He has been on his thyroid hormones for a little over a month now...he started on 7/24/07.
Other than the dry ears, which are still an issue, the results have been amazing with him! First:
For those that don't know my Commander Riker:
He is 5 years old. I got him at approximately 6 weeks OOP, from a gunshow, my first glider, and mill bred. He had a very hard start in life. He came to me with severe HLP, then Self Mutilated (cloacal SM). He was on me nearly 24/7 his first 6 months just to pull him through, then spent about a year and a half battling head/sinus infections. As a result, he will not accept a cagemate (and there have been numerous attempts). To him, I am his cagemate.
He has chronically overgroomed his head for over 3 years with no apparent cause. Although it started during the head infections, once that was cleared he still overgroomed, no matter how much attention was spent with him. He also has almost no appetite or energy level, yet was chunky. Plus he has chronically dry ears, all signs of a possible thyroid dysfunction.
He had a T4 thyroid panel run (blood test) - I know of no other glider that's had that done. The results were that his thyroid hormone was 'below detectable levels'...we don't know if a glider's thyroid hormone will even show up on the panel (as it hadn't been done on them).
We started thyroid hormone treatment with Thyroxine on 7/24. He has not weighed under 156 grams in over 3 years, and usually right around 160 (he's not that big).
Here's some before pics first. Next post will have a mid-month concern, and then will be the ones I took this morning and his current weight.
NOTE: this is not a thing to start lightly. Riker will be on these meds every day for the rest of his life. Riker is on a clinical trial of sorts-the first glider we know of to have undergone thyroid hormone treatment.
Before Pics:
Last edited by sugarlope; 11/01/0809:30 PM. Reason: fixed link
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Commander Riker Update-Thyroid
[Re: Xfilefan]
#374488 08/31/0711:44 AM08/31/0711:44 AM
Now, a couple weeks ago, I went to take him out of his pouch, and saw something really scary. The entire inside of his pouch was full of tufts of hair! Yet at the same time, his hair seemed to be filling in. Needless to say we went and had a talk with the vet.
Apparently, the hormone had caused him to begin growing hair very rapidly (in essence...molting ) His coat near his hindquarters actually looked like animals that DO molt (gliders normally don't). Well....it itched. The vet assured me it would stop (I REALLY hoped so! What was I going to do if it didn't? )
Here's some pics taken then, and of the pouch full of pulled out tufts:
He weighed 154 grams at this point.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Commander Riker Update-Thyroid
[Re: Xfilefan]
#374491 08/31/0711:49 AM08/31/0711:49 AM
Now, here's today. While he's not nearly as active as some of mine, he's much more (for him) than he was, and more curious! He's done "molting", and no more tufts in the pouch! He's also looking good at a trim 145 grams! He's still fighting the dry ears (you can see it in the pics-I put more oil on them right after), but everything else is good!
His appetite is still funny. He does have less of a sweettooth (yogurt drops, lol), and I do have to hand feed him some, but he does eat a little more on his own now! (I think part of that is because he's spoiled and just want's his 'cagemate' (me) to wait on him, lol).
Anyhow, here's today's pics.
Thoughts are welcome.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Okay, first of all, what a sweet, handsome boy he is! He looks great! I'm so happy that things are going so well for him (and you, too!). Thank you for the update & keep us posted!
Brenda 970-616-2872 Gliders: Eugene, Sandy, Seri; Bobbi, Spice; Star, Squiddi; Pearl, Pip; Petrie; Jimny, Pinocchio; Anna & Elsa Dogs: Nacho & Dory RIP my glider angels: Nynaeve, Poppy, Lan, Toffee, Zoey, Tika & Tas
Lol, the hand feeding thing reminds me of Smegal... Gosh, I miss that little guy. He would refuse to eat when I was around and would dramatically crawl out of his pouch like he barely had any strength, then as soon as I would leave the room, he would pop out of his pouch, go nibble on his food and run on his wheel (he had this thing for running on the outside of his wheel instead of the inside, don't know what that was all about)... He was such a spoiled little boy, but I loved him, and he knew it.
You are doing a wonderful job with Riker. I kept Smegal going for 3 years while he was battling cancer... It's amazing the flights these little guys can put up when they know they are loved...
Jen, I've been wondering how Riker was doing... thanks for the update and the pix! He's looking great! I have an appointment to bring Mareki to her original vet (I finally found her again!) as soon as she gets back from maternity leave on Sept. 15th. One of the things I plan to ask her about is the possibility of thyroid therapy. (You remember the history, I'm sure ) Give Riker a snuggle for me
Wow Jen he look so good. He looks like he has a bit more energy and is not as sad looking. His fur is much softer and more plush or better or not as clumpy looking. And that head is so handsome with all his baldness gone. ust amazing. You do some exellent medical research with the gliders and this is just another breakthough for us all.
Thank You and give that handsome guy a yogie from us here in CT
Have a Good Day Brenda & Mr. Magoo
Friendly Reminder please have an e-collar ready before you need it......
Riker looks 100% better! What a handsome guy he is! No doubt, without your perseverance in the medical dept. and your love of gliders, Riker wouldn't be here. He is sure a special guy and has the best "cagemate"!
I love updates like this!! Thank you!!
Keeper of Handprints on my Heart, You left your Footprints on my soul. My precious loves that left to quickly, Peanut, Katie Isabella, Kiwi, Bonnie and Monroe.
Spread your wings and glide free of pain, Until the day I see you again.
Figured I'd give an update...I need to weigh him again, but I believe he is now under 140 grams! Also, FINALLY, the dry edges to his ears are almost completely gone for the first time in years! His energy levels continue to increase, and he's happy and bouncy!
One interesting side effect...Riker, who has never, ever turned down a yogurt drop (or 2, lol) absolutely WILL NOT touch one now. He's developed even more of an appetite for bugs, though-go figure. Before he'd never take a mealie you didn't hand to him-now he'll eat them out of a dish with no issue-my crazy little guy!
I'll have to get you all some new pictures soon-you really won't believe this is the same glider.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Commander Riker Update-Thyroid
[Re: Xfilefan]
#387962 09/27/0707:59 AM09/27/0707:59 AM
This is great news! I'm so happy to hear that your sweet little Riker is coming along so well. FINALLY! Thank you for the update, and hurry with those pics!!!
Keeper of Handprints on my Heart, You left your Footprints on my soul. My precious loves that left to quickly, Peanut, Katie Isabella, Kiwi, Bonnie and Monroe.
Spread your wings and glide free of pain, Until the day I see you again.
I took some new ones this morning (yesterday morning? lol), and I'll try and get them off the camera and uploaded when I get off work today, and get him on the scale. This morning he bounced out of his pouch, and onto my arm (you'd have to know him-he would NEVER do that before...) and ate some mealies on my shoulder I never thought I'd ever see him so joey-like again! Took the opportunity for a couple new pics while he was having his snack.
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley
Re: Commander Riker Update-Thyroid
[Re: Xfilefan]
#388471 09/28/0701:57 AM09/28/0701:57 AM
Sorry that took so long...here's the first 5...the last of 10 pics will be a "before" pic...how he's looked for the last few years. *sniff* I'm so proud of my little guy!
Jen/Colin Commander Riker 12 16 02-10 04 12 you will be FOREVER missed Sinbad, Gabby, Baby, and Alley