Ok, update time...

We didn't take the ecollar off last night. After speaking with Mary and Bourbon, I believe that there is still swelling in his clocacal area. I have decided to do an ointment and until the swelling goes down, the ecollar needs to stay on. I know he isn't happy but if this could possibly prevent him from SMing himself, it is what has to be done.

I did get him out for tent time last night and he had a blast. He did make me nervous trying to play in his ecollar since it is so much harder, but....I was there to catch him every step of the way!

After what happened with Timmy, I think you made a very wise choice. My prayers are still with you.

Ok, so now is the time that I am planning on taking the ecollar off of Apollo for the first time. He is looking very well and I am feeling good about my decision. Of course, it doesn't mean much how I feel. Only time will tell if this was the right decision. The swelling is all down and you can't even tell that he had his surgery.

I wish I wasn't so nervous but I would be lying if I told you I wasn't scared half out of my wits! Plus lets not forget the most important factor here....he can now bite again! I sure am going to miss helping him around everywhere. Wish me luck....I will post an update later about how everything went!

Also, thanks again to everyone who has supported me throughout this and read up on his progress. It really means a lot!

Good Luck! and prayers still coming!!

SOOOO...... HOw did it go???

Sorry everyone! I didn't mean to keep everyone is suspense. Everything went.......




GREAT!
I couldn't be more happier! After speaking with Mary and Bourbon, I decided to try a couple of things that didn't quite work however. I put Aphrodite in with him but she started showing signs of depression after about 5 minutes. Plus, Ares was missing her. I put the cages next to each other and Apollo is doing fine! I had him in the tent for 1 hour last night to see if he was going to overgroom. If so, ecollar was going right back on while I slept. Not only did he not overgroom, HE ONLY BIT ME ONCE!

This in itself, is such a step forward. After he bit me, I did the psst and he left me alone. We had a blast and my heart couldn't be more full right now.

I woke up every 2 hours last night to check on him and he did great. I took him to work with me today just to keep an eye on him. He is getting yogies as bribes and I can't wait to see where this is going! YEA!

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL news!!

You know, before much longer he's going to be as much a sweetie as Sugar & Spice are. And that's a GOOD THING!

I'm so glad to hear it!!

FANTASTIC!!!

So happy for Apollo and so proud of you, Sam!
Give him some extra yogies from auntie Val.

Awwww, this is great!!! Now lets keep it going, when it is Timmy's turn!!! lol I'm so happy for you and Apollo!

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone! He was more than spoiled yesterday. All he had to do was wake up and eat yogies yesterday. I did get a pretty healthy crab yesterday which was nice! He usually doesn't crab but he also usually doesn't run errands with me after work. He did put his teeth on me a couple of times yesterday but nothing to gripe about. He does miss his cage mates dearly. Keep praying that his is how it is going to be from now on!

Mary, don't worry...your time is coming with Timmy. He will get better and I can't wait to hear all your success stories!

Thank you, Sam! You give me hope (and courage!!!) I'm so glad he is doing so great. I know how awful it is to watch them hurt themselves. You feel so helpless. Timmy is getting there.

Guess who went back to the vet this morning? Yeah, you guessed it. This is so hard right now. I am awaiting a call from the vet right now. This is so scary and I am so worried. Jen (Xfilefan) sent pictures of her little baby after he had his anal glands removed and Apollo looks just like him. This isn't good and I am more worried than I have ever been.

Oh no, Sam, I'm so sorry! Tons of prayers heading your way. Please keep the faith, Apollo is a fighter and you both will get through this together!! Let us know when you hear. God bless! (((((Sam & Apollo)))))

and lots of prayers for you and your little one!!

Oh Sam!
I am just sick. Please know you can call if you like. I am waiting to hear how his visit goes. You are both in my prayers non stop!

You know that you NEED to put me on your callback/texting list once you find out what's going on with Apollo. I'm worried sick about him, the sound he was making last night has me VERY concerned!

Thank you everyone! Mary, Brenda, Val, Denise! You have all been so supportative of me through this and you have no idea how much it means. I am still waiting on a call and am very, very upset. I just hate playing the waiting game. I promise to give everyone a call as soon as I know anything.

Any news?????

Ok, just returned from the vet and even after I asked them to wait for me to give them the go ahead on any procedure, the went ahead and did the exact same thing they did before. Another $200 and NO ANSWERS! My vet was extra rude and isn't open to any of my opinions. I am waiting a culture back to see if there is anything bad in there. It will take two days to see anything. If there is no word from the culture, she want to remove the anal glands all together. I am just sick over this. My little boy in an ecollar YET AGAIN! After I can calm down, I will post more. I just can't describe my emotions right now over my vet.

i'm so sorry sam. i read the whole post...you must be so frustrated i will keep you and apollo in my prayers

Sam, I am so sorry. Don't blame you one bit for being upset, you have every right! Praying this will work. I tell you between Apollo and Timmy, we both will be needing the nut house! Hang in there, girl, we are all here for you!!

I am so sorry you and Apollo are going through this. I pray they can figure out what's going on and get him all healed up fast! Is there any other vet nearby you can go to for a 2nd opinion or one who'll listen to your ideas and concerns? Or even someone who can consult with your vet by phone?

I spoke with B earlier tonight, but wasn't at home...she was going to try and get us on a 3 way. At work now, but I'll give you a call after I get home in the morning and we'll see if we can do that-however, if there's an emergency, my cell is 435-640-9438. Hopefully it will stay slow here tonight (rest of the week's looking really busy work-wise).

I had thought his glands had been removed, but I guess they just 'drained' them? That is not good, and likely all they ended up doing was damaging them. Gliders' anal glands are multi chambered, extremely delicate, and damaged very easily-and frequently don't heal, partly due to their location, and partly once abscessed it's got to heal from the INSIDE OUT-and it just doesn't work well. Most often it heals partly or most of the way, depending on severity, then recurs-even with long term antibiotics. Binx was on/off antibiotics for a year or so before we had his removed. The most important thing for now is DO NOT REMOVE the ECOLLAR. If he damages himself more the problem just compounded.

Also, DO NOT ALLOW them to express those glands again! It's YOUR glider and YOUR money-insist they do or do not do what you tell them (vet). If infected it can drive the infection into him and it can go systemic. Make sure and get him on a broad spectrum antibiotic as well-I would recommend Clindamycin and Flagyl (metronidazole) to cover a range of bacteria including anaerobics, as those glands are a very friendly host to anaerobic bacteria. A painkiller such as Torb or Buprenex oral is also a good idea-he may not be able to get to it in the collar, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Metacam or Meloxicam can be used for THREE DAYS for inflammation to help-then discontinue. Long term use of NSAIDs in gliders can cause liver/kidney failure, so 3 days ONLY. He can go on another course later if needed, but the body has to have a break in between on that. Torb/Buprenex can be used longer term for discomfort, and is actually better on pain, and doesn't carry the risks to the organs.

Ok, so after calming down for a day, I decided to post what happened. After I dropped Apollo off on Monday morning (since I had to work and the Dr does surgeries every Monday morning) I waited for their call. I specifically told them not to do anything to him without calling me first and getting approval. By 4 that afternoon, I had heard nothing. When I called to find out if they were going to do anything, I was informed by the Dr that they expressed his glands again, WITHOUT MY CONSENT! When I tried to ask questions, they were just rude and mean like they always are. I am usually a firecracker, but all I could do was cry. All I could think about was him and his pain. I spend countless hours on the phone with people and try to do what they tell me and my vet just ignores me and tells me I don't know what I am talking about.

When I hung up, I just cried and called whoever would listen to me without thinking I was total baby. (Thanks Denise!) They did take a Aerobic Culture that cost me $98.25 and told me that it would take 2 days to get it back. He is on no meds for pain or antibiotics. I am so scared and worried. They want to remove the glands and when I told them that Jen's had it done to 2 gliders, they told me that it wasn't documented so they just weren't sure.

My husband is making me find a new vet cause he can't take me going through this. Apollo's weight was 107 grams on his first surgery (6/24) and he is now down to 80 grams. Will this ever end?

I feel so lost and scared and all he wants is to be back in his cage with his brothers and sisters. He is depressed because he hates his ecollar and he is still making that sound when he pees and poops even thought the vet told me that his bladder was clear along with no poo where it would be if he couldn't go.

My mind is spinning and I am so sick. He has become my little baby and held my finger with his paw yesterday. All I could do is cry. When he heard the evil vets voice, he tried to get away. Who can blame him? Now that his glands have been expressed twice, I personally feel responsible for any damage done.

Sam

You are only responsible for giving him a loving home and trying to do what is best for him.

It is NOT your fault that they expressed his glands without consulting you. It is NOT.

It is not your fault that this happened (the situation in general) any more than it was Jen's fault when it happened to her glider.

You are sad, and I don't blame you. I am crying as I type this. I feel responsible for placing YOU in this situation. So, we can both feel guilty together. But, truth is... you are NOT to blame.

Turn that guilt to love and shower it on Apollo.
Sending you a PM.

It is not your fault.

Ok everyone, wish I had more to post but I don't. The swelling is terrible and I was pushed off yet again. They told me the wrong amount of days for the culture then closed at noon on Wednesday. Basically, he didn't get pain/anti inflammitory meds until Thursday and I started giving him is Baytril this morning again. We are waiting for the culture to come back before we can get another specific med for WHATEVER is in his glands. And the good news is that you can't rush growth in a culture and I take off on Tuesday to make my trek to Tulsa for the SGGA.

I promised Sugar and Spice they would come and per B, Apollo is coming to. I really don't know what else to do. I am afraid that he will do terrible if I leave him plus, if his anal glands must come out, then Val and Dr. Walsh....here we come! I know that we will work this all out, I just don't know how and when. At least Jen can see him in Tulsa and he will be around the best darn support systems he could possibly have.

Thanks everyone for continued support.

Sam,

My heart is breaking reading this. You two have been through so much and I know how badly this is hurting you to see him this way. You have my prayers and thoughts. Hopefully the baytril will kick in and start to bring some of that swelling down. (((Sam & Apollo)))

I'll continue to pray for the best! And your right, the SGGA will be full of supportive and helpful people for you and your little man.