Thank you all for your condolences. It really means a lot to me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" />

*crying*
Oh Candice, I just dont know what to say. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I am so so terribly sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />
I know how much you love your Animal Kids, and what good care you put into them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> I KNOW Ethan knew he was special and loved. He had the best life a Glider could have! Im just heartbroken for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" /> I wonder what happened... I am in shock, I know you must be. I am so so sorry. Please know that your in my thoughts and prayers...my heart goes out to you. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. Im so sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Ethan, Lilo, and Stitch? This is all so terribly heartbreaking. I am so sorry for your loss! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" />

Oh Candice,

How awful to hear about Ethan. Bless your heart, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Words are never enough, but hopefully you feel the comfort and warmth from all your friends at GC.

May your heart heal soon. Hugs to you.

What did the vet say???

Just got it in Right now... It was very hard to hear being I feel I feed the best diet. I feed BML and they are blaming diet as his death. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />
He died of heart & liver failure and also had fluid in his lungs.
He did not show any signs of this the days before he died. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crying.gif" alt="" />

Here is a document that was also faxed to me from the vet to give me a suggestion on how I should feed my other gliders.
I don't know why they blamed diet when I feed almost what they have listed. babyfood, leadbeater, honey, mealworms, veggies, fruit,
Why would he send this to me.

My guess is that although the vet treats gliders and has experience with medical proceedures, I bet they don't own gliders. We all learn from the experiences of others but also by our own experiences.
With the cause of death being liver and heart failure with fluid on his lungs, my guess is that he got ill and that caused the organ failure.
This is in NO way your fault!!!! I know it is so hard not to blame yourself but it definately is NOT your fault!!!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Candice, is it possible the damage to Ethans liver was due to his previous diet? I know he came to a better home when he came to you, and cirrhosis of the liver is often caused from past problems and it often rears up years later. The damage may have been done before he came to be your baby <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/upset.gif" alt="" />.

Just an example of how vets can be wrong, I've lost 90 of my 120 lovebirds because of a vet screw-up. After losing 3 birds, I brought them in for testing, they ended up treating my whole flock of birds for E-Coli. After losing a total of 90 birds, they called me and said they realized the birds actually had worms. After paying over $700 in vet bills and medication, it turned out all I needed was $11 de-worming medication. My 30 birds that I've got left are now in my house in an indoor aviary.

I'm so sorry about your loss Candice, and I totally understand the awful, hurtful guilt that goes along with losing a pet. Just remind yourself that Ethan had a wonderful life with you and no one in the world would have done anything different than you did. He showed no signs of illness, so how could you have known? It's in no way your fault, and as far as the vet goes, the fact that he sent you a sheet of information on sugar gliders goes to show they obviously didn't even take the time to listen to you and how you've been raising him. That's just the most general way out they could come up with. You did the right thing, and Ethan is in a good place, he will never forget you. Remember the good times you had with him.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps the vet does not remember what kind of diet you fed Ethan.

Dilated Congestive Cardiomyopathy can be caused by nutritional deficiencies as well as from infections, mostly viral which can lead to inflamation of the heart muscle. Rarely is it genetic.

However, most cases are idiopathic, which means a specific cause may never be found. As to the liver problems...my guess is they are intertwined with whatever caused his heart problems.

Ethan may have developed this condition way before he came to live with you and thus his illness went unnoticed through no fault of your own.

As to your vet....I would call the clinic and ask if he would return your phone call to help you understand the findings easier. This then may help you find closure at least with the necropsy report.

Candice my dear, I am terribly sorry to hear about Ethan. Peggy let me know in an email that he had passed on. Ethan may have passed on, but he will NEVER be forgotten. He was very much a part of our lives here on the board and he will be missed greatly. Now him and Ilene can keep one another company while they wait for you to meet up with them at the Bridge. Lots of <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> and <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> being sent in your direction.

OMG NO! I couldn't belive when I saw this it seems like just yesterday I was contacting you asking if you had any luecistics avalible! It's aweful to hear about Ethan! My heart gos out to you on this day!

-Kiki