Binx

He goes to the vet Friday. Some know he came to me with a 3 year UTI that hadn't been treated-and ended up with abscessed anal glands as a result. His urinalysis has been coming up clear for the past 6 months, and he's been on antibiotics twice in that period-so no UTI anyway. His anal glands are severely swollen, he can't pee comfortably, he's got minimal drainage-so a very small opening in the abscesses through which bacteria/pus can drain-making this very difficult to treat. It's enough that it stings when he pees, though.

Now (today), he's inverting part of his cloaca from discomfort when he pees-not very much, but it's there, and hissing every time. The last course of antibiotics didn't even help. We'll be going at 10am Friday to see what we can do, if they can lance or remove the infection, or if those glands have to come out. He's overgroomed almost all the hair off his head and it's getting worse this last weekend-I have pain meds to make him more comfortable, but it's to the point we really have to do something for him-he crabs at his girl every time she moves or goes in/out of the pouch now. I'll update after his visit.

We were at this point with Chronos, but never had the final consult because of his liver/gall bladder failure. Now we get to find out what the next step with this condition brings.

I'm so sorry, Jen. It is so much for you to go through - let alone the little guy.

I've had chronic UTIs my whole life. *I* want to SM!! It just makes me cringe to think what Binx is going through.

Best of luck with his exam on Friday - I'll be holding a good thought.

I hate to hear that Binx (and you) are having to go through this. I'll be praying that the doctors can find a way to give him some relief and get him healthy.

Poor Binx! I hope the vet has him feeling better soon!

Here's a pic I took about an hour ago during his after meds treat-the overgrooming is so bad, you shouldn't have a problem telling which one he is.

Jen I am so sorry for Binx!
Why haven't the antibiotics worked for him?
I sure hope that you will get some answers today and hopefully something can be done for him.
Keeping him and you in my prayers.

They're not working because the abscesses aren't open enough for the infection to drain adequately-and abscesses are very hard to heal without proper drainage, since they have to heal from the inside out, and the infection has to have enough of a path to leave for that to happen. It's a very dicey place to work on with a glider-surgery, either to enlarge the drainage openings, or remove the glands, is touchy and the glider can be left with damage, so it's a last resort. At this point it's a last resort time. We don't go until Friday morning-he's on pain meds in the meantime to help with the discomfort.

Edit: The meds temporarily reduce the swelling, but not enough to clear it. He starts hissing again within a day after stopping meds every time.

To remove the glands they HAVE to be enlarged as much as possible, so that the vet can determine that tissue from surrounding tissue with as little margin of error as possible-which is why we're waiting until Friday to go, and he gets no antibiotics between now and then. I will update after his appointment.

Just curious, have they tried to put in a small venacava catheter for a drain tube? I've seen this proceedure done in premature babies ( 10oz babies) that had develope an abcess. I think that the smallest I've seen was about 2mm's. Also, I've read where they can go directly into the area that's abcessed and flush/draw fluid with a syringe.
I'm sure your vets have covered all the options, these are just thoughts that I had.
Was his UTI the primary cause of this? If so, did it get out of hand becuse it was left untreated for so long? What were the antibiotics that were usesd initially?
I feel so badly for Binx Jen there isn't anyone else that could take as good of care of him as you! Your a wonderful mommy and Thank You for being there for Binx

We believe it was the untreated UTI that led to it, Chronos had a similar history and also had the abscessed anal glands, though we think Chronos may have been bitten there in fights in his former home as well (he was in a 'colony' with several other males).

First treatment was with Baytril, then with Clavamox. Subsequent has been with Clindamycin/Flagyl over the last several months-which seems to knock it down better, but still won't get rid of it, and length of treatment doesn't seem to make any difference.

We have not tried a tube yet-that's what Friday is about-to see what the options are. Improving drainage SOMEhow or removal of the glands are what we're down to-everything else has failed. He's really a very, very sweet little soul normally-he's a cuddle bug, loves a rub and his girl, and is very gentle. He's started lashing out because of his discomfort, crabbing at his girl, losing interest in toys, tho his appetite is still good, which means he is uncomfortable, and his quality of life is no longer acceptable, and we have to do something for him. He never has bitten, and at least he hasn't started. It's not fair to let him go on feeling like this so often, so we'll see what modern veterinary medicine has to offer at this stage.

LOL - and I have no doubt I'm about to set a record of some kind in glider vet care costs in a 6 month period. That's okay, I've got the care credit paid down, a little put aside since I saw this coming, and Lyah's ongoing tooth issues, and a new job that should help. I'll have to add all this up soon and see where I stand for a 6 month total, lol, just out of curiosity.

If you need anything Jen, please let me know. Thank You for explainig everything.

Jen, s to you and Binx! I hope the vet is able to devise a long term solution for him!

I really admire your strength in caring for Binx. I have a glider with chronic UTI related issues and I know how exhausting (to the heart and the bank account) it can be to handle just one glider with ongoing medical issues so you have all my respect.

Binx is at the vet's now-his glands are so bad they're coming out-there's no other option. The vet said she's not had one come back incontenent or anything, so I'm hoping-and scared to death at the same time. The last glider that had surgery didn't make it home She's also taking pre-op bloodwork, since he'll be 6 in Sept, and checking his teeth, since the last couple weeks he's been refusing mealies (his favorite), only I found out yesterday he WILL eat them if I squish out the insides like I do for Lyah. It could be he's just not feeling well enough to make the effort, but his teeth are all getting looked over anyway. Vet confirms that his overgrooming is because he doesn't feel good. I hope this gives him his quality of life back!

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers today. He should be ready for discharge mid-late afternoon.

If anyone wonders what an operation like this costs-estimate is about $400.00 (though my vet may be going a little light on the bill for me). I'll update after I get him home and settled. At least he's not having a weight issue-he's actually up 4 grams from what he was a few weeks ago and is a solid 130 grams.

Here's some pics I took of him yesterday....*just in case* Sorry one of them isn't very good (2 came out somewhat blurry).

Prayers and

I'm sorry it came down to having the glands removed. But it really does sound like your vet knows what she is doing. Take comfort in that. Binx is getting really good care.

I'll be thinking of you. And him. Hugs!

I am so sorry to hear about Binx. Sending suggie hugs and kisses, and please keep us updated!

I'm sending prayers! I sure hope that the surgery is going well, and when you get back on you will have "good news" to report.

Jen, Know my prayers are with you both, if this is the surgery you and I discussed, I know it is a very touchy one, but the good thing would be , he already knows what to watch for, with that being said.. know all my prayers are with you both, please let me know what happens

and prayers for you and Binx!

Prayers to you & Binx Jen

We're home from the vet. Binx hates his collar, but really hasn't made much of an attempt to go after his stitches even when he got out of it twice. Still, one can't be too careful. He seems to be feeling pretty good-either great surgical technique, good meds, or both.

Total cost was $229.14 (I KNOW she cut me a break, plus I brought the injectible pain meds Chronos never had a chance to use - he had a shot before he woke up, and the rest is in a suspension for him. He will also be on Clindamycin twice a day at least until the stitches come out in 10 days.

Binx's anal glands, in the vet's words, were HUGE. She said she could see why he was in so much discomfort. As soon as she shaved him she could see the dark lumps from the enlarged glands under the skin (3:00 and 9:00 of the cloacal opening). Binx is the first live glider we know to have come through this. The glands were abscessed. In my worry over his health and survival, I didn't think to ask that tests or a biopsy be run on them. He's napping a lot right now, but has had some watery gliderade, and seems content of all the odd things. Ears aren't unusually droopy for him (his have been on and off for months as we fought with this condition), and he's even perked them up a few times. His eyes are bright, open, and clear when awake.

In my vet's words, despite the small size of a glider, the glands were much, much easier to remove than a ferret's, and came out very, very easily when she got in there and with minimal trauma to the tissues-it couldn't have gone better. He has two small stitched incisions on either side of the cloaca (I have a picture (and he'd temporarily wormed out of his collar, but it's on now), I'll get another later tonight, hopefully of him upside down. There is some swelling, but so far he seems to be pooping and peeing without noticeable discomfort (and he's been in noticeable discomfort whenever he peed pre-op).

Now that we've passed the surgery, it's the aftermath we need to watch. Other than SM, which the collar will take care of for now, for how long he'll need it we are not sure. He's also sleeping on my son, since he will not be left alone at all for the next several days, while I type. Issues will be the fact that those glands provide lubrication for the poop-we may need to modify or add something to his diet (or keep a lot of water in it) to avoid constipation issues. I also need to ask, since scent drains into those glands (the milky white substance they normally secrete) if that will stop or dry up, or if there could be a blockage issue without them (thank you, Bourbon, and I will ask her as soon as I have a chance). For now he's on the Clindamycin twice a day, and injectable Buprenex in oral suspension every 8 hours. I'll keep updating as he progresses. Barring complications, he goes back in 10 days for removal of his stitches. I'm happy to answer any questions I haven't covered and know the answer to...if I don't know, I'll find out from the vet next time I talk to her. It's been a very, very long, hot day, two trips up and down the mountain, over 200 miles, and it wouldn't suprise me if I leave something out at this point.

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and thoughts-I came home post op with a little guy in good shape (for post op)!

And much to her embarrasment, she said they forgot to do his pre op bloodwork, lol. They will likely do it at follow up. She also said she was jazzed about having done the procedure on a glider for the first time (she's done other exotics, ferrets, and dogs), and how well it went. And thanked me for trusting her to perform it (when I was asking questions pre op, I had told her if I didn't trust her, I wouldn't be leaving him there, that I was just asking some things for my own information). Happily, he's home and resting, and keep hoping all goes well for him.

Here's the one picture I have of him post op. He has an identical incision/stitches on the other side.

Edit: I also forgot to add-they did check each of his teeth and his gums while he was under, too, and everything is perfect in that regard.

Poor baby! I'm so happy that everything went well with the surgery so far. He will continue to be in my prayers, and you as well.

For those not familiar with the anal glands, they are "multi chambered" meaning they serve several functions, as Jen said the lubrication of the feces, but it also where (we believed till today) that they also excrete the skunking smell, most commonly found in joeys, Binx did skunk after his surgery when he became startled. But also it is used for marking their cages, pouches and toys, with "their" scents. My vet and I disected some anal glands years ago from a glider that had passed.It was difficult to remove them without damage to other tissue. Also the wall linings are very very thin, so unlike a dog, they can not be suppressed without risk of damage to the chambers. My vet did say they were similar to ferrets though,

Yes, he did skunk-which thoroughly surprised us. (Another car made a loud noise on the freeway and he jumped-and skunked )He has always done that when he gets his nails trimmed-the only glider I have that does that (he doesn't bite, but he really doesn't like it-it's the only other time he's ever skunked). It wasn't real heavy, but it was him and definitely there. Since the anal glands are no longer there-I will be asking the vet how he did that.

And, B, they are difficult-which is why the vet wanted them to be swollen before she did the surgery, and said she wouldn't try it if they weren't...hence why we waited to take him in when they began to flare up badly again-to make sure she got only the anal gland tissue, and it was distinguishable from surrounding tissue, and nothing else. Apparently when they're swollen, they're easier to tell apart from everything else-and his were very, very large.
(Knew I was forgetting something about today, lol.) Right now he's sleeping, but still doing well.

Jen, How is Binx doing today????

I hope Binx is still doing well. How wonderful that the vet was able to sucessfully do the surgery and have Binx be doing so well post-op. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

WTG Binx!!! Jen, I'm sure your totally exhausted, but yet probably feel like a brick has been lifted off your shoulders...I'm impressed with how well Binx is doing after everything that he's been dealing with. You are so fortuante to have such a wonderful vet.....
I pray that everything is going well today.

Had to work 5am to 3 today-and power issues with the high temps and high winds. Here's an update.

Binx is doing great! He's not been in his collar since around 3am before I went to work-BUT he's been under 24 hour direct watch (in a pouch (folded down to make a shallow bowl) in my hands or my son's or husband's. I can do this because I know what I'm looking for and I want to know what kind of post op issues-so far, there aren't any major ones-with Binx. I do NOT recommend an owner inexperienced with SM to ever remove the collar-I have my vet's approval. He hasn't once tried to SM, and only a few times after he's peed has attemped to clean the cloaca-and was easily distracted away from it-only attempting to lick in the process of normal grooming-including chest, patagium, etc.

I can't say that another glider would do this well-his progress is remarkable, and we expected him to at least try for it (SM). One theory is that it was so painful before it actually feels better despite the surgery and stitches. He's getting the Buprenex (pain) every 8 hours as directed. So far, he's pooping and peeing fine. He's got a tiny bit of seepage (blood) from one of the incisions-a call to the vet said it's okay, just to let her know if there's any odd color to it, increase in amount, or foul odor.

We are keeping him and his cagemate separate, though they did get to visit earlier, because unlike him, she IS showing a bit much interest in his incisions.

Here's some pics I just took (he's getting dinner)-his hair is a little greasy from us limiting his grooming (he's stopped if he gets anywhere near his tail/lower abdomen-and seems fine with it and isn't fighting the redirection-in fact he's been very cooperative). Also, he's still got quite a bit of swelling around the surgical site-but it's also noticeably down from yesterday.

He's looking great! I can see the swelling improvement from yesterday!

He really does look alot better than the pictures you took yesterday. It's amazing how much the swelling has gone down. So happy for you and Binx. I would say that Binx has a guardean Angel or should I say Angel's.

He's looking good Jen! A definate improvement from yesterday! Glad to hear everything is going well with him both of you & all his sitters.

Here's an update on Mr. Binx.

He's still doing great (and still under 24 hour watch-which he will be until sometime after the stitches come out). So far, he hasn't done more than try to groom the area after pooping or peeing, and is doing both of those functions just fine. He's hissed softly a few times with peeing, but there are also internal wounds where the glands came out-and it's nowhere near as intense as it was before surgery. We're helping to clean him in the cloacal area with plain water.

He used to have what we called 'helicopter' ears-meaning most of the time they were sideways. Not drooped, but not up, either. His ears have been perked all the way up more in the last day and a half, than in the last year.

The little seepage he had has stopped, incisions are clean looking and dry, no sign of inflammation or redness, and the swelling has come down considerably in the last 24 hours. He is still easy to redirect from the area. But.

I expect the test is coming. If anyone has ever had stitches, then you know the skin begins to feel tight and itchy as it heals. He has 6 stitches in 2 incisions-that's a lot for a little bitty guy. So far he's been a model patient. That discomfort will improve once the stitches are removed (7 more days).

For now, here's the pics I took earlier-I'll try and get a better one later when I have some help.

I can't imagine having stitches in that area! I am so glad he is doing so well!

Binx looks like he's snoozing away comfortably! I hope he contines to heal well and doesn't have a problem with the itchy stitches. I'm so happy for you both that he's doing so well.

Binx is continuing to improve...he's still not showing unusual interest in his incisions, and yesterday afternoon/last night has not hissed at all when pooping or peeing! The swelling is also much reduced just from yesterday-and I've got much better pics today showing the site in it's entirety. He's doing extremely well, and slowly the amount of pain meds at each dose is being reduced. I couldn't be happier or more surprised with his progress to this point.

Anyhow, here are his day 4 pictures:
The one without a number was taken this am in the reptarium, and it probably isn't very easy to see, but it's included.

He looks sooo much better today! Looks like he's healing really well

He looks like he is doing well, and his incisions look great!

Thanks for all the info and pics. This will be a very helpful post to anyone who encounters these issues in the future.

How is Binx? Are his stitches out yet?

His stitches are out as of last night. 4 came out on their own, 2 were untied and just hanging, and we took them the rest of the way. The swelling is gone. He is healing BEAUTIFULLY-well, mostly. One side isn't healing as quick as the other, but it IS healing. He's still on his antibiotics, but off pain meds the last 3 days, and hasn't bothered it at all. No problems pooping or peeing (as he demonstrates in one of the pics, lol). He'll be separated from Roxy yet until a bit more healing is done on the slow side-and she has started overgrooming a little due to missing him (while his bald patches are beginning to fill back in)- but we don't want any OOPSes, so they have to endure for a few more days. They have been getting to 'visit' each other daily.

Anyway, here's the day 9 pictures from last night

Wow! He looks so much better! I bet he's feeling lots better, too! Yea, Binx!

What that poor baby has been through... ...I am so glad you are his momma Jen.

Karin

It's amazing how much better that looks! I'm so happy for you both that he's doing well. Hopefully he'll be back with Roxy in no time!

Jen, he is looking AWSOME!!!!! Yippie! Way to go Binx!

I just want to say that Binx is doing fantastic! I have some updated pics (they look awesome), his hair is coming back, and the hair around his incision site where they shaved him, is beginning to regrow (at about the same rate)

Post op side effects: He's been back with his cagemate since the vet gave the all clear July 02, and has been bouncier, happier, and more active than at any time since I don't know how long before he came to me! He's playful and bright eyed-no more hissing when he pees, and no more fighting with his cagemate every time she so much as bumps the pouch or looks at it wrong! I really think this is the best thing that could have happened for the little guy, once those glands went bad. I would not second guess myself on this one.

Here's some pics, one taken right after the vet's all clear-the other only about half an hour ago (where I saw something odd, but I'll make a separate post about it-it's not related to this). Anyhow-here's the pics: they loaded a little out of order today-not sure why-but just look at the dates and what it is in the filenames.

Great News Jen!!! so glad to here Binx is feeling so good!

Oh, Jen! I'm so happy he's doing so well! He looks wonderful.

Wow-you couldn't ask for a better outcome! Way to go Binx!

For any who might be interested, Binx is continuing to do beautifully. His hair is coming back where it was shaved, and so is that on his head, albeit a little irregularly, which may be due to the fact that he overgroomed it so badly for close to 4 years (not weeks or months), but it IS coming back. Thought I'd at least update and give hope to any other gliders dealing, or who may deal, with this now or later.