Can someone tell me the process or link me to something showing or telling me the neutering process? I want to make sure my vet neuters Honeymuffin the right way, leaving the pom, ect. No, I am NOT attempting this myself! The first vet I called left me on hold forever, then came back and said yes they can do it, but it is very complicated and they would charge $135 to have it done! It's to my understanding that is is relatively simple. Am I wrong, or are they full of it? My second vet, the one I used last time, will do it for around 35/40$. But I want to take info and make sure it's done the least invasive way possible.

Most of the vets around here charge betweeen $100 and $250 to neuter a glider - so $135 isn't unreasonabble. I think maybe because they're so small and everyone seems to charge more to handle exotics.

Oh, ok. Thanks

So you decided on the name Honeymuffin!! I love it! I think that I am still thinking about my new suggies name and still think it may be Butterbiscuit!

Lol, that's so awesome! My son thought that was "so cool" that someone else liked his name that much!

Because they are so small and the surgery is more complicated then other animals they charge more. I would say that $135 is cheap! I've heard of any where from $77 - $400. Yes, some vets charge $400 to neuter. My vet charges $150 and I think that is pretty reasonable.

Love the name!!

I got Marcus neutered for around $150 plus meds... granted, he did VERY well and the sutures stayed closed and I was lucky to have no complications (other than wanted to stay on me ALL the time... kind of a perk, if you ask me...) but yeah: there're lots of risks when anesthetizing a small animal is involved... So i could understand the fees. $135 isn't too bad...

my vet here charges $ 101.00 and that includes the pain meds so 135 sounds about right

Maybe some one can reccommend a good vet in your area. Someone who has had a neuter done there succesfully and KNOWS that they did not get taken. Or maybe you can check the vet links at the top of the page..

click links and then vet DATABASE

Neutering prices vary greatly. I had Soven neutered Monday for $52. My regular vet charges $150+. There is a sticky posted about neutering at the top of theis forum. Here's a link to it. Scroll down for the neutering section.
http://www.sugarglider.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/69790/page/1#Post69790

LOL! I thought you wanted to try for yourself!

I was hoping for instructions! NOT! But my first thought was why?

Ok, I have a question. Can you stay and watch. Ok, don't freak out. But I will be worried the whole time. And in a past life I wanted to be a surgery nurse. That was a past life. I would diffidently feel more comfortable if I could stay there and make sure he was ok...
I'm just a worry wort. But he's my baby. My little luv bug. To be honest. It will be like me going to the dentist taking him. And I'd rather pull a tooth myself.

I know how ya feel!
I doubt that they will let you watch, but some places are set up to where their families can watch them through a glass window. I watched a surgery on some one else's pet before. It never hurts to ask!

I depends on your vet. Mine was happy to let me watch. She likes for you to be there for comfort when they wake up. Its not an easy task though. Most will get sick (vomit) during induction of anesthesia. They look right pitiful the whole time.

Steps for Glider Neutering:

Step 1: Put your fuzzbutt in the car with you

Step 2: Hand fuzzbutt to your favorite vet or vet tech with a kiss on the head

Step 3: Wait patiently while saying prayers of kindness for the procedure to be easy on the little guy

Step 4: Pick up your pitiful furry friend and give him lots and lots of TLC

I printed this page off and took it to my vet:
http://www.sugarglider.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/69790/page/1#Post69790

They were very grateful for the information, neutered Rocket with no complications, and charged $130.

I posted steps, but they were removed for fear someone would try it at home.

However, I didn't suggest a medicine dose, or suggest that anyone do this at home. The most key part is to anesthetize and immobilize the glider with the Fluothane gas, which will require a veterinarian. I doubt most are up to this on their own.

The reason I posted the process is to help glider owners better understand what is involved. I have been alarmed at how many people go into this procedure without good informed consent from their veterinarian, and wind up getting stitches, glue, pom removals, and many variations they did not want or expect. Better decisions are made with better information, and the more ignorant of the process owners remain, the less prepared they will be to be good advocates for the good of their glider. That is why I posted. I certainly do not want people to make this a home project. Please get enough information before you proceed so that you know what is about to happen.

I printed and took the sheet above to my vet. She patiently explained her rationale for doing the surgery a different way.

Instead of torb,which lasts an hour or two, long-acting anti-inflammatory meds (such as metacam) can be injected while the glider is anesthetized. She does not send home pain meds as they are not necessary.

My vet always removes the pom and she has never had a case of sm even when she did many of these surgeries as a vet student at Texas A&M. If at least half of the stalk remains, it folds down into the body and creates a tightly closed wound that does not require stitches or glue.

She also injects lidocaine to numb the surgical wound.

Waking the glider up w/treats to chew as he is rousing is another must in her opinion as the glider will chew as it is coming out of the anesthesia.

I emailed her and asked about vomiting. She has not had this experience w/gliders that have had at least 4-6 hours since their last meal. She prefers to neuter gliders at about 11 a.m. or 12 noon.

I avoid metacam with my gliders. Metacam, especially given for more that a couple of days can and has caused organ failure in gliders.

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory and does have it purposes but the risk to organs is not worth the benefits of the drug.

LOL I was afraid of the reaction that people would think I was trying to do it myself. No way, I just want to make sure they do it the least invasive way possible, since he already has a tendancy to chew his tail (which he has not done since I got him! YAY) but thank you for not posting the EXACT way to do it for start to finish, there are cruel people out there. Making an appt for next week. Also, I don't have his age, but if I can see his little poms, he can be saftely neutered, right?

And as bad as this sounds, remember that what they tell you might not always be what ends up happening. When I had a consult for getting Angus neutered, the vet said he would remove the testes from the pom and leave the pom. What did I find when I picked up poor little Angus? No pom. He had completely removed it. Luckily, we didn't have any SM issues, but I was ticked.

Bandit is going in tomorrow for his neutering (and my autistic son is going on a three day camping trip with school, leaving tomorrow....think mom will get any sleep tonight??? lol) When we went in for his wellness check, I discussed what he would be doing. Normally he does remove the pom, but I told him I wanted him to keep that, so that is how he will do the surgery. The neuter is 135.00 and than another 45.00 for bloodwork. He will go home on Torb and I am pretty sure antibiotics (if not, I will tell him I want them.)

Ok, is there anything else I need to think or ask about????

Metacam might be a problem if given in multiple doses, particularly if dosing was inaccurate or if the glider was unhealthy.

For neuters, an accurate dose is only given once. No pre-op meds are used.

It certainly has made a difference in avoiding post op sm.

All vets are different with different practices. The BEST thing to do is to discuss the procedure in detail with your vet before it is done. You will then be 100% sure of what to expect. This is also a good time to voice your concerns or difference in opinion to your vet. If they do the procedure a different way ask why. Going in to ANY procedure whether human or glider uniformed is just asking for trouble. Your time to advocate for your glider is before surgery. If you don't do it..who will? I can't stress enough the importance of having a ecollar BEFORE the neuter. You'd rather be safe than sorry. Don't expect your vet to have one that will fit a glider. And pain meds post surgery..no matter what it is. You will probabbly only need to administer a few doses over the next 24-36 hours. Its really not much at all.

Ok done with my rant

i know exactly how you feel and about the worry. my first was my Peanut. but now after taking care of over 20 post op it really has gone well and i only had to give one dose pain meds. wasn't real sure he needed it but he did act different so i gave it to him.i can not stand for ANY living thing to be in pain.

has anybody suggested a vet near you? that is how i found my vet.

don't forget to pull the wheel out of the cage for about 3 days.

What's the big deal about leaving the pom? When dogs, cats, horses or any other animal is neutered the scrotum is removed too. All the males I've had neutered have all had the whole lot removed, the whole process from beginning to end including anaesthetic and waking up again takes less than half an hour. Surely fiddling about removing testes is prolonging a relatively short operation? (Just a thought)

Removing the pom has been linked to a higher incidence of self-multilation in gliders.

I dunno about a vet, but the breeder I bought from did it for free when I bought my glider. No pom left, no meds given to glider, and the glider was fine, took him home and he jumped right out of the pouch and played in his cage. No SM observed and I've had him for 3 months now.

That is awful!! I would not recommend this to anyone. You were very lucky.
I have some boys that have their poms and more that do not. I think one thing to keep in mind. If the pom is left on they will still have alot of male hormones. Its really a vet/personal choice. HTH