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 Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?

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gryphon214




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Join date : 2010-03-19

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PostSubject: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitimeFri Mar 19, 2010 1:30 pm

Hi, all,

First let me start by saying that this glider is currently being treated by my vet for this condition. However, I would just like some opinions on possible causes of this condition.

Also, I just posted pretty much this exact same post on GliderCENTRAL and someone there replied that I should also ask on this site, so I have just cut and paste my GC post here.

My glider, Bruno, has developed this red, round swelling above this eye.

Here is a picture showing how it looks today

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0319001204

Notice the protrusion of the swelling out of the corner of the eye. It's hard to tell from this picture, but he has about a pea-sized swelling next to the upper corner of his eye.

It might be easier to see the size of the swelling in this picture

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Small

This did not happen overnight. This all started two weeks ago today (Friday). Two weeks ago, during the day Bruno was fine. Later that night I packed up my sugar gliders and headed out of town with them to visit my parents for the weekend. When I went to feed them Friday night I noticed Bruno did not come out to eat like the others. This is when I noticed the swelling on his face. Unlike the picture above, this swelling was more diffuse, along the entire side of his face, with no redness.

By the following Sunday morning the swelling had not gone down so I called my vet. Due to the sudden apperance of the swelling this looked like an infection so my vet called in a prescribe of antibiotics to a nearby pharmacy (remember, we were out of town, hours away from home, and this was Sunday, when the office is closed anyway).

Here is how it looked two weeks ago

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0308000832-1

Notice how the whole right side of his head is swollen, both the side of his face and above his eye This picture does not quite capture how bad it was. He looked quite monsterous! The lower corner of his eye is reddened, might be the third eyelod exposed and irritated. Interestingly, though, the only part of his face NOT swollen was the area at the corner of his eye where the swelling is now (in the first picture).

Once on antibiotics, the swelling began to go down and Bruno was getting his energy and appetite back and seemed to be on the mend. By a week ago Friday the swelling was almost completely gone. Then Saturday he started to get this little red swelling in the upper corner of his eye. The skin is red and there is also a bit of a protrusion of red skin/membrane at the corner of his eye.

Here is what it looked like last Saturday (almost a week ago)

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0315001022a

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0315001022

By Monday, even though he was still on antibiotics, this had not changed so I took him to the vet on Tuesday where the vet examined him. After a good look at his mouth and teeth, he found nothing there to explain it. He thinks it may be a gland that has swollen up and gave Bruno a shot of penecillin that it supposed to last about 5-6 days, with instructions that I call him today for an update on his progress. He also said he would likely need another shot.

Since I posted this on GC, I got the call back from my vet. He's having my put him back on the original antibiotic, even though the penecillin shot should still be working. He thinks this may be something similar to the "cherry eye" that dogs and cats get and if that is the case, this might require surgery to remove the gland.

Has anyone here seen a glider with a similar condition? How common is it for gliders to get "cherry eye"? I was hoping there may be some of you who have seen something like this before and if so, what was the cause? How was it treated? How long did the treatment take?


Thanks in advance!
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jen102375

jen102375


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PostSubject: Re: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitimeFri Mar 19, 2010 1:33 pm

You may want to look at facial abscess as well. There is a photo that looks like what your glider has going on.
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Something_To_Believe_In
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Something_To_Believe_In


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Age : 50
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PostSubject: Re: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitimeMon Mar 22, 2010 10:52 am

I personally have not heard of a glider getting cherry eye. I am very interested in this case.

If it were me, I would have the vet lance the area and see if he/she can get anything to culture. I would worry that it is actually an infection deep in the tissue that is causing the outward signs you see now. With swelling like you describe, infection and injury would be my very first thoughts. That it is not responding to the prescribed antibiotics makes me think that a culture is necessary at this point. A culture will allow the vet to see what antibiotic WILL be effective. If there is anything that comes out that can be cultured, you might also discuss with the vet leaving a drain in so that all the infection can be flushed from the body.
Please review the facial abscess forum for more information.

Additionally, I would request x-rays. You may have some bone involvement. If there is infection in the bone (orbit) of the eye, then a different class of antibiotics may be necessary.

Either way, I would treat very aggressively. Your little one has suffered with this for weeks now, and it continues to come back. This is very common in any type if facial abscess. We know that infection can spread to the brain and be fatal in these little ones, so a very aggressive treatment is necessary. I would request not only the convenia shot, but a topical antibiotic as well (can be in form of an eye drop).

Did you get pain medications?

PLEASE keep us updated - the pictures and your description are very informative and much appreciated. Please keep them coming!
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gryphon214




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Join date : 2010-03-19

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PostSubject: Re: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitimeMon Mar 29, 2010 6:47 pm

Finally have an update. This did in fact turn out to be an abscess. Originally my vet thought this was something to do with a gland so having this cultered was, unfortunatly, never discussed. He has been on antibiotics for weeks before it was drained so I am not sure how much a culture would have even shown. The abscess has been drained and Bruno will continue on the antibiotics and also has an eye ointment to prevent an infection in the eye itself.

Val, to answer you question, no he is not on any pain medications right now. He appears comfortable and not in too much pain. He is still eating and active and does not make the hissy-sneeze pain noise when the area is touched.

Hopefully this will heal up quickly and permanently. From the stories I have heard, though, I am concerned this may not be the case. Has anyone heard of a glider with facial abscess that was treated where it did NOT come back and/or require months of treatment and re-treatment?

Here are some more pictures, taken before the abscess was drained, that better show the shape and size of this abscess (I tried to edit the original post was unable to).

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0323001653

Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Downsized_0323001654

I'd post "after" pics but really he just looks back his normal self. If anyone is interested in seeing them, though, let me know and I will post some.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the information and advice. If anything more happens with this I will keep you all posted.

-Kerry
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PostSubject: Re: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitimeMon Mar 29, 2010 11:09 pm

gryphon214 wrote:
Has anyone heard of a glider with facial abscess that was treated where it did NOT come back and/or require months of treatment and re-treatment?

Yes.

Most recently, with the use of Convenia, I have had one glider who suffers with recurrent facial abscesses go without an abscess for many months.

However, if there was no culture and no drain inserted, then the chances of the infection returning are increased. We will keep you and Bruno in our prayers and pray that there will not be a repeat.

IF there is a repeat, PLEASE feel free to contact me any time. Facial abscesses are difficult to treat.

Also, please consider participating in the SUGAR Group's facial abscess study.
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PostSubject: Re: Red Swelling Above Eye. Cherry Eye? Something else?   Red Swelling Above Eye.  Cherry Eye?  Something else? Icon_minitime

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