Has anyone heard of taking the scrotum right off with a laser? I took my glider to the vet that neutered my other one last year and she referred me to a place that now has a laser. She said it is so fast and easy and would be a better way to go. I have not called yet to get information on it because of the holidays but I was just wondering what you guys thought.

I thought that was pretty standard procedure for a lot of spay/neuters. But I'm not sure. I would want it done with a laser because there's less bleeding and faster healing time.

I thought I had heard about a clinic in NC or TN that was neutering with a laser, and I thought previously they were the only place able to neuter with a laser. I personally haven't heard of pros vs. cons with the laser as I think it's not very widely available yet and not too many people have had their gliders neutered this way I imagine.

One thing I would ask: have they used the laser to perform a glider neuter before? I wouldn't be worried so much about the laser itself as this vet's experience with gliders.

Hopefully someone else knows more about it and will be along soon?

Yes, absolutely. It's still a surgical procedure.

I just had our little Cedric neutered using a laser procedure. Basically just cut off the poms and he was recovered that very same night. It can be costly though. Just for a "Level 1 Laser Procedure" at my vet the base price was $210. They did anesthetize him and gave him pain medication as well to come home with.
I'm very happy with it, it was clean, quick, and fairly stress-free and non-invasive.

There's a vet here in Cincinatti that does laser neutering for $75.

I will be taking my Zane there very shortly.

Does that include the usually-necessary office visit fee as well as pain medications?

it includes take home meds, but I'm not sure about the office visit... I would assume that it's just the neuter/meds.

I gotta call for details. I just know of another member who takes her gliders there, and she has pointed me in their direction.

That's still a really good price regardless and lucky you

Oh yes, I'm not complaining.

I REALLY need to get Zane in -- Just with the holidays and brand new skin kid (he's 11 days old today, aw..) it's been rough.

It'll be soon, and I'm soooooooo nervous.

Nervous to get him neutered?

Yes.

He isn't the friendliest of the bunch. He's a little over a year old..and he was already OVER a year old when I got him...and him and his wifey were extremely neglected.. We've had them since the very end of September, and he's made GREAT progress... but him and I have a few issues. LOL

I was about 7 months pregnant and was doing tent time for the first time and he TORE. ME. UP. Bit me NUMEROUS times.. I handle him and whatnot, but it's always ..nerve racking.

So, I'm scared for the neuter because what if he starts to SM, and I have to try and e-collar...he'll tear me up again! But i guess that'll be okay..

Sorry to hear that! But I am glad he seems to be making progress. Don't worry about it. Laser surgery is so awesome and getting neutered will be good for him, he'll probably be much easier to handle afterwards. Keep your chin up

Yeah, I hope! And he won't stink as bad.

Should I have a E-Collar to put on Zucker, after he gets neutered?

Anymore alot of surgeries are done that way less healing time for them .Good luck with your little one.

Ask your vet if they will construct an e-collar for you if you're afraid of doing it yourself, that way they can put it on before he wakes up and eliminate the problem of stressing him more by him waking up and THEN struggling with an e-collar.

Thank you for your responses. I am worried about the experience with gliders as well. My vet said that she has referred others as well and their website mentions treating gliders but neither of the their vets are described as specializing in exotics so am I definately asking about it when I call. I was also worried about how the laser will just take off their poms and the fact that it is usually better for gliders to leave the poms and just take out the testes. I guess I will just have to see how I feel after I talk to them.

I have to ask a question here, because I'm confused. I saw a presentation at the '07 SGGA on laser neutering and maybe I misunderstood, but from what he said and the pictures he put up, the laser procedure is no different than a scalpel procedure except for the one cut across the blood supply to the testes (there is a technical term, I know, but I do not know it off the top of my head). They still use a scalpel to open the scrotal sac and expose the testes and still tie off the blood supply before cutting, they just use a scalpel in one and laser in the other. Is that not correct?

Of course with the removal of the pom, I assume the laser is used there too, I don't really know poms off, as he discussed poms on neutering and all my boys were done that way as well, so I've never asked beyond that.

I didn't see the demonstration but from past experience working at a hospital, I've been told that Lasers are supposed to be much more accurate - less room for human error or shakey hands

Perhaps this is just my experience, but I think it is unnecessary to put the e-collar on the glider automatically after a neuter. I thouroughly agree that it is necessary to have one on hand in case the glider begins to SM, and your vet should be willing to help you make one if you feel uncomfortable making one yourself.

However, with my most recent neuter, I asked about fitting Zeus with an e-collar before he was brought home, and my vet's reply was: "To simply put a glider in an e-collar as a precaution causes unnecessary stress to the glider. If the glider starts showing indications of SM, by all means, put the e-collar on immediately. But to do so before then can cause unnecessary stress, which can lead to its own set of problems."

Just my two cents.

About the poms: Some vets leave them on, some vets take them off. There aren't any conclusive studies showing that one way is better than the other, so I wouldn't let poms on vs. poms off deter you from the laser surgery. From everything I know about laser surgery, it is less invasive and has a quicker healing time. My two cents was, I'd just want someone who knows what they're doing with a glider, and how to medicate a glider for pain, to be doing the surgery and anesthesiology.

I agree with Jen, the important thing is that your vet is experienced enough to measure medications and anesthesia for something like a sugar glider. The procedure itself is probably extremely similar to any other regular old neuter.