Rescue Glider Pics

[thefotokat]

Here are some photos of a few of the rescue gliders I've taken in.

Wombat:



This is the day he arrived.  He had been living in a room w/13 other gliders.  There was inbreeding and fighting.  Several of the gliders who arrived w/him also had injuries.  The previous owner do not interact w/the gliders other than to toss food into the room.  The floor was filthy.  Since eating a balanced diet, his fur has returned.  Here is a pic taken of Wombat about 2 months after he came to me:




Keely:



We're not sure what happened to cause this injury.  2 of the rear toes were broken w/bone protruding and necrotic.  The vet tried to save one of the toes, but was unable to. 


Toby:



Rear toe was subluxated. 


Wesley:



We've been unable to determine the cause of this wound.  It partially healed, then reopened. 


Shandy:



Shandy came in w/the same group as Wombat.  She appeared to be healthy when she first arrived, but she self mutilated.  The cause was not determined as all her tests came back fine.  The vet had to remove the entire tail.


Doodlebug





Doodlebug was being advertised for sale for use in breeding.  The previous owner had purchased Doodlebug and her brother, then split them up to be sold.  Her desire was to make money.  After selling the brother, she put Doodlebug in w/several different gliders, only to be pulled apart from them when they were sold.  Tammy and I got her.  She came to me showing neurological symptoms.  Her coat was poor and stained.  She was scared and angry when I picked her up.  When this swelling first appeared, we tried antibiotics and debridement of the area.  The infection wouldn't resolve, and we were forced to remove her right eye.  This picture was taken shortly after the removal.  She had to endure several debridements, but the outcome was good. 




These are just a few of the many sweet gliders who end up in our rescue homes.  Most are there because they were impulse purchases and the owners didn't know the type of care gliders need.  Others were purchased from mill breeders, bad breeders and pet stores and the gliders never had proper care and have permanent issues because of it. 

[Marie]

 :shock:  First time I've said this - they are truly horrible photos!  Those poor gliders!  Thanks for posting them!

[Rhianna]

poor little things. wombat looks so much better now.

poor shandys tail! and a reminder out there to impulses, self mutilating like shandy's doesnt just come through her ordeal. this is what can happen if a glider is stressed or kept alone.

thankyou kate for those pictures. karma on way

[Marie]

I've stickied but not locked the post so it will remain at the top of the page but you can still post

[Amalthea]

Hopefully seeing what those poor gliders will help put impulse buyers off gliders.  They require so much more than a handful of food every now and then...  Poor things It's a good thing there are people like you, Kate, that will help the little furballs when they so desperately need it!

[loulou]

I know this sounds cheeky but if you knwo is there any chance you coudl post the cost in vet treatment (remember people this is us dollars not GBP) and how long treatment for some of them took, plus how much personal time each of these roughly took from you to get back to health

they are truely horrific pictures those poor poor gliders,

[thefotokat]

Thanks for letting me share.  I'm so proud of my sweet babies and how much they've overcome.  We are trying to educate people so that more and more of this gliders don't have to endure the same fate.  

And yes, I'll edit to add treatment costs and time.  The more info we can share, the better.

[thefotokat]

I can't modify it, but I'll add the info here:  (vet bills in US dollars)

Wombat--vitamin injections; proper nutrition and some follow up vet visits
           --a few months to get his coat into good shape; about $200 in vet bills

Keely--2 separate toe amputations;
       --pain meds; 1 week of antibiotics (oral and topical); 6 weeks in a hospital cage; about 1 
          week of re-introduction to Yokio; about $450 in vet bills

Toby--xray and reeval visit; no treatment recommended
       --pain meds; 1 week of antibiotics (oral and topical); 6 weeks in a hospital cage; about
          $250 in vet bills

Wesley--tissue cultures; debridements
         --pain meds; 3 rounds of antibiotics (oral and topical); daily irrigation; vet bills so far       
            about $600 and situation is unresolved

Shandy--emergency vet visit; total tail amputation; suture removal; follow up vet visit
          --pain meds; 1 week of antibiotics (oral and topical); 2 months in an ecollar and hospital
             cage; 1 week of re-introduction to Egan

Doodlebug--over 5 surgeries and tissue debridements; tissue cultures; eye removal; drain
                 placement; suture removal; reeval visits
              --pain meds; 4 rounds of antibiotics (oral and topical); daily irrigation; almost 4 months
                 in a hospital cage; smooth re-introduction to Sniglet only took one day; about
                 $1500 in vet bills

[Marie]

OUCH!  Do you pay for it all out of your own pockets?

[thefotokat]

Yes, ma'am.  I'm self funded.  I get occasional donated items, but that's about it. 

[Something_To_Believe_In]

I am in awe of Kate and the work she does.  Her babies are so cute and I love sharing with her in her successes and even in the occasional heart break.  Her babies may be cute, but you should see MINE!   :
Can I post some rescue pictures?

[jungleflockmom]

Of course you may post rescue photos. Though it's horrifying, it's a reality we should all be aware of.

The UK hasn't seen this and I hope they never do. Gliders are still more uncommon there and they are very smart because they have learned from the mistakes in the US.

When gliders first came into the US, they came in in large quantities and people set up glider "farms" like puppy mills w/barns and small cages just for glider breeding. And there are still people "farming" gliders that way. Then they sell the joeys - often just 4 weeks oop - at boat shows and home shows and motorcycle shows. It's a lot to overcome.

[thefotokat]

Val is my inspiration and we do share all our good and bad.  She has some amazing stories to share and she is incredibly knowledgeable in many medical issues.

[Something_To_Believe_In]

Well - here are a few of my babies

The one that started it all for me is my Jackie Chan:


Jackie Chan came to me after suffering a severed spine.  He miraculously survived and then began to recover.  He began having phantom pains and then became a self mutilator.  He has survived 9 surgeries in 7 months; the traumatic loss of his tail, both heads of his penis, a muscle on his back left hip & his pom-pom; AND he had an open wound on his butt for 10 months that kept being re-opened by the cage mate he had at the time.  I have learned a LOT from this little guy.  His care remains ongoing as he has to have constant cage modifications and has to be checked daily for abrasions to his little legs and toes.  He also has minimal bowel and bladder control and no feeling there so he has to be checked monthly for UTI, parasites and other infection just to make sure he is A-OK. 
Cost to date:  (in US dollars) Approx. $18,000.00 and rising
Length of rehabilitation:  Infinate.  He's been with me two years already - care is ongoing.

JAVA:

Java came to me 6 months ago with this wound that also extended all the way down his arm and around on his chest to the scent gland.  He is healing nicely and the wound is now about the size of a U.S. dime. 
Vet visits, wound debriding, chlorhexidine flushes, antibiotics for 60 days, topical treatments (we are on our 3rd different one now) and regular love
Total Cost = $182.32 so far
Length of rehabilitation - 6 months with an estimated 3-4 more to go

Venus:



I just wanted to make sure you could see the pretty girl behind the x-ray. 
Venus' story is long, but in short:  she came to me with a punctured lung, broken and necrotic tail and THREE broken legs.   Her recovery has been miraculous.  A TRUE inspiration.
Total cost of vet bills and treatment:  $727.80
Length of rehabiliation - 2 1/2 months and ongoing

Dulce:

Dulce came to me living with a flying squirrel.  They had been together for more than 4 years with no issues, but it was just a matter of time.  Dulce was VERY bonded to that squirrel and had some major stress issues with trying to separate them.  But, he sustained this injury and had to have his tail amputated.  The healing time allowed me to get him separated from the squirrel and begin introducing him to some of his own kind.   
Total cost:  $276.00
Length of rehabilitation:  2 weeks

I'll stop there for now. 

[Amalthea]

Poor gliders... How gorgeous is Venus???