GliderCENTRAL

need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!!

Posted By: Anonymous

need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 10:44 AM

I posted to another group and I was thankfully given this link to post here:
ok I will start out with please save any bad mom lectures, I know I haven't been the best glider mom .I feel so guilty I feel sick.I have 3 glider, 2 in one cage and 1 in another and her name is Viva and she doesnt like the other 2 so she is set near them, anyway, I honestly havent phsically played with them, I started a job and with 3 kids
its harder than i thought and my hubby isnt an animal lover so its me taking care of everyone and our pets. When i go into feed them they are always playing and alert so I alway have the lights dim so i dont bother them and maintain their cage. Well i noticed Viva wasnt out when she should have been and not eating as much, I dont know if
anyone remembers but I has asked about sneezing and everyone said thats what they do when they clean themselves, so I was in bed and they are in my room and Viva was making this strange noise, not crabing and not barking so i decided in the morning she was gong to the vets!!! Well I took her out of her cage was talking to her and she tends to bite so I usually have her half in her pouch and my hand underneath, she than went right in her travel pouch.Strange for her not to put up a fight. So when i got to the vets I explained i heard sneezing noises and her appetite wasnt there and she hasnt been gliding around like usual so, she takes her out and imediately she puts up her tail and the end is CHEWED !!! I could not believe my eyes!!!! I didnt see it, it was so bad she had chewed to the bone and it was starting to heal around the bone. My heart was crushed, how could i not notice!!!! Well she told me she had to amputate the end of her Tail!!!! Well the guilt it overwhelming. The sneezing was her cleaning like you all said but she was cleaning and chewing her TAIL!!! I took her for the surgery and feeling so guilty didnt want to tell any of my group friend but now i need advice, SHe has been recovering well and she started coming out of her pouch and finally today she was walking around and what do i see, she started chewing again!!! The end it red and its been 11 days and the stitches should have just desolved. WHAT DO I DO? IAM SICK TO MY STOMACH THINKGING
ABOUT HER!! she hasnt been climbing now what, Please any advice will help!!! Rachel mybabygirlstar@yahoo.com
or please call me 856-205-1676 (New Jersey)
Posted By: mattysmom

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 11:09 AM

Oh dear, I'm sure you'll be getting advice from those who have dealt with SM'ing, such as chewing on tails. If the other pair is okay, could you try to spend some time with this glider? Do you have a bonding pouch so you could carry her while you're at home? They do need special attention. Or, if you'd like, you might be able to find someone who would pair her with a lone glider that they have and that would solve a couple problems? Just thoughts...
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 11:47 AM

I honestly have never put her with my other 2, she would glide on their cage or they would go on hers and she would crab and nip, so i was afraid of a battle.I forgot to mention the vet said he could have gotten her tail caught on her cage and maybe she had a small cut that she made worse. Anyway, I just recieved a very large glider cage that a kind person has given to me after the lose of his little buddy,and this could house all three but I am afraid they will pick on her now she has a sore? I was thinking with the new cage, maybe introducing in there on neutral grounds. Rachel
Posted By: mattysmom

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 12:27 PM

This is an oops.
Posted By: mattysmom

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 12:27 PM

Hi Rachel - you're here for help, not lectures - I'm far from perfect! We just try to be. I have not had this problem but others have and I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice. The sun just rises earliest on this coast. Are they all three girls? Perhaps you could start introducing one to her - then the other so it's not two against one. I've read in other posts that a bathtub is a great neutral place that gives you control over separating if there's truly fighting - have a couple of pieces of fleece handy or wear gloves because you could get nipped. Someone will have to answer the question as to whether the others will mess with her injured tail - but you could start introductions. Let them touch and crab - but not get into a snarling ball of Tazmanian devils... I have to run but will check on this post in a few hours and wish for the best for you and your gliders.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 12:51 PM

thanks! Viva is about 2 1/2 yrs old now, never had any problems with her till now. I have been spending more time with her and she never crabs, just makes some little low squeeks at me. Should I get an e-collar on her? If so does anyone have a pattern or located in south jersey and have one to give or sell. Rachel
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 12:52 PM

oh yes they are all females, viva is the youngest!!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 02:10 PM

I would suggest another vet visit - She may have infection in the tail from the surgery and need antibiotics. Here is a link to e-collar directions - you can get everything at Wal-Mart

http://sm.all4gliders.com/ecollar
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 02:39 PM

She not only needs to be in an ecollar, but also needs to have a straw outfitted to go over the end of her tail to avoid the chewing.

If you go to this thread, there's a lot of info on SM'ing the tail wink

Best of luck with Viva, please keep us updated! I'm going to move this to health and hygeine now so you can get a better response wink
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 03:10 PM

how do you keep the straw on!! any pics or links? And for the e-collar it says a note book cover the hard kind with a rings a report type cover? sorry for dumb questions, been up since 4am cleaning for a party tonite and now this, going to walmart anyway but want to buy the right stuff!! Rachel
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 03:17 PM

I use one of the plastic pocket folders - they are fairly cheep, and flexible enough to roll - I am not sure how a 3 ring binder cover would roll - just see what they have - and remember that you have to roll it small enough to fit on a glider neck
Posted By: ValkyrieMome

Re: need advice chewing tail again!!!!!!!! - 05/12/07 03:21 PM

I've read that chewing the tail might also indicate a tooth or other mouth infection. Please take her back to the vet to 1) make sure the original amputation site isn't infected, and that's why she started re-chewing; and 2) have the vet check her mouth and teeth carefully.

I don't know about the straw and how to keep it on. But an e-collar won't help, cause she'll still be able to reach her tail. So, you need something to protect the tail AND an e-collar.
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