WARNING: Graphic Images of a Glider Wound. "Reese's Rehab"

December 2008 was a very difficult month for me, especially right before Christmas break, when I began to get really sick. Although I am "sort of" getting better, I do have a consult with a doctor, again, next week.

I'm not sure why, or how, it happened, but at this same time, my gliders also began to have issues. Each of the problems was a little different, and all I could do was to address each issue at a time until I could get everyone back to health. It has not been easy, and if you are a loyal reader in this blog, you will already know that I lost one: Beaky.

I should say that I went from seven permanent cages to eleven before all was said and done. The full story should have unfolded here, but, instead, it unfolded at Southeast Sugar Glider's board, since I had replied to a post I'd read there, called All three acting odd last night. I read that thread with much interest, because I was having so many similar issues with my gliders. Rather than reply to that thread, I created a new one, since I was having multiple issues with my gliders. I called my thread Odd behavior and glider woes. I am pretty sure you will need to be a registered member at SESG to read the posts, but I will create an excerpt from my post there so that this entry will make sense to those who are not a part of the glider community.

Of course, I will update my thread there, but, for posterity, I need to record my stories here so that each of my glider's stories are all in one place.

This entry is all about Reese and it will serve as an update to my post on SESG, which I made January 18th of this year. I will quote my story, the short version, from SESG below:

" . . . Reese is an older rescue. She lived (until this wound incident) with Oliver, a rehomed male that I'd taken in December 2005. He was neutered January 2006 (he has been referenced in another thread here as well). They have lived together, in perfect bliss, almost right after his neutering, which went very well. January 2006, Oliver was maybe 18 months old, and he had never lived with another glider, ever. He and Reese became the best of friends, until about three weeks ago, when he inflicted a pretty nasty mating wound. We took her to the vet, and it was bad, but my vet managed to get her cleaned up and stitched back together. He used stainless steel stitches, and I placed her in a hospital cage beside my bed, so I could be sure she got the best of attention and care. About a week later, I took her back to the vet to have her stitches removed, but infection had set in. The vet gave me some medication, and I treated her twice a day. Then, her wound re-opened, and I took her back to the vet. He had to clip away more skin, and there was nothing left to re-stitch. He said he'd done all that he could do for Reese, but to keep using the medication. It was horrible to see my girl going through this. When I looked into her eyes, I saw pain, but also resilience, and my Reese is a fighter. John and I have been treating her, but her appetite waxed. She ate nothing that first night. I kept offering her food and plenty of love and attention, and I kept the meds coming. Needing some reassurance, I called Bourbon, and she referred me to TerieK. I'm glad I did this. I spoke with TerieK at length, and she knew when I called her, that this was a wound issue. I've worked with TerieK at A4G, but I had never got to know her until this phone call. She recommended something I'd never heard of before, and she strongly advised me to check this over with my vet before doing it. I did. I asked Dr. Tharp if scarlet oil was okay to use, and he said yes. I asked him if I should use it with the stuff he'd given me, and he said, no. Use one or the other, liberally, but not both. I have been doing that, and I am seeing a tremendous difference. Reese is looking better (she still looks bad, but she is no longer "raw meat"). She is also eating as if nothing is wrong, and she's more like her old self.

She misses Oliver, greatly, but they will never live together again. I will not put her through that. I have placed them, each, in a small hospital cage, and they are side-by-side. She pushes her nose, nearly through the bars, and she talks to him. I place each of their food bowls in the corner of the cages, nearest one another, and for now, that's the way it is . . ."

This is a slideshow, which documents Reese's rehab. I am sorry that I did not have a photo of her original mating wound. I wish I had. It was the worst I had ever seen, but my vet, Dr. Tharp, worked his magic on Reese, and she was well on the road to recovery, until her stainless steel stitches were JUST about to be removed. An infection had set in, and somehow, her skin had "died" and she was ripped wide open again (I should clarify, she was in a hospital cage alone. Her wound re-opened on its own). I never thought she could heal, but she did. I have to say that my vet did all that he could for Reese, and he had given her meds, but it was the scarlet oil (used with his knowledge and approval) did make all the difference. TerieK had made the recommendation to use scarlet oil, and I double-checked with my vet to ensure there would be no reactions to the meds Reese was already taking. I was told to use one med, or the other, but not both. I elected to use scarlet oil, again, with vet approval, and it made all the difference in the world.

The original mating wound (I wish I had marked the date on a calendar for easy reference) was sometime in December. I would have to dig out my vet records to get the actual date.

WARNING: THE IMAGES BELOW ARE GRAPHIC!
You can click the slideshow to go directly to my Picasa album, where you can read the full captions. I see that they are not all showing in the slideshow.