Sheesh one problem after another Mr. Roo!!

issues and issues and more issues... jeez! Hope all turns out okay

Thank Goodness!

Thank God that Roo has Connie. A less attentive owner might not have noticed he couldn't relieve himself. This is why I had concerns over the "purse stitch" to begin with. I'm so happy that Connie was quick acting.

I've not yet heard of any glider with a "purse stitch" that didn't have problems relieving themselves.

Ok, what is a purse stitch? I keep reading it, and I just do not get it lol

We're back home.......again.

Roo started huffing and I could see him straining to potty. I tried to help him as I did the day before but he came unglued because it hurt so much. I managed to get out only about an 1/8th tsp of pooh. So I stuck him in his pouch, grabbed my keys, purse and shoes, got in the car, called the vet to let her know I was on the way and then called Rainey.

My vet removed one purse string and another 1/8th tsp of pooh came out, but he was still huffing and straining. We discussed it and I made the decision to remove the other purse string. I figured at worst, he would have to have it put back in but at best, it would work and everything would be ok and my vet agreed with me. Immediately, he poohed TWICE and with NO huffing! AND....his penis STAYED IN!!! Whew! He was slightly dehydrated, had lost 2 grams overnight (3% of his body weight) so I had my vet sub-q him right then and there. I can sub-q but it's a lot harder at home with an ecollar involved and no one to help. I didn't want to wait until my grand-kids got home this afternoon, to help me.

In case his penis prolapses again, my vet told me how to try to get it back in at home. Of course, if it doesn't work, I will rush him back to the vet, just like I have for the last three days. My car now knows the way by heart and I've discovered I'm able to make a 25 min drive in 17 min! LOL!

He's eaten 2.6 cc of HPW/Ensure. Not exactly willingly but......if he won't eat enough on his own.........

He's now in my shirt, hanging onto the front of my bra, irritated because he can't climb in, and holding onto my fingers.

Thanks once more, for your support and prayers! Hopefully this is the end of all the excitement and it'll be smooth sailing from here!

Teresa, having the purse stitches is exactly why I've had very little sleep the last two nights/days. I knew I had to watch him very carefully but I also knew, he had to have the purse stitches because his penis wouldn't stay in. It was kinda like being stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.

I was able to help him relieve himself, with minimal discomfort, with the purse stitches in, until he had the amputation. Then it became too painful and we had to remove the purse stitches. Until then, tho, they did the job long enough for him to heal to where his penis isn't prolapsing anymore.

I don't mean to pat myself on the back, but had it been another client, I doubt my vet would have let him go home with the purse stitches in. I think she would have either kept him there or probably have elected to do the amputation the first visit. But, she knows I'll watch him and that I know what to watch for. I have an awesome relationship and understanding with my vet. I trust her experience/knowledge/skills and she values my experience/knowledge/opinions.

A purse stitch is a continuous circular suture that is pulled together to invert an opening.

Roo's cloaca was inverted, instead of closed, because it needed to remain open for things to come out. There were two "purse stitches", one at the bottom and one at the top, to minimize the opening in hopes of letting pee and pooh out while keeping the penis in. Regular stitches would have simply closed the opening, which of course, could not be done.

I'm not that medically informed so hopefully someone with medical knowledge can come along and explain it better.

Ok I get it!!! I had no idea that gliders penises came out of the same hole! I knew they peed and pooped out of the same hole, but I think there was another hole for the peepee. Maybe if Jack ever discovered his little weenie, I would have known! He never went through the flossing stage lol

Learned something new!!!

That is a very good description.

I'm glad things have worked out well. I understand about having a good relationship with the vet. The vet that neuters for me, trusts me like that as well. He said because I not only know gliders but KNOW my gliders, I am better equipped at noticing when something subtle is wrong.

Thank you! It took me forever to figure out how to word my explanation so it made sense to me! LOL!

That's exactly what my vet says! I'm so glad I found her!

A good vet is priceless for sure. A good slave even more so.

Glad to hear that all he needed was those stitches removed.

(Raises hand) Guilty! LOL!


Me too!!!

Did you get some Clarol while you were out, you should have a few more grey hairs after rushing him back to the vet.

Just glad that he didn't have to have more surgery.

I'll put it like this......if anyone wants a stock tip, buy Clairol! LOL! There just here ain't enough Calgon either! I was really scared he'd have to be put under again and that would have been 4 times in 3 days!

4x in 3 days? BRUTAL! lol not you but on him.. poor fella.. hopefully he wont have to go back to see the "sleep fairy" other than for follow ups

The first day, when he was put under twice to try to put his penis back in, it took him a very long time to get over the effects of being put under. I literally didn't take my eyes off him for prob half an hour til he woke up! I had to keep telling myself, as long as his nose and hands were pink, he was ok but boy, it sure was scary!!!

He's a bit dehydrated this morning, but I'm not surprised, considering I've had to fight him all night long to get liquids and food into him. At this point, all he will accept on his own is HPW and not much of that. I know that's due to the pain meds so I'm pushing fluids every couple of hours. I'll be backing off on the pain meds today so hopefully, that will help his appetite.

His bottom looks great! Still a bit swollen and he huffs a tiny bit when he goes to potty but he is peeing great. No pooh yet but with his low intake of solid food, I'm not surprised. I've taken the ecollar off a few times to clean his neck and give him a break. He's getting around great and doing good on the grooming without me having to stop him. I've learned to keep my thumb over his belly and my thumbnail pointed down to cover his cloaca. He's been pretty content to groom elsewhere. I really think had it not been for the stitches and glue from the pom removal, he would be fine with no ecollar! He really seems to be more interested in exploring his surroundings than his surgical sites! Except for the dehydration, I'm very encouraged and pleased by his progress!

He's sure keeping me on my toes!

Connie, I'm so glad to hear that Roo is making forward progress now. I know you feel like you've been through the Dark Forest the past few days...hopefully things will continue to at least hold steady.

I also know the hard decision of the purse stitches and the "between a rock & a hard spot" dilema you feel like you're in...been there myself not long ago, for the same reason (prolapsed penis). When nothing else would help, I chose the same route you did. But I'm going to echo what Teresa said: THIS IS NOT A PROCEDURE YOU CHOOSE AS A "FIRST OPTION"...IT'S A LAST RESORT AND ALL OTHER POSSIBILITIES SHOULD BE TRIED AND EXHAUSTED FIRST. (the most amusing of which I heard from my vet was to sprinkle sugar on a penis...PLAIN TABLE SUGAR...to help reduce the swelling. And no, it didn't work either)

I'll keep you in my prayers through the weekend...hopefully Roo will behave himself & he can get OUT of the e-collar for good.

My vet told me to make up a thick paste of sugar and water right before application, in case his penis came back out, here at home after surgery. Thank goodness, it hasn't done so! She tried a strong dextrose solution prior to trying to put his penis back in but obviously, it didn't work.

He's in my bra right now, with vet wrap around his tummy to keep him from getting to his stitches. That's the only thing bothering him now. I'm really pleased with how well he's healing! My vet said the stitches would stay in one week but I'm wondering if she'll take them out sooner since he looks so good. I've not been thru stitches so if anyone knows how long they have to stay in, I'd be interested to hear.

P.S. I'm wanting to get the ecollar off as soon as is safe because he's tipped over onto his face so much, his nose is bruised.

vet wrap didn't work. Sigh. Back in the ecollar.

Sorry that you are going through all of this.

It depends on the type of stitches they used. I know that the disolveble stitches stays in for about 10 to 13 days.

Hope this helps and good luck!

They used silk, saying it would be gentler on him. He's supposed to have them taken out in one week from surgery.

Well, here's my final update for the day.

Roo is doing well enough that I haven't called my vet today........yet. LOL!

I did, however call Teresa because Roo isn't eating as well as I think he should be. She told me to let him have anything he'll eat unless it's toxic. So for dinner, he had organic peanut butter, corn, gliderade and HPW. Not much of each but I'll keep pushing. I did sub-q him again because he's still moderately dehydrated. I weighed him after and he was between 78-79 grams. Hard to get an accurate weight when they wiggle. I was pleased to see he hadn't gone down in weight. The sub-q weighed 2 grams so at the very least, he maintained his weight from yesterday and may have gained 1 gram.

I've given him his torb but am waiting to see how he does before giving him the tramadol. He reached his max on metacam with this morning's dose. He doesn't seem to be in any pain and is very active, climbing and exploring. The only thing that seems to bother him is the glue and stitches. His cloaca is nearly normal size now and a very healthy looking pink. He is peeing with ease. He is poohing too, smaller than normal but regular in consistency and color. He did a very slight huffing this morning but when I watched, he didn't strain to potty and hasn't huffed since then.

I'm cautiously optimistic at this point but still very guarded and ever watchful. He is in his hosp cage which is literally on my bed beside me!

I know that pain meds and antibiotics can cause loss of appetite. I know with my Bailey that he liked to eat sweet corn cassarole (baby food), yogurt, and HPW. He also liked chicken babyfood, but it is harder to get them to lap it from a syringe. Best of luck to you and Roo. ((((HUGS))))

I didn't realize antibiotics could decrease the appetite too! I have several jars of baby food in my emergency kit. I'll bring them out tomorrow and see if I can't tempt him!

Roo just huffed again, but seriously meant it this time! I watched and saw him straining so I took him out of the hosp cage to see if I could assist him as I did before surgery.

To my horror and shock, I discovered the collasate gel I had used earlier to help him heal, had DRIED into a HARD SHELL, completely blocking his cloaca opening!!! I grabbed a baby wipe and cleaned it off and he promptly peed all over me!

I had no idea the collasate gel would do this! If you ever plan to use collasate gel on your glider in an area like the cloaca, check it first by putting a bit on your finger, to make sure it does not dry into a hard shell!!!

Oh my Connie! I had no idea it would do that. I have only used the collasate spray, not the gel. Again, nice watching on your end! Poor baby.

WOW!!! I was scared to see what you wrote... I was thinking another vet visit! I am glad you caught this!

I was afraid if I used the spray, I wouldn't be able to apply it as accurately as the gel. I'm still shaking!!! My poor baby!