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How I gave my gliders a bath!

Posted By: Gil

How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/02/03 04:15 PM

I found a new way to give my two spoiled pets a bath. I gave them apple sauce the other day and my wife gave them yoghurt a couple of hours before me and they got major diarrhea. So, needless to say they were a mess. Knowing that my last attempts to clean them had left me with serious scratches and bites...I thought of giving this a try...and I believe it worked like a charm. I placed a couple of drops of mild baby shampoo in the middle of a small hand towel. About half the size of a regular adult towel. I then soaked the towel in hot water and squeezed the water out, leaving it slightly warm, damp and with some shampoo. I placed my Male glider (Marble) in the middle of the towel and then rapidly and gently folded the warm towel with him in the middle. As he tries to find his way out of the towel he is cleaning himself very well. In fact, he came out squeaky clean and not too wet. I did the same thing again with a towel with just warm water to rinse him. Then I finished drying him off with a warm towel I had placed in the laundry drier. In order to do this I made sure (and so should you if you do this) that their nails are not too long to get stuck in the towel. If anyone has any opinions, warnings or better ideas on how to improve on this procedure I would love to hear them.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/02/03 04:30 PM

Gil, I have to admit, that sounds like a very easy way to give a bath!!!! My only concern would be getting all the soap off. Them ingesting it during grooming wouldn't be good for them, maybe a couple of runs thru the rinse towel? AWESOME!!!! Using their natural desire to escape for you instead of against you! Will have to try that the next time someone needs a bath. With a really dirty bml baby or someone else you could just leave the towel a bit wetter and run them thru it several times till they are clean.
<img border="0" alt="thumb" title="" src="graemlins/thumb.gif" />
Chey
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/02/03 07:38 PM

Gil - very clever!! <img border="0" alt="clap" title="" src="graemlins/yelclap.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/12/03 03:39 AM

I had a similar problem but I took a whole bunch of q-tips and a small bowl of warm water and dipped the q-tips in there and just rubbed him where he was dirty. I think he thought I was his mommy cause he was making the cutest little sounds and he started cleaning his tummy. I had a little heater a few feet away and had him in a towel the whole time. When I was done he smelt like a baby and was soft like a babies bottom too. LOL <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/12/03 04:30 AM

Gil, that is a very neat idea on how to wash them, but...I wouldn't use the baby shampoo. It might be good for a human baby, but there are some chemicals in it that can dry out the gliders skin. I washed my chihuahua in baby shampoo and all of his hair fell out like he had mange. It was awful. I took him to the vet and the vet told me that I dried out his skin by using the baby shampoo. He told me to get this certian type of shampoo thats for sensitive skin. You can get it from pet shops too. It's called,"Caribbean Naturals Puppy & Kitten Shampoo" it has coconut, aloe and oatmeal in it. The bottle also states that it's Hypo-Allergenic for all pets with sensitive skin.
I hope that this helps yah, cause I wouldn't want you to have any hairless gliders. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
edited to also say that's it tearless.

<small>[ 01-11-2003, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: gliderseverywhere ]</small>
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/12/03 09:13 PM

Gil - I loved your idea but never dreamed I would have to put it to the test! Bugsy knocked my glass over and the liquid was all over him- he was a very wet little boy. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> I remembered this post and used your tip - I only used warm water and then a coule of dry towels but it worked wonderfully! Thanks so much for sharing!! <img border="0" alt="thumb" title="" src="graemlins/thumb.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/13/03 06:36 PM

i think i'll try that today.. cause this lil guy STINKS!!!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/13/03 07:06 PM

<img border="0" alt="clap" title="" src="graemlins/yelclap.gif" /> lol thats GREAT! I never thought of givign him a bath this way!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/13/03 08:18 PM

<img border="0" alt="wave" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" /> Gil...My babies have never had diarrhea from yogurt...I guess the reason being is that I always mix it with Northland grape/27%cranberry juice...They get this every morning after eating their crickets & mealies...They are usually so thirsty after the mealies...I figure they are salty...Never tasted them...Never will! <img border="0" alt="roflmao" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> ...So I don't know for sure...I have never had to bathe any of mine as it doesn't appear that they need it, but if I ever do, I will try your method...Thanks for the input...

<img border="0" alt="heart" title="" src="graemlins/heartpump.gif" /> Sassie, Cassie, "JJ", Sammie, Chippie, Opie & twins M/F OOP 12/23 <img border="0" alt="heart" title="" src="graemlins/heartpump.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/15/03 12:59 AM

any other idea.. the bottom of the glide, white fur, is where it stink the most. the are spots of yellow color. i try to put him in a wet towell and rub it off, but it wont really come off that well..
Posted By: Gil

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/15/03 04:13 PM

If you try my suggestion,and when you GENTLY fold the towel,grab the towel and GENTLY massage the bottom. This would work. As recommended later in this post, I make sure the shampoo is mild and from natural ingredients. Mine is also Hypoallergenic. I know what you mean,Their bellies can get slightly nasty from time to time. When I tried this, it left my glider very,very clean. It has been over a month and they look great. That means that my shampoo is safe. Gerber Baby Shampoo is gentle, tear-free, hypoallergenic formula. (I sound like a commercial <img border="0" alt="shakehead" title="" src="graemlins/shakehead.gif" /> )
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/16/03 02:00 AM

i guess i'll keep trying, my glider is very untame and i guess he hates being in that towel
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/16/03 03:00 AM

good idea, thanks for the tip... and speaking of bathing/soap.... yikes, this morning when i went into the bathroom, keiran decided to hop aboard and come along.. no sooner in the door and he bee-lines for the shower curtain, then he disappears into the tub/shower area, i hear him land on something, and i go look and there he is, hanging from the shower caddy munching on something... it suddenly occured to me that i have handmade soap with tangerine flavouring in it!!! it also has oatmeal in it.. sure enough, that's what he was nibbling on!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> i got him out of there pdq, and told him in no uncertain terms that from now on if he wants oatmeal and tangerine, it's the stuff in the kitchen you eat, NOT the bathroom. <img border="0" alt="shakehead" title="" src="graemlins/shakehead.gif" />
he seems to be fine, no sign of any reaction to it, glad it was the all natural soap, as opposed to store bought!
sheesh.. the little monkeys <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/22/03 04:59 AM

I want to try this but the glider is very untame. What do you think? He bites VERY VERY hard. Right now I have pretty much no feeling in my pinkie from him bitting it. But he needs to be washed. Do you think this will work? <img border="0" alt="dunno" title="" src="graemlins/nixweiss.gif" />

Thank you
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/22/03 06:16 AM

Candice, I think I would try that method as opposed to any other that would involve more handling!!! You might have the towel a little more than damp, I can't wring a heavy dishcloth out very well, but take a dishcloth and wet it down good, then wring it out totally, place it in a towel and put him in there. That's probably what I would do anyways!! Or see if he doesn't groom himself soon.
Chey
Posted By: Gil

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/22/03 01:44 PM

When I gave Marble a bath the first time I thought he turned into the world's smallest tazmanian devil. When I tried the towel method instead of a bath he was much more managable. It has worked for me. Just remember to see that their nails are not too long to get stuck in the towel and cause injury.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/25/03 03:28 AM

Well I tried the towel bath...I didn't used baby shampoo this time because I thought that it would be harder to get off of him...He didn't come too clean and he still smells <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> Poor thing. He did okay but like I said he was almost for nothing because he is still dirty. So I have to use the shampoo? Is that hard to get off? Does it harm them? Will it for sure get him clean that time?

Thank you
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/25/03 04:49 AM

Candice, I would try again, with a little bit of baby shampoo. You might have to do it a couple of times to get him really clean as dirty as he is. Poor baby. Maybe once a day before he goes to bed for the day, give him lot's of his fave treats and cuddles before bed!!!
Chey
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/25/03 06:28 PM

Okay, I will go pick up some baby shampoo today. So I will probably try tomorrow, give him a break <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> I will tell you how it goes

Oh I didn't tell you how I gave him the bath. I did it in the tent. I did it in there so that he couldn't run off and also because it was a little familiar to him. We played in there the night before. I let the towels I used warm up by the heater in their room for a bit so I think he appreciated that. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I wanted to also say that his last owner used a clay pot, you know the kind we keep plants in, as a nesting box...do you think this stained him??? Oh I hope not, I know clay has dyes in it, I hope this color comes off of him.


Thank you

<small>[ 01-25-2003, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: Candiflip ]</small>
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/25/03 07:15 PM

Nice.. I will have to try this method out too.. <img border="0" alt="thumb" title="" src="graemlins/thumb.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/29/03 08:28 PM

Okay I tried again and I don't know if he came clean yet..he is still wet but so far he looks the same <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> . Oh my goodness....I think I would of gotten bit as many time if I would of gotten bit less times if I would of dipped him in a bowl of water..And holding him down this time was horrible. I felt like I was hurting him... I hope I didn't <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> I don't know if I can do this again.
The first bath I gave him went okay as far as warm water, warm towels. I even warmed up his clean pouch but he has been sneezing the last few days. I did everything the same this time warn water, warm towels, warm pouch.. Their room is 74 degrees so it isn't cold in there. Right now he is tucked under a tank top, under a turtleneck, under a sweatshirt with me. So I think he is warm..I hope he is warm.

I will take a picture tonight of him & compair to before to see if he came any cleaner. Hope so. I don't want to put him through this again.

Thank you
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/29/03 08:52 PM

Very clever. But its going to be a problem with those gliders that don't like being held. I know my gliders don't like it when I hold them. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
Posted By: Gil

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/29/03 09:33 PM

How dirty is your glider? I have done this three times and have had good results. I held my glider down once while I gave him a quick bath and he turned into the smallest Tasmanian devil you have ever seen. When I placed him in the towel, I hold the towel and I do not let him get out right away.I don't even hold him too much while in the towel.As they try to get out they clean themselves very well. I may keep him for about 30 seconds inside the towel. You could even rub him GENTLY as he moves around trying to get out. Make sure that your rinsing towel is warm and wet enough.I wish you good luck and hope everything will work out. You sound like a good and sensitive glider owner. <img border="0" alt="clap" title="" src="graemlins/yelclap.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/29/03 10:49 PM

Ethan is a leucistic glider (Black eyed white). It isn't that he is so filthy from who knows what it is that his coat has a yellowish tint and I want him to be white again. I believe the tint is from him sleeping in a clay pot <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> He also has the heavy staining from scent on his chest that I am trying to clean. It is hard to get off because no one has every cleaned him before.

Yes I was rubbing him when he was in the towel and I made sure the towel was warm and that there was enough water on it when I was rinsing him off.
He wasn't very happy after his bath though. I had to lure him into the clean pouch with his dirty blankie and I took the dirty one out after. I told him that it smelled and we didn't want him to smell after he just got all clean *laughing* He just spent 1 1/2 hours throwing a fit.

Thank you

<small>[ 01-29-2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: Candiflip ]</small>
Posted By: Judie

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 01/30/03 12:21 AM

Candice, Your efforts I do not feel were much appreciated by Ethan. <img border="0" alt="roflmao" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Most Bleack Eyed Whites...are not exactly white but various shades of yellow. If it is stained it will eventually shed out ever so gently until one day you will notice he is not as stained as he once was. <img border="0" alt="heart" title="" src="graemlins/heartpump.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 02/01/03 01:33 AM

Judie,

I know he didn't appreciate it at all. I think all the bonding we had is gone. I wear him now during that day and he freaks out. I just move and he starts crabbing. It is horrible and I feel sooo bad. He has stared biting again. I feel like a horrible glider mom. He doesn't even want to take worms out of my hand anymore. He started taking them out of my hand on the second day and now after the bath doesn't want to.

The bath did it work you ask? No, it made him him even more yellow. I am serious. Why would he turn more yellow?


This bath was a bad idea and I am regretting it. But there is nothing I can do now. I will never give him a bath again. He smells better now, but I think I would rather him be smelly then be the way he is now. I will never give any of my gliders a bath.


Thank you
Posted By: Judie

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 02/01/03 01:54 AM

Candice, some of the problems you are having are not a direct result of his baths.

Gliders when just arriving to their new homes often only realize within a day or two...everything is upside down. He is having to adjust to all the new smells and sounds. If he has not been packed on a human for some time this in itself is an adjustment. He will not sleep so soundly and will awaken more easily...thus he is grumpy from his sleep pattern being disrupted.

Keep up the good work with him. Bonding is going to be rough for awhile but will pay off in several months with persistance. Might want to only offer finger foods that he can bite at without getting your fingers. A broken monkey biscuit soaked for a minute or so in some apple juice works well.

As for another bath...he shouldn't need one as he should be able to groom himself. With a clean cage and clean bed and good diet.... his fur will gradually change out and will be replaced by beautifull hair that is not stained.

So, suggestion is....be patient. Eventually things will fall into order and you will have a really handsome glider and one who will be tame dispite all he has been through. <img border="0" alt="heart" title="" src="graemlins/heartpump.gif" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 03/27/03 10:28 PM

this is a message to gliderseverywhere when you said carabian puppy and kitty shampoo it said counanut and aloe will did you know that it not good to have aloe products around cats just wanted to see if you did <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 03/28/03 04:20 PM

For some reason i just asumed that the gliders would clean themselves. So when i get my gliders do I have to clean them? And how often?
Hilary
Posted By: Gil

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 03/28/03 04:50 PM

You may not have to wash them ever. I had to do mine because of a mild case of indigestion caused by too much sugar! Also I purchased a female glider from a home that had no cleaning standards and the glider slept in her own food dish in a very small dirty cage. She was a mess. If you wipe the cage down from dry food every day and clean the entire cage no less than once a week you should may never need to wash your gliders. You should come up with a plan to clip their nails. Look for more advice about this subject because every glider has different challenges and not all gliders can be handled the same way. There are ways to keep their nails short using a wheel and sand paper or your vet can help.<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/read.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 07/30/03 03:56 PM

Every once in a while I will wipe the girls down with a baby wipe.No harm done and it does the trick <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 08/19/04 06:38 PM

Thanks for the idea!
Posted By: Carrie T

Re: How I gave my gliders a bath! - 08/19/04 07:02 PM

Thanks for digging that post up Tbone, I was looking for it the other day and couldn't locate it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />
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