Question about Seizures/ Strokes/ Fits

[HoneyHeart]

Hello everyone. Just got back from Ireland today from being stuck there for two weeks! Anyway, my mum was looking after them while i was away and when i got back you can imagine how much i spoilt them. There was treats and michief everywhere!

Something hapeed today that go me really worried though. Poppy or Pudding was trying to climb up a wooden cupboard and was finding it too slidy. I scooped her up to stop her from falling and when she was in my hand, she went very stiff. I am sure she was drooling as well as there was a fair bit of saliva on me. Her ears started twitching and so was her head slightly, but by then Paige was barking her head off. Am i being paranoid? Was she just freaking out because she almost fell and then there was barking? I really hope so.

Her hands curled up into little balls that didn't look natural. It took her 20 mins to crawl into the cube after some nudging. I picked her up and her body didn't move a muscle! Her back legs held on slightly but her fingers and toes wouldn't move when i played with them. I don't know if it's relevent but she pooed alot during it too, four times in 20 mins! My mum thinks she had just scared herself, but i can't help but worry myself sick.

The earliest i can get an appointment with a vet who knows anything about suggies is Tuesday morning The other little ones have all mixed with her before i put her back into the cage, so unless she acts differently i won't be able to tell which one is her!

I think i might take them all to the vets, I'm considering taking them to work with me as well. What should i do, if anything, in the meantime? Is taking them to work a good idea? I'll be working a 12 hour shift in a couple of rooms, it will be busy in short bursts but the rest of the time i can look over them. This is a horrible feeling!

[Marie]

Hmmm, sounds like a seizure to me, read this thread - http://www.sugar-glider.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3634.0
 
At the end of the day Steph you can't keep an eye on them 24/7, personally I wouldn't risk stressing them by taking them to work.  I'd make sure the bottom of the cage is padded just in case she does this again and does fall.  A vet check is a good idea I think.  Also, it might be worth asking your mum if she's fed them anything not on the diet sheet.

[HoneyHeart]

Yea, i read that thread but i thought i might be being paranoid, well i hoped i was. I'll pad the bottom with pillows. I can't move the snooze cube any lower, but i'll put a hammock underneath it. That was the first thing i checked. She fed them all the food and supplements i left, the measurements for different things and the days they were given were on the fridge, so i'm sure that's not it.

[Marie]

Ok, I didn't think your mum would have fed them something bad, but it's better to check.  Is she fully hydrated?  I think a vet check would be in order to be honest, it could be a one off so try not to worry too much.  Even if it isn't a one off, gliders can still lead full and long lives, the seizures are probably more distressing to the keeper than the suggie!

[HoneyHeart]

Her skin feels hydrated, she is acting a bit timid and quiet though. I can't wait for the vets to be honest!

[HoneyHeart]

Took them all for a check at the vets and while we were there Poppy had another seizure. Cost £500 to get her faecal mater checked, an xray and a blood test :shock: She's on AB's and a Critical Care Formula for dehydration. Just after she had the seizure she was ice cold, and when doing the tent test her skin wouldn't go down at all! Hopefully it's an infection and the AB's and mixture will help. She's got another appointment next week when we find out the results. The vet is worried her initial upbringing of chinese food might be a factor, as her sister was having trouble with her gums. Fingers crossed we sort Poppy and Paige out!

[Rhianna]

£500!!!! that sounds expensive!

Fingers crossed over here for you!

[Marie]

Took them all for a check at the vets and while we were there Poppy had another seizure. Cost £500 to get her faecal mater checked, an xray and a blood test :shock: She's on AB's and a Critical Care Formula for dehydration. Just after she had the seizure she was ice cold, and when doing the tent test her skin wouldn't go down at all! Hopefully it's an infection and the AB's and mixture will help. She's got another appointment next week when we find out the results. The vet is worried her initial upbringing of chinese food might be a factor, as her sister was having trouble with her gums. Fingers crossed we sort Poppy and Paige out!

HOW MUCH??!!!!!!  Dehydration can cause seizures and coupled with low blood sugars, this happened to a friend's glider a few years ago, it actually temporarily blinded her!  Her vision is back now though and she's not had a fit since, so that's good (she's with me now).  Hopefully it will be a one off.

[Rakuen]

Bloody hell!! Fingers crossed for her

[hayley]

*crossing fingers* hope they get on ok. we'll be waiting for news!

[jungleflockmom]

Good luck! It's wonderful that you have such a strong commitment to your glider's health and well-being.

It does sound like it could be some sort of dystrophy related to calcium absorption and infections can influence that.

If you have Convenia in the UK, Val/something_to_believe_in has used it very successfully for gum issues and other infections.

[HoneyHeart]

Thank you for the support and advice everyone! I will mention Convenia to my vet, although she might feel uncomfortable with the dosage. Baytril is what they normally get because she knows how to work out the exact dose for it.

Since she's started to AB's and rehydration therapy, she seems to be playing and sleeping by herself which worries me. I can tell she's stressed and agitated (She's the only one who bites and crabs, which she never did before) infact she's become rather different personality wise and has been tetchy a few times with me and the other suggies, which makes me worry she might have been rejected by the group? She runs away and hides alot now as well, like she did just before she had a fit but i haven't physically seen another one because she's so good at getting away! At least she is alot better hydrated now, her skin is nice and bouncy again!

Vets again on Tuesday when we should get the results of all the tests. We'll be able to tell then if her bones are properly calcified and if she has any parasites or elevated white blood cell count.

[Marie]

Her bones should be fine unless there is an underlying problem preventing her body from absorbing the calcium, parasites I wouldn't have thought TBH, it's quite a common problem in various states in America due to their water supply not being of a good standard.  My money is on dehydration.  ABs are actually quite evil things, and can cause loss of appetite as they kill all the gut flora, it *could* be that she's feeling under the weather because of that.  Keep a very close eye on her Steph and if in any doubt don't wait until Tuesday.

[HoneyHeart]

Thanks Marie She's alot better hydrated now, but in an awful mood! I think the vet was worried incase her rubbish diet earlier on in life effected her bones. Even though she gets a proper Ca:P ratio and GliderCal twice a week, she wants to rule it out. Indeed i hate giving them AB's! They don't like it and neither do i! I'm watching her like a hawk, i'm sure she's sick of seeing my face peeking in now!

[Marie]

Do what did the vet find Steph?