GliderCENTRAL

One Jacked-Up Little Girl

Posted By: minkasmom

One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/16/09 03:15 AM

It seems to me that my sweet lady Minka being pregnant and the month of February combine to a TERRIBLE end result. I only wish I knew WHY this happens (two years in a row now), because dealing with it is a real grate on my nerves.

I came home from the SGGA to one of the boys having their tail chewed on (AFTER having to take Magellan to Tulsa because the same thing happened to HIM)...I thought I'd found the culprit (MoJo) and got him neutered for several obvious reasons. Well, I guess I didn't get it done SOON enough: Morticia came along in September, and now Mambo made his grand OOP on February 1.

Life through the first week of February was going pretty well...nobody had any injuries, no squalling or loud crabbing coming out of the M-cage, I thought the problem pretty much resolved. Until last Monday night. I noticed a spot on Minka's tail where some fur was missing: just a small spot, maybe the size of a pinhead. Yes a need to watch very closely...the next morning, the same spot had the skin broken! So I pulled Minka and Mambo out of the colony cage, put them in a reptarium (credit please for thinking that A YOUNG JOEY CAN GET THROUGH ANY SIZE BARS!) and putting a bandage combination of Neosporin/vetwrap/big straw with Gorilla tape. I watched her Tuesday night and Wednesday night....no problem. She was leaving it alone, Mambo was gaining weight, nursing regularly. Thursday night I came home to a DISASTER: She had chewed her tail just beyond the end of the straw (just above the black part of her tail) and it was BAD. I could tell that it was beyond hope of healing and pulled Mambo away from her. cry

Friday (the 13th) I spent over 3 hours in the vet's office with getting her tail amputated just above the second injury (he thinks the original spot will heal with time IF SHE LEAVES IT ALONE). Now the amputation itself didn't take that long....GETTING AN E-COLLAR ON HER DID!!! tant You see, she's one of those "fluffy" gliders (she weighs 146 grams) who has no neck, and I spent the better part of an HOUR trying to get it on, only to have her pop it back off in seconds. I finally got so fed up that I paid my bill, packed up my e-kit and came home to try and create something that would WORK.

I eventually did come up with something (and I will HAVE to borrow my husband's digital camera so I can get a picture of this): The vet gave me an 18-inch piece of Nich bandage (stretchy, mesh-woven bandage) that's about an inch wide and daffodil yellow. I made her a "jacket" by taking a 3-inch piece and sliding it over her head and front paws (think hourglass-shaped corset at this point) then cut 2 small slits to put her front paws through. Now I had something to tape the e-collar to (besides her fur) that she couldn't scoot forward or backward out of, yet still breathe and move around. With my black Gorilla tape to hold the e-collar in place, and the red and orange vetwrap on her tail with a royal blue straw over it...

You just gotta see my retro-colored glider. She's so sad....but she's getting stronger day by day. That counts more than anything, but it breaks my heart to see her like she is right now.

So the bottom line of this whole story is this: if you have a "fluffy" glider who lives in your cage or reptarium, you might want to swing past your vet's office and ask them to furnish you with a piece of Nich bandage. Then treat yourself to an Oreo Shake at Burger King....the royal blue straws that come with it make an AWESOME tail cover.

And Mambo...? Well, his story will be posted over in "Breeding and Babies. He's doing INCREDIBLY well, adjusting to the life of a spoiled bra baby quite nicely. And at 2 weeks OOP, he's already been to several places and is a good traveler! thumb
Posted By: sugarlope

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/16/09 03:49 AM

I'm sorry, Denise hug2 But amazing job with figuring out a way to get the e-collar on! This is a wonderful idea for those of us that have fluffy gliders and can't get an e-collar to stay on them! Pictures would be great, whenever you get a chance.

I'm glad she is being such a trooper, I hope she leaves her tail alone and heals up for you quickly. I'm sorry you had to pull Mambo, but know he is very well taken care of and I'm sure spoiled is putting it lightly. grin

hug2
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/16/09 03:55 AM

Can't wait to see pics of your technicolor whooped up baby. LOL I am so sorry all of this has happened, but VERY glad you had the nerves and smarts to deal with it all. I would have had a martini, then swung by Burger King and DEMANDED the straw! LOL
Posted By: josefine

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/16/09 04:11 AM

oh my dear, this just takes the cake, huh?
you did such a wonderful job @ suz' showing us how to do the e-collar bit. i'm soooo glad you found an alternative,
& i too hope you will be able to send pics, so this way, if your teaching me doesn't work the first time for me, then the second instruction coming from you will work.
i have come to the conclusion that we ALL will be dealing w/issues when it comes to our babies from one time to another, & from one thing, also, to another. we gain strength from each other, so, i am trying to send you mine.
you have done so well so far w/them all, i KNOW you will succeed again.
i have always loved whatever you have ever written, because it just always makes sense. keep us posted on the little miss, ok?
talk @ ya L8R
josefine
Posted By: LSardou

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/16/09 05:47 AM

hug2 My thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your babies Denise. I'm so sorry to hear about all the problems that you've been dealing with.
Hopefully everyone will recover and mommy can get some much needed rest!
Posted By: minkasmom

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 12:20 AM

It's time for a quick update:

The bandage came off Minka's tail last night (plenty of pics got taken prior to her "unwrapping" thanks to Vickirs) and the news wasn't good: the sutures had dissolved, but her tail was not healed. She went into the vet's office with the dozen neuters today, & more of her tail got amputated at the recommendations of the vet here in Tennessee. (very nice lady, would recommend her HIGHLY) So now she's joined the rank & file of the "hamstas" in that she has just a 3/4" nub left of her tail...trust me, if there were ANY other way to have done this, I'd be there. But I know well enough (having been there too many times before) that she'd heal faster without it than with it.

She is the ONLY one out of 13 gliders that had surgery today that is recovering with an e-collar. I'm very sad to be putting her through this, but now she can heal & be a happy girl again.

My next goal is to find out WHO OR WHAT has been doing this to my suggies. There's a possibility that the source of this problem dwells outside the gliders' cages...I just don't know at this point.

As soon as Vickirs and I get a little rest, we'll post pics.
Posted By: Cora

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 01:21 AM

still praying for your girl!!
Posted By: sugarlope

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 03:47 AM

I'm so sorry that she had to go through surgery again, but I hope this will mean she is on her way to recovering. I will keep you and all of your kids my thoughts and prayers that they all recover quickly. hug2
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 12:30 PM

Originally Posted By: minkasmom
The vet gave me an 18-inch piece of Nich bandage (stretchy, mesh-woven bandage)

Thank goodness she has such a good and experienced suggie mom!!! I'll keep you both in my prayers. What is this bandage? Is it like vet wrap? I have that in my emergency kit but this is the first time I've heard of niche bandage. Is this something I need to add to my kit?
Posted By: SariYappa

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 02:27 PM

You poor thing! And your poor little girl!
I know you have things handled, but this is just for you two
hug2 hug2 hug2 hug2 hug2 hug2

... and here's to finding the culprit!!!!
Posted By: CSteele

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 04:02 PM

Wishing you luck in finding the source of the problem!!!! and a hug2 for you and Minka!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 05:51 PM

Aawww poor Minka and mom! So glad you were able to get her taken such good care of while away from home. Lotsa hugs for the both of you!! She is adorable and obviously VERY loved even in her technicolor get up and that pouch is the bomb diggity!
Posted By: minkasmom

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 09:23 PM

Oh yes there's some GOOD NEWS to be had (sorta)!

Minka is a whole lot more active today than she was yesterday & the day before. She's been jumping from person to person here at the FIBB today, always making sure that mom is a very short distance away. I tried taking her e-collar off this morning, but within 5 minutes she was trying to chew at her stub....so we had to put it back on again frown However, on the happy side, it's a very short one so that she's not spazzed out. We still have to serve pureed veggies & grated fruit, but I'm encouraged that her overall behavior is improving.

To answer your question about Nich bandage, Connie....it's a COMPLETELY different thing from VetWrap. Yes, I would suggest to EVERYONE that you include a roll of VetWrap into your emergency kits; it comes in SO HANDY for a medical emergency because it doesn't need any tape. It literally sticks to itself and is very strong stuff. Nich bandage has the elasticity of panty hose in that it can stretch itself out to a pretty wide diameter, but has the mesh like gauze. It comes in different widths from 1/4" to 3" and can work on anything from sugar gliders to horses & llamas. Each width is color coded for your vet's convenience.

I'd venture a guess that your vet has several sizes in their "stock room"....ASK THEM! They'd probably be happy to give you a 2-foot section for next to nothing!

I'll include pictures of both VetWrap and the Nich Bandage in a little bit. Where's Vickirs????? (a game of hide & seek begins....)
Posted By: suggiemom1980

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/21/09 09:29 PM

Awesome! I'm so glad to hear she's doing better!

I will definitely get some niche bandage from my vet the next time I go, which will be Thursday. Thanks for explaining the difference!
Posted By: josefine

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/22/09 12:14 AM

i too am so relieved to know things are getting better. i know she is in good hands, you are a very accomplished woman in your own rite, w/these little treasures. i too hope you will be able to find out whats been going on w/them.
tell everyone 'hi' there, from me, to whoever can remember who i am!!!!!!
talk @ ya L8R
josefine
Posted By: minkasmom

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/22/09 09:45 PM

Sorry it's taken so long to get these to you, folks. You need to realize that (a) we're in the COUNTRY, in the hills of Tennessee; (b) there is no "wireless", so (c) everybody is using ONE computer with dial-up.

Without further ado, here's the link to my "Junked Up Retro Baby". I will give you warning right here and now: some of the pictures ARE DISTRESSING AND GRAPHIC, but tail injuries get like that. I don't want anyone to accuse me of starting some "punk glider cult" where all my babies have bobbed tails...and necrotic doesn't always mean dried and black.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z164/Minkasmom/FIBBSSS2009068.jpg

A little later on today, I'll upload some pictures of what Miss Minka looks like now. She's still in an e-collar, but it's very short and she can ALMOST eat normally.

Then there's the sub-plot about Mambo, the traveling joey...look for his story in the Breeding and Babies forum.
Posted By: minkasmom

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/23/09 11:07 PM

Good grief! Why didn't someone tell me that only the first picture showed up on the link??? (duh)

Having had time to breathe and reload, here's a better link to the ENTIRE series of pictures:

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z164/Minkasmom/Jacked-Up%20Minka
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: One Jacked-Up Little Girl - 02/23/09 11:11 PM

tehe she looks so pitifully cute
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