Pneumonia and liver issues?

Hello everyone. I am Sandbat over on Glidercentral.

On Saturday, one of my other Gliders, Dani, seemed to have come down with the same symptoms as Laurie, my glider who passed over the rainbow bridge three weeks ago. I rushed her to Dr. Fowler at the Frankford Animal Clinic, who diagnosed her with pneumonia and possible liver issues. Laurie's necropsy has not come back yet (how long do those usually take?) She's on antibiotics.

Dr. Fowler is recommending I keep a space heater going in my room. I am also using a store-bought mold test in the house to make sure the air is ok. We had a washer hose break and leak through the floor last December, and though I don't see any mold, I want to make sure there isn't any. What else could have caused her to have pneumonia?

I took them off HPW plus as per my vet's instructions, and am trying to switch them to Darcy's Diet. Dr. Fowler was going to recommend something that I could get at a supplement store for the liver issues (probably milk thistle?) but was called away for emergency surgery and I have not heard back about it yet.

Dani seems to be doing better, but I have not seen her eat any of the ensure. I'm afraid Rory (the male) is hoovering it all up. He seems perfectly okay for now. I am so worried for them - Laurie's decline was so sudden. They were fine for the longest time - no serious health issues for almost three years!

Milk Thistle is good for liver issues. I give it to my gliders on a regular basis.
I would definitely change the diet they are on but I would not go to Darcy's diet. Darcy's diet was originally designed for a glider with cancer. I would suggest the Austrialian Wombaroo Diet, Prisicilla's diet or Val Green Diet. Those are the best and healthiest diets out there.
Unless the room the gliders are in drops below 60 I don't see a need for a space heater. We keep our house at 68 and the gliders are fine. You have to remember that they have fur coats and sleep in a fleece pouch with fleece blankets in it. So you don't want to over heat them either.

Thanks! The vet suggested I switch them BML, but I started to try Darcy's diet since Dani wasn't eating normally. The vet suggested BML, but I have heard that it may not be good for liver-compromised gliders. Is there a diet good to give them that will help along those lines?

I would suggest either the Austrialian Wombaroo Diet, Prisicilla's diet or Val Green Diet. The baby products in BML have a high content of iron which is not good for gliders.

Is the wombaroo diet the same as HPW classic? They were on that until 2011 and I had no problems whatsoever. I will not say what they went on after that because I don't want to be accused of diet bashing, but I have been considering switching them back to just plain HPW classic.

Have you asked Val what she would do for these babies.You stated in a post on GC that these came from her in 2009. She is the best one to advise you on these babies so I would PM her and talk it over with her. She also has the most experience with serious medical issues here.

Hoping for the best here.

Val's green diet looks really great. I'd like to try it but am unfortunately on a budget right now. I may try and swing it anyway, as it incorporates the milk thistle and some stuff I already have. Knudsons mega green is available at several places local to me.

I am trying to switch to Val's Green Diet, too...hoping to hit "Natural Grocer's" this weekend to buy everything. From what I can tell reading the ingredients, it looks like it might be a bit spendy to start, but cheaper and so well worth it as time goes on. Good luck! :)

Sprouts had never heard of milk thistle oil. When I asked if they had milk thistle, they asked if I meant alcohol or oil based. what should i be looking for?

I'm not sure. I got mine at GNC when Lan was on a bunch of meds and it was suggested to me to use it. Mine says "alcohol-free extract" - brand is "Nature's Answer".

Thanks!

HPW classic is totally different than the Austrialian Wombaroo diet.

Milk Thistle that I use in the Mega Green was in seed/plant form. I grind it with a coffee grinder. "Natural Grocer's" sell's it along with most of the other items. It is not as expensive as you think and lasts a long time.

sugeebaby wrote:

HPW classic is totally different than the Austrialian Wombaroo diet.

Yeah, I finally found it. I think I am going to try the Green diet for now.

BCChins wrote:

Milk Thistle that I use in the Mega Green was in seed/plant form. I grind it with a coffee grinder. "Natural Grocer's" sell's it along with most of the other items. It is not as expensive as you think and lasts a long time.

There are a few GNCs near me. I am going to call one of them before I go to see what they have.

Wonder if Whole Foods sells it also???

I found it at GNC. It's the nature's answer brand - and it is the glycerine-based version.

Dani is spitting out her medicine. At least, the sediment part. It's Suprafloxin(?) and is a suspension of sediment in a liquid. She swallows the liquid but just gobs out the sediment in a half-moon shape like it was any other solid food. I called the emergency vet where I took her last Saturday and spoke with a vet tech, and we agreed I should *not* try and give her more than the recommended dose right now, and to see if I can get in touch with Dr. Fowler on Saturday when she is back in the office. Does anyone else have experience with a situation like this?

She seems ok, and came out to play earlier, but is still pausing to catch her breath every now and then. She's eating - she scarfed down some grapes a little while ago. Rory is fine and was bouncing around like a maniac as usual. Dani has always been a little slower and more subdued - I really think she's older than six years - but she seems active and alert right now. I want to think she is getting better.

My boss has been very understanding about all of this, but if I miss any more work to take her in Saturday, I may be in trouble. I may be able to wait after work, or call Dr. Fowler during the day to see what we should do. Their regular vet is out until Monday.

I started them on the Green Diet today.

I am on vacation this week, but I will be happy to set down with you on Sunday to discuss all of your concerns. ;)