When I got Gracie out of her cage on Monday I noticed two rings around her tail. It looked like someone had tightly wrapped string around her tail. Tuesday I noticed a sore developing on the tail and applied Tritop ointment. Wednesday I noticed the skin had been stripped off of her tail, down to the bone in spots. Thursday the vet removed better than half of her tail and stitched up the end. Friday morning discovered that she had pulled out all of the stitches. The vet took off another 1/4 inch. Can't put e collar on - she is overweight and neck is too large. What do I do now to keep her from pulling out new stitches?

Merlin

the bitter tasting stuff?

why cant they make a bigger ecollar form cutting one for a kitten?
This is what we used to do. Also- Maybe think outside the box Ecollar wise- Anything that keeps them from bending their neck could work - I'd bandage the tail, coat it with safe bitter bandage stuff and cut an ecollar to fit.

You will need to make a larger ecollar. It is vital that she has it on, otherwise she will continue to remove the stitches more than likely.

What do you mean by bitter tasting stuff? What is it?

Merlin

Personally I find the bitter spray to be a bad idea with sugs. You really need to make a larger ecollar. The spray doesn't work with all glides, and isn't intended for use with them.

Make a bigger ecollar! I'm no good at changing patterns, but maybe someone on here can help you adapt the ecollar pattern to fit Gracie. Good luck with your baby!

Antibiotic is Clindamycin Hydrochloride Oral Liquid and she refuses to take it.

Merlin

What about a body cone? Seems I remember it being mentioned on here before but I can't remember the post.

Linda offered some good advice. Anytime I have to give a suggie meds, I always mix it with a tiny bit of yogurt. I never have a problem giving it that way.:)

If your vet also sees birds, ask for an 8 inch bird collar with snaps. Then, cut the plastic down to the first row of snaps. This collar can be adjusted to fit fluffier gliders.

For her medicine - tried mealy worm - she spit it out when she tasted medicine. Will lick yogurt off finger until she tastes the medicine so I have been putting 6 drops in a teaspoon and sucking it up into a syringe. I put the syringe in her mouth and leave it in mouth for at least a minute, until she finally swallows it. Now I have to work on e collar. Wish me luck

Merlin

For the e collar, my vet took X ray film, cut a circle (just guessing on the size, she said we can always change it), then cut a straight line up to the middle of the circle and cut another circle for her neck. That way we could cut the middle circle larger if we needed!
So basically, its a circle, with a circle cut in the center!! Where there is a will there is a way!!! LOL
Took me over 45 min to then get it on and to STAY on!
I have also ordered that collastat spray to try too!! Even with the collar she can still get to her tail if she wants, I think it just distracts her from it though!

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r45/Ryanmb3/ImportedPhotos00011-1.jpg

Good Luck!!

Good Luck with the e collar!

Spent several hours last night and again this morning trying to make a collar and then get it on her. She pulled stitches out overnight. This morning we pulled skin over bone and tied end of tail with thread. It took two of us many tries to get a collar on her and it took her 1 hr. and 15 min. to get it off again by pushing the bottom edge against the cage floor. After she did that she was comfortable, tucked her nose into her blanket in the corner (her favorite sleeping position) and went to sleep.

Has anyone ever tried to use ambusol on a wound so the glider does not feel it? Wondered if that would help. Am open for suggestions.

Merlin

Don't use ambusol, it will make their tongue numb and they can bite it off!

I had to put graice down this moring more later merlin R I P my sweetheart will miss you

OH, I am SO SORRY!! God speed little Gracie!

I am so very sorry!

I'm so sorry to hear about Gracie. Godspeed sweet little baby girl.

I'm so sorry.

So sorry to hear about Gracie. She'll be at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for you.

I'm so sorry for your loss

awww...so sorry merlin

I am SO very sorry Merlin.

Karin

So sorry, Merlin, about Gracie. I know how you feel right now.

I can understand the problem with the e-collar. Gracie was very overweight, she even had dimples in her eyebrows. I've never seen such a chubby, even her mates aren't as big as she was.