Chewing on tail...

This little guy is gonna drive me bonkers!

He had a third of his tail amputated, then stopped eating. Got him to start eating again, but now he is chewing on his tail again!

SO - he goes to the vet in the morning. I gave him a dose of the pain meds left over from the first surgery and put his tail in a straw since he could still get it from an e-collar.

My question(s):
Does he still need an e-collar as well? He hasn't messed with it much since I gave him the pain meds.
How do I take the straw off tomorrow? When I wrapped his tail, fur was sticking out. I used medical tape and he has not messed with it since. Should I just clip the fur off or try to pull the tape off carefully? Or should I let the vet do it?

The tip of the tail is black looking, but it has been since he came home from the other surgery. He seems to have nipped the tip of the healing part off - I couldn't get a good look since he bit (hard) when ever I tried to look at his tail! (I will feel REALLY stupid if it is just a piece of fur tomorrow!)

I don't have personal experience with self mutilators, but from what I've read, some will continue the behavior for life, so it may be something you have to always be prepared for. If his tail is again black at the tip, it is necrotic. I recommend seeing the vet tonight to have it properly treated; don't wait until this morning. The vet can also wrap it properly.

The pain meds are only a temporary fix. They will wear off and he will again be trying to remove the source of pain (his tail).

In the future, you can wrap his tail loosely in two straws. One straw will overlap the other at the opening so no fur is exposed.

Here's our sticky from this forum, Will your Glider Self Mutilate/ Bourbon& Ecollar. And here is the Sugar Glider Self Mutilator Site.

I'm sorry I haven't dealt with self mutilators either. I would either try to PM Denise (minkasmom) or Val (Jackie_Chans_Mom) since they have dealt with tail/SM problems. (I know many others have as well, and I am not trying to overlook you all that have, those were just the first two names that came to my mind tonight).

I will be praying for your little one.

Molly, I just caught up with this post (no internet last night )

Yes, the vet will probably have to snip another short piece of tail, unfortunately. (Tiger Lilly had to have 3 surgeries before we finally had success! She has just a 1/2" stub left for a tail, but doesn't know she's different from anyone else by the way she acts.)

You WILL want to keep an e-collar on to prevent further injury/damage. It's never an easy thing to do, but the timeframe will probably have to be 10-14 days before you even THINK about removing it. One thing that I've learned to be a WONDERFUL help in healing is a bandage called Adaptic (Johnson & Johnson makes it) and it doesn't stick to wounds. A thin strip about 1/2" wrapped around like a candy cane stripe (hope this makes sense) from base of tail to end, sprayed with a couple spritzes of Collasate then covering with Vet Wrap or No-Stick Adhesive Bandage (another J&J product) combined with the e-collar will help the end to heal a little faster. (My vet told me NOT to change the bandage daily...every 3rd day was what I had been told: it allows the "scab" to grow on the bandage, and new skin to form on the tail itself)

I'll be saying prayers for you and your fuzzface today. Please keep us updated on developments...I'm going to be "on the road" all day so I won't be able to check in again til tonight.

Adaptic is fantastic stuff-it can also be hard to find. I had to search eight places here and only ONE pharmacist knew what I was asking for. Some medical supply stores also carry it under the name 'oil soaked- or petrolatum soaked gauze', and it comes in individually wrapped sheets-Adaptic is actually the Johnson & Johnson brand name but there are other manufacturers. The stuff won't dry out, so won't stick to a wound normally-but do be aware if scab grows thru it it can pull it off so use caution when removing if that happens. Hoping all goes well at the vet.

Well, just got off the phone with the vet. He said he was impressed we caught it so early and had been afraid this would happen. See, last time Marcel was too weak to knock out, so they snipped his tail while he was awake - he went back as far as he could without hurting him, but could not cut into healthy flesh.

So, Marcel will be home tonight on antibiotics and pain meds and go in first thing tomorrow to have a larger portion of the tail removed. As the vet said, "into healthy skin." It is dead, but not rotting yet. I literally want to scream. I hate waiting even one more day. The straw kept him from chewing on it more, but he tried to eat the end of the straw - silly thing.

Anybody in DFW area have a snap e-collar I can buy off you? I have the moleskin/yogurt lid one, but if he's gonna be in it for awhile...

Molly I have a couple on hand. Just let me know if you still need one.

Well, I have the yogurt lid ones - at least I'm that prepared! But, if the snap ones work easier, and I could either buy one or borrow I would love it!

Just got back from the vet and I feel better - a few questions, but I'll start another post! It was caused by malnutrition issues, not typical SMing - now it is because of the infection since they couldn't take the whole thing the first time due to not being able to put him under.

Interestingly enough, they use a laser for the surgery - and neutering - so no glue and no stitches. The vet said it heals faster with less issues.

a laser?? hmmm. i will have to look into that for Doyle.

i am sorry your little guy is going thru this too honey. he will be alright. and i will pray for him. tell me if you still need ecollars after his surgery is over today and i will send you one.