.

I was just watching her groom inside her pouch but she didn't pull the joey so there is a little hope though not much. The joey has now been exposed to 5 xrays, all sorts of drugs and tremendous stress on mom.

OH! and she is using her leg!!!!! That is so awesome and such a fantastic sign!

This is my Duncan's mate. Duncan is my special boy that I hand raised. Both he and Spryte are so loving and wonderful and Duncan so LOVES his Spryte. My first priority is to save Spryte for Duncan. He needs her. He cried for hours last night for her. They can't be together right now and he is so confused.

And yes...I am so thankful that I do have that emergency vet fund. I never use it for regular vet visits or neuterings and I'm so glad or there wouldn't have been enough there for Spryte yesterday.

Also, for those that don't know, Dr. Teresa Bradley in Belton MO at the Belton Animal Clinic IS THE BEST!!!! She cares for animals so much but she also realizes how much OWNERS care about the animals and discusses all alternitives with the owners and gives it to them straight about possible outcomes of different options. Her knowledge on gliders is ammong the top in the country. Totally worth the hour and a half drive to her office! (my local vet I use for neuterings and emergency stabalization care until I can get them to Dr. Bradley, just does not have the experience for things like with Spryte)

I'm glad that Spryte seems to be doing as well as she is right now, even as hard on both you and Duncan (and even the rest of your family) as I'm sure this is!

It's all good news good that you caught the problem quickly, that the surgery went well, that there aren't any bone density issues, that Spryte doesn't seem to be attacking the injury, that you've got an amazing vet to go to, and that you had the emergency vet fund so that you could cover all the costs. I know that you're doing absolutely everything in your power to take care of Spryte; we all go through the "what ifs" when someting goes wrong, but try not to beat yourself up too badly over this situation - Spryte's lucky to own you, and I don't doubt that fact for even a second!

Now, I don't know how clearly you're thinking right now, since I know I probably wouldn't be, so I will make one suggestion - even though Spryte and Duncan probably can't be in the same room together, since I'd assume that she'd try to struggle away from you to go see him, I would try to make sure that they each have something with the other's recent scent on it so that they can have at least some comfort from each other until they can be together again.

I am sorry about the joey, but I hope that everything else continues to go well!

Teresa, you had to make such a difficult decision. I'm really glad your son is helping you out so you can get some rest. I'm also happy that she hasn't needed to go into a collar...she's had enough stress. I'll keep you, Spryte, Duncan and joey in my thoughts.

T you know I hate it for you… hang in there… keep lovin on those babies…

Meant to add these….

Teresa,
I haven't been able to post with my new puter for the past couple of days, but I've been following this & your updates. I'm so glad that Spryte is doing okay so far...
Here's lots of for you! Let me know if I can help in any way, even just someone to talk to...

Thanks everyone. Spryte is doing wonderfully! She is walking on her leg and even using it to groom with. She can still get that foot going 100 mph! She has not messed with the incission at all AND she has not as of yet pulled the joey. She sticks her head in her pouch and cleans and cleans. Maybe there is still a little hope for the joey.

What great news!! Wouldn't that just be the best Christmas miracle if her joey makes it!!

T, all my hopes and prayers are with that baby, and mom as well. That she didn't reject already is a good sign, but there's a long way to go yet. Prayers will keep coming your way.

Teresa, I am keeping up my good thoughts for a good outcome for Spryte's joey. It's great to hear that she's using her leg. What a strong girl!

That sounds like some really great news so far, T. I'll keep Spryte and her joey in my thoughts - and you, as well.

So sorry this has happened.

It sounds like she is doing really well. Your vet is amazing.

Have you any idea how she could have broken the leg?

I sent you a PM with some thoughts about the joey.

We are keeping you in our prayers this Holy Night.

Just think, at midnight you can ask her what happened.

Godspeed

Angel

Update on Spryte!

Well, it has been 9 days since Spryte's surgery on her leg and she is doing AWESOME! She has been using her leg since the surgery and getting stronger every day. After the first three days, I put her in a hospital cage with a wheel and at first she would get on the wheel and slowly walk. Now she is up to "jogging" speed on it. She climbs all over the cage like nothing ever happened but is very very cautious about jumping at all (can't blame her).

The vet called this morning (left a message on the answering machine) and said that they normally remove the pin around 5 weeks post surgery. I wasn't aware that they would be removing the pin but guess it makes sense. I will have to call the vet on Tues and see what is what.

Now for some of the BEST NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

[size:17pt]SHE STILL HAS HER JOEY!!!!!! [/color]

The joey is still there and growing! She grooms the joey and is caring for it like nothing ever happened to her leg. It looks like Duncan and Spryte will have their little family after all!

If the joey is a girl, her name will be Miri (short for Miracle) and if a boy...Maze (short for Amazing) since this has been just an amazing miracle!

I reunited her with Duncan last night and she was about the happiest glider I think I've ever seen. She had sure missed him. He was so timid like he was afraid he would hurt her but there was no tifts or arguments and they settled right down to their normal cuddling.

I'm not sure about the pin removal considering the joey should be coming oop about that time. Definately something I will have to discuss with the vet on Tuesday.

Teresa, this is just the greatest news!!!!!
This will definitely be a very special joey.

That's great news! Glad both Spryte and baby are doing well!

Dancing that is great news. I am glad Spryte is feeling better and that her Joey is doing well. Gosh I remember when you were hand feeding Duncan and now he is going to be a Daddy. Hugs to a great glider Mom and can we clone your vet and get some more out there like her?? PLEASE

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am SO sorry to hear about the break and SO happy she and the joey are doing so well.. do you happen to know how she broke it?

that's great news Teresa!! I love the names too

Great news T! Glad to hear that Spryte is doing better. Now not to put a downer on things but with the medication she was on and with all the x-rays and the joey still developing is it possible that the baby could have deformaties or other health issues? I know this is the fear in human pregnancy's so I was just wondering if it could be the same in suggie pregnancies. Has your vet said anything about this? I certainly hope nothing is wrong.

Teresa, this is the best possible news! I'm so happy for Spryte & Duncan. It will do wonders for her to have them back together again! Keep us updated on her progress & fingers crossed for little Miri or Maze.

Dez. Complications with the joey's health is still a concern and something we just don't know. All we can do is wait and see how things turn out. As of right now, the vet does not know there is still a joey. She was pretty convinced that Spryte would pull the joey. My intentions all along were to let Duncan and Spryte have a joey (or joeys if twins) and then get Duncan neutered and keep them together as a family. That is still the plan.

Really, with all that Spryte has gone through, we are learning. I have not, nor has Bourbon, heard of any other glider having a bone pinned so it is all really experimental.

I will be calling Dr. Bradley on Tuesday and discussing everything with her. As for the joey, right now we just don't know if it will be healthy or not. Really, there is still the chance of Spryte pulling it.

Glad to here she is doing better. Fingers are crossed over hear for her and the little joey. I love the names:)

-T-
I hope that all is well with the joey and that she doesn't end up pulling it. I was just curious as to what if any complications could arise with the joey from the medication and the xray. You are both in my prayers!

DW...

Potential complications CAN include:

Death IP with pulling of joey
Genetic complications if development damaged at a critical stage, poss. resulting in death or rejection
Physical or genetic defects resulting in short life, for above reason, poss. leading to death or impariment of the joey
Possible long term neurological or physical damage, requiring special care, etc./poss. could lead to death at some point

These are the worst case scenarios. I have talked with Dancing in IM. Things COULD be a whole lot better-especially with a bonded, trusting glider.

Consider that a child born by C section in a human is frequently also subjected to anesthesia, or prior Xray to determine necessity, and can turn out fine. I don't know of a glider that has had a pin either, but I have previously wondered if it could be done. Since Mom hasn't rejected yet, and baby is moving and seems to be okay, it's now a waiting game to see where along the above spectrum things will fall. There isn't a way to know for sure, until the joey is OOP and ultimately weaned, provided things go that far (which I devoutly pray they will). At that point, blood(when old enough) and urine tests can be done to check organ function to a degree, possibly ultrasound or Xray to see inside, provided nothing is apparent externally. Until then, we just don't know at all.

Hope this helps to answer your question.

And T...I am SO glad the little one is still with us, and think your name choices are just perfect!

Teresa,
I'm so happy to see that the joey is still surviving at this point That is such fantastic news! You are the most awesome glider mom/angel in the world - you do realize that don't you??? The things that you manage to pull off for your gliders just amaze me! I think the names you have picked out are fantastic!!! Definitely appropriate.