I almost lost Tas this morning

Tas has been experiencing some issues with his tail:

https://thesweetspot.forumotion.net/t180-photo-library-self-mutilation
https://thesweetspot.forumotion.net/t1792-question-re-brenda-s-glider-with-tail-sm

Jeff and I got up early because we planned on driving to the north shore today (about 6 hours away). I was checking on the gliders and getting their food dishes out to clean and put some pellets in just in case we got home really late and they were hungry. Tas' food was untouched which is very unusual. He also generally gets up and comes to the front of the cage to greet me when I am near and he didn't do that. I reached into his pouch and he was so cold and still. I took him out and his ears were drooping, his eyes were nearly closed and he was barely moving. He was shaking and making jerky movements and there was a popping sound coming from his chest. I was sure he was dying. I took the e-collar off and wrapped him in a fleece blanket and held him and rocked and rubbed him and begged him not to leave me. I warmed him up as best I could and had him under my shirt. He started to come back and I offered him food and water and he ate and drank. We left for the vet before they opened and I called on my way in to let them know we were coming. He was much brighter and more active and perky when we got there, but I am still so scared. He's down to 83 grams (this is my chunkiest monkey we're talking about - those of you who have met Tas when he was 196 grams know what I mean! He had gotten down to about 162 grams at the time of his 1st tail amputation surgery) and doesn't seem to be able to regulate his body temperature. He got a shot of Convenia and I was told to feed him as much as he wants and more and to try to get fattening food into him. I have also placed a space heater by his cage. I am so scared for him and I am not sure why this happened, but the vet and I have some ideas.

Yesterday was a pretty stressful day for Tas. I know he's been losing weight even though he has been eating very well and the e-collar is getting looser and looser. I have tightened it quite a bit, but it still seems loose. I got home from work yesterday and Jeff informed me that I needed to have a talk with my kid. I asked him which one and he told me it was Tas. I must have forgotten to put the twisty tie on the big cage door (that I have already found Tas can open using the collar...little bugger!) and Jeff was on the couch taking a nap when he was awoken by Tas crawling up to him and onto his shoulder and yelling at him. I thought that was pretty amusing and so did Jeff (thank goodness!) So I went in to the bedroom to have a talk with Tas and noticed that his tail looked different. It's almost like the bubble of flesh that had been at the end deflated. Perhaps he had gotten it caught on something or rubbed it against something while he was out and about on his adventure. A clear liquid was seeping from it and it's a bright red. I put some Quickderm on it and then decided to tighten the e-collar since it seemed so loose. I am afraid that I may have put the collar on too tight and the vet acknowledged that it was a possibility. Perhaps the excitement yesterday and the change in the tail and his low weight and the e-collar being just a bit too tight to allow him to breathe well all contributed to his condition this morning. We just don't know. The vet did not believe the tail was infected enough for it to have invaded his body. She knows I was concerned about sepsis and tried to reassure me. I am to keep him warm and fed and even overfeed and to keep them updated on him. If it is an infection, the convenia should help that. I am so worried for my boy and don't want to lose him. He and Tika turned 5 the other day and I have been their 2nd mommy since they came oop. They are my kids and my loves and my life. I know you guys understand. They have been the only ones in my life who have loved me no matter what (except my mom, I guess...lol). They are the ones who are here for me all the time and have given me such joy and affection and reason for getting up in the morning when I could find no other reason. I just need them to be well.

By 2nd Mommy, I mean their glider mommy is the 1st...lol.

Big hugs! Praying he starts to feeling better!

Brenda, if you want some hints for putting weight on him, give me a call.

Well, just give me a call if you want to talk about any of it.

What does his tail look like now? Are you saying that your vet thinks it is/was infected and that is why it was seeping?

I'm keeping you both in my prayers.

So sorry, Brenda. You'll all be in my thoughts as you go through this.

:( Brenda.

Brenda I hope Taz is feeling a bit better tonight. I will keep him in my thoughts and remember we are all here if you need anything.

so sorry Brenda. Hope he is feeling better today.

Thank you guys. He's doing pretty well now. Val, the vet didn't believe the tail was infected or if it was, it wasn't bad. The tail is looking pretty good and Tas has been eating and I have been keeping him warm. So far so good. Val, I'd love some tips on fattening him back up. So far, I'm just feeding him extra and lots of treats. Need to go grocery shopping so if anyone can help with some fattening foods to pick up, I'd appreciate it.

Avocado is the first one that comes to mind, of course. Not sure about others...seems everything I feed puts weight on my little monkeys LOL.

How about Ensure (provided you aren't dealing with dehydration)? Would that be a fattener?

Glad to hear he is doing better :) We all know that nothing feels quite like seeing a good sign when we have been worried about our little buggers.

Tas is doing great! He is out of the collar and back in with his family - well, in with his dad and sister, as his mom passed away while he was separated. I'm sure I could have put him back in a while ago, but at least a few times, I had done it too soon which resulted in more injury and surgery. The fur on the tail has been growing back fast since he rejoined Lan and Tika and the fur on his neck that had gone away with the e-collar is coming back, too. He's loving the freedom and the wheel and is gaining weight back.