My baby just died. Just as i was typing for help she died in my arms. Before she died she was acting like she was spazing, she kept throwing her arms out and was not responding to anything. Does someone know what was happening? Did I so something wrong?!!! I am soooo heart broken! she was my little special baby.

Can you give more information? And give more information about the glider's surroundings and life, ect?

well, she always went to school with me and she had her little cage there behind my desk so no one could mess with her. Usually she slept in my shirt all day and when she was hungry, she would come out and i would put her in her cage to eat. We were on our way home from school and she came out in the car and was hanging out on my shirt the rest of the way home. as soon as we got home and when I went to put her in her cage she spazed out and flug her arms and legs all the way out. she would not eat or drink anything, i even tried gatorade. she just was just glassy eyed, non responsive, and she would let out a little squeak. that's all.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

The only way to find out why she died would be to have an necropsy done on her. This sounds awful, but you will need to refrigerate her body until you can get her to a vet. A necropsy is especially important if you have other gliders.

Also, if you have other gliders, they will need a wellness check, too.

okay could it have been a seizure i'm not even sure gliders can have them.. but this sounds like that kind of behavior.. just wandering if someone has any info on that

I took her to a vet about a month ago and they said she was healthy and was doing good. I just don't understand.

I am soooo sorry for your loss.

I agree with Rita, we are not vets.. at least I am not. So, we wouldn't really know for sure what happened to your little one. If you want to know for sure you would have to take her to the vet.

I wonder how much that would cost? i know that sounds bad, but we are so stinkin broke right now. maybe it wouldn't be much.

Gliders are exotic animals, which means they still harbor their wild instincts. In the wild, if a glider is sick or weak, they are subject to being killed by their colony so as not to attract predators. They also act like they are ok so as not to attract predators to themselves.

Gliders still do that. They can be deathly ill and hide it very well. They will eat and play as if things are fine. What we have to look for are wounds - lack of eating or drinking - if they have an "off" look in their eyes - limping - just anything unusual. But sometimes, they just dont let us know until its to late.

Yes, she was having seizures. But unless a necropsy is done, you will never know why.

What was her diet? I'm soooo sorry for your loss! Wow it sounds like you loved her beond imagonable!

I am so sorry for Baby Kiki's loss! I can't believe it! I was just looking at her picture that you posted on my sight last night, and commenting on how incredibly adorable her picture was.

Please do get a necropsy done. If you have a vet already, they may even do it for free. My vet did for me with Paganini's passing.

My hugs to you.

I agree without a necropsy there would be no way to find out what happened. I hope you can get this done for learning purposes and especially to help other gliders if you have any. I am so sorry for your loss you must be devasted she was beautiful.

The imporatnt thing here for you is to understand YOU did nothing wrong. I read in your post the guilt you feel. You may have never been able to stop this from happening. I read all your posts and I read how you were trying get help for her on her diet and you took her to the Vet like you were suppose to. I know you LOVED her beyond belief. I can see it in your words. I feel it by reading them. I don't want you to feel like it is your FAULT. It's not. You did everything you were suppose too. I don't know how old she was but she could have just been to young and removed to soon from her mommy. But whatever it was you are not to blame.

If you really want to understand what happened so not only you, but we also can learn from this and maybe we all can take better care of our gliders you should really talk to your Vet and ask about the cost of a necropsy. You must though make sure you put her little body in the freezer to preserve it. I know it sounds terrible to do. If you need to, put her in a box after a zip lock freezer bag so that when you remove her you don't have to see her. That will make it easier. There is a site that's gathering information on the health of our gliders and their passing.

Here is a link about it. Please read and check it out:
http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22846

I also hope that if you want to be a glider parent that you NOT give up. Continue to learn and read and teach yourself all about these guys like we all do here everyday and when you're ready and decide you want to you should see about getting another glider and possibly two. I hope whatever you decide to do that you find peace of heart and mind and remember the joy that little Kiki brought into your heart.

She is gliding free with all the other gliders that have passed before her.

God Bless You!

Edited for spelling and to add the link.

quote:

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Originally posted by Goldwinger

If you really want to understand what happened so not only you, but we also can learn from this and maybe we all can take better care of our gliders you should really talk to your Vet and ask about the cost of a necropsy. You must though make sure you put her little body in the freezer to preserve it.

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A necropsy not only provides YOU with answers, but it provides the glider community at large with valuable information that is used to better the future for ALL gliders.

However, to preserve a body for a necropsy, place it in the REFRIGERATOR, NOT THE FREEZER. Freezing a body causes increased damage to cells and makes an accurate diagnosis impossible. DO NOT FREEZE. PLace the body in a ziploc bag and in the frige.

Following a necropsy (and histopathology if necessary), your vet can stitch the body up and return it to you for burial. You don't have to give your baby up for a necropsy.

The Necropsy Effort can reimburse you some of your costs if you contact the SUGAR group. Necropsies should be performed within 48 hours of death.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know all too well how difficult it is.

Thank you Val....I learn more and more each day. You are a blessing.

Please have a necropsy. It will help the life of all our glider babies. Praying.

I don't know how much others charge, but mine charged either $40 or $45. I can't remember now-it's been almost 2 years.

It's so hard to believe Puff Daddy has been gone that long already.

Thank you guys so very much for being so supportive! I loved my little baby so very much and today I felt so lost without her. I'm going to the vet today and see what he can do. I live in a little podunk country town, so I hope the vet can help. Also, someone asked me about her diet....I gave her the glider pellets with ground mealworm, honey, and vitamins in it, the rainbow glider pellets, meal worms, and fruits and she also liked having old fashioned oatmeal as a small treat. We had our fruit and oatmeal time every night. I tried to be the best mommy to her. She was my little ray of sunshine. :-(

I called my vet and he said Kiki has been dead too long to do the necropsy. Is he full of it or is that true?

OK, I hate Jasper. all of the vets say it is too late. :-( I did read up on seizures and all the symptoms, she had. the star gazing, arms spread out all the way and shaking. Poor little bebe. At least she was with her mommy and I was holding her. :-( :::::::::

above someone said it should be done within 48 hours. how long did u wait? did u look at our map to find a close vet?? oh i hope u can still get answers and im so sorry for ur loss.(really am sorry, today is friday the 13th though. darn this day to the day i die even if it did happen yesterday. so close to it. i hope all else is well. :)

It just happened yesturday there is no way it should be too late.

She died last night around 6pm. I did go to the ves office a bit ago to bring my dogs for a bordatella shot and I talked to him about it. He said it does sound just like she had a seizure. He said something about her needing more glucose because of her body temp regulation or is could have been a birth defect.

Yes, you should have 48 hours...I had one that passed on Christmas Eve and couldn't get it done until the morning of the day after Christmas.

Maybe someone can post a list of the vets that other vets can consult. That way they can get the correct information on a necropsy.

i wanna find out myself, i'll help you.I'm sorry but ur vet doesnt sound like much help.

Here it is. Maybe have one of the vets call one of these guys to get more answers.

VET CONSULT NUMBERS

The following Vets are willing to consult with other vets who have questions regarding sugar glider care and emergencies.

Please put these numbers in your Emergency Kit.

We are NOT to call these vets ourselves - they will only consult with another Vet!!!


Dr.Tim Tristan
OSO Creek Animal Hospital
361-994-1145

Dr. Bradley Walsh
Village Vet Animal Clinic/All Creatures Veterinary Hospital
918-258-0040

Dr. Andrew Grzanowski
Canton Center Animal Hospital
734-459-1400

Dr. Kate Zimmerman
TriCounty Animal Hospital
(has 24hr emergency contact info on her office answering machine)
423-391-0303


Dr. Teresa Bradley
Belton Animal Clinic
816-331-3120

Dr. Kristen West
Mandel Veterinary Hospital
216-321-6040

WOW!! you really got thinking and went to research didnt u? nice job