Enlarged Liver

I just assisted in my first rescue, not sure I want to do that again! This one was pretty simple (so I thought). The former owner felt she needed to find a new home and asked if I could help her, which I did. I found a home, picked the gliders up and the new owner got them 2 hours later. The new owner was taking care of the vet visit. Easy as can be! Until the next day when I received a phone call, new owner crying that one of them had died.

Here's the basic background story: Male & Female with unknown background - and their joey. Mom got hurt, received vet care, but died anyway. The other two were taken to the vet and were put on antibiotics "just in case" there was something bacterial; otherwise had a clean bill of health. They were in separate cages because they weren't getting along. 30 days later, dad and son seemed fine, eating normal, and acting normal. That is when they were re-homed. That night, dad died. They weren't on the worst diet I've seen, they were given chicken, turkey, applesauce, fresh fruits, veggies and calcium powder sprinkled on top.

I was able to get copies of the original owner's vet records. What I was told matching the records, so I don't think that I was lied to (given sick gliders intentionally). Unfortunately, there wasn't much on the records at all, and I don't feel that vet was very knowledgeable on gliders. The vet felt that the dad and son were having issues because son is just beginning to come into sexual maturity. He was way beyond "just coming into", he was fully mature.

Joey (who is not a joey, he's a year old) was taken to the vet. Fecals all came back clean, blood work showed an enlarged liver. My vet called me to discuss this and I suggested that he speak with Dr. Walsh as I have no experience in this area at all. Today we are told to give him Milk Thistle twice a day. (We need to find out for how long.)

So, my questions are:

1. Any ideas what could cause an enlarged liver?

2. What does Milk Thistle do?

3. If it doesn't seem to help, what would the next step be?

Quote :

blood work showed an enlarged liver

This part is confusing to me. Could there have been some miscommunication?
It is my understanding that bloodwork would reveal elevated liver enzymes, and if looked for you might even find a virus that could contribute to hepatitus, but I think that the only way to say a liver is "enlarged" is by palpating it (feeling) or through ultrasound/CT, etc - that type of imaging. ?????

In any case, milk thistle has been used by many for a long time. Here is our thread about it:
https://thesweetspot.forumotion.net/t289-milk-thistle

When will follow up testing occur? Lets don't cross the "it won't help" bridge just yet. I bet it will.

I'll have to call the vet and talk to him. He may have palpated and felt it, but I'm sure it was elevated liver enzymes. I am trying to get a copy of the bloodwork so I know for sure. I probably should have waited until I had that before I posted.

Just read the Milk Thistle thread - sounds like it will definitely help this little guy! That is extremely promising!

I have this issue going on with my McSquishums right now, I will update once I have some answers tomorrow on his blood work.