Message:
Subject: Re: Ageism
Posted by Cynthia on January 08, 1999 at 03:34:12:
In Reply to: Ageism posted by Dee Dee on January 07, 1999 at 21:15:23:
: I have seen alot of talk about new owners and care
: of young gliders, but is there any information as to
: what to expect when a glider is 10 years old?
I use to post updates on my Roseanne which started out as updates on an aging glider, then she became ill and it became simply updates on Roseanne. She is an aging glider, she has only been in captivity for 2 and 3/4 years but while I thought that she was between 8 to 10 years of age, after giving her vet a full run down on all of the changes that she has gone through, her vet says that she is definitely on the upward end of the age scale. They figure that she is at least 10+ years and may be closer to the 15 year mark. She began having some dental problems, trouble eating the harder foods. Now that her teeth are okay she still has some trouble with the harder foods and we now believe this is due to a loss of strength in her jaws. She also use to produce twin joeys each time and has only been producing one since she has become well again. She does not produce young as often as she once did, and just as soon as she produces her first non-viable litter her mate Dan is getting fixed. Basically what it has come
down to at this point is to watch for degenerative signs of aging that affect most aging animals. Arthritis seems to be a biggie when it comes to the aging gliders, especially in the jaw area. Make sure that they continue to eat well and provide the best most nutritious diet that they can and will eat. For three days I had to tube feed Roseanne but she is back to eating on her own, has raised one HUGE baby boy and has another ready to come oop anyday now.