Well - Dizzy's days as a fully-functioning male are numbered. His neuter is scheduled for this coming Thursday. I wanted to make sure that he was able to help Squeezles with the new joeys, but I may have waited too long. If so, I will not consider that a tragedy ... just wear and tear on poor Squeezles. But he's overdue.

I've spent some time doing searches on everything that I need to know, but I'm just jumpin' all over the place and getting flusterbated. Yeah, I know, that's not a real word, but it fits the emotion. So, please bear with me with a few questions (or maybe a lot). I would appreciate any advice.

First off: Has anyone's little guys had bufranoraphine put behind their ear immediately after the surgery? It's a neuro-blocker and keeps them from feeling any pain whatsover for 2 - 3 hours.

Secondly: With torbitol - I should ask for 3 days worth of pre-filled needleless syringes with a #3 French catheter - right?

Third: Anyone have a link on how to make an e-collar? Any particular type more effective than another?

Fourth: Should I take the whole glider family with me so that they will be there when he wakes up?

Other than that, I'm clueless... HEEELLLP!!! ( purty please)

Here is a link with a lot of other links that will help.

www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15260


Oh and good luck Dizzy

Awww poor Dizzy! LOL He will do GREAT. Each time I took one of the boys in, I kept them separate. I didn't want anyone else messing with his incision. I kept him on me all day in a pouch and he was really groggy anyway so I loved on him all day! When he woke up that night, he seemed confused for a while and then ate some, slept some more and then Zoom started doing backflips...enough to scare me into putting him back in with the others because I thought he was going to hurt himself. I was just vigilant about the pain meds and kept a very close eye out. I checked the incision as often as possible and neither of them ever touched theirs. I think the Torb really helps. Pre-filled is definitely the way to go too. No guessing, no mess. I don't know anything about the Bufranoraphine though. For the e-collar, the instructions in the Gliderpedia seemed easy enough and I made one and took it with me, but never needed to use it either time. Suz has instructions on her site as well. He'll do great. :)

Being nervous is perfectly normal. I was absolutely frantic with worry over Benji's neuter. But everything went just fine.

I took an e-collar with me to the Vet that day, but it wasnt needed. They are normally given a pain shot right after their neuter so that should cover the first 24 hours, but I INSISTED on at least 3 days worth of torb and was given 5 pre-measured doses in separate needle-less syringes. With gliders, they will self-mutilate if they feel pain. So, my thoughts are - dont let them feel pain. Dont leave the vet without the pain meds. There have been many who have let the vet talk them out of them and had to turn around that night or the next day to go back. With torb, they will sleep more - but thats not such a bad thing when they are healing.

Im not sure why you would need a french catheter, but get it anyway. Make it part of your Emergency Kit.

Take a water bottle with you and/or some watery type of fruit. I also took Benji some yogi drops for a snack. He took a drink, had a yogi drop and was content to go back to sleep on the drive home. We had over an hour's drive - which is why I took those things with me.

Both mommy and Dizzy will be just fine.

I know where I got the idea that I needed a French catheter - That was from when I was researching rejected joey aid.

It's an hour and a half to the vet for me. That would make it a bit tough to have to make a return trip. Long car trips are kinda rough on me. Hopefully my daughter will take us so that I can just keep an eye on my little boy.

Are they able to eat and drink with an e-collar on? If he has to wear one, will he be able to get in and out of the pouch so that he can be with his family?

I'm just a little nervous.

If he should have to wear an e-collar, you are more than likely going to have to feed him while he's in it. And wearing one makes it pretty difficult to go in and out of their pouches. Just remember that most gliders dont need one after a neuter - but its best to have one "just in case".

Dont be embarrassed about being worried. I was beside myself with worry over Benji and had sooo many questions, you would have thought I was a total newby. Its so different when you are going thru it with one of your own babies.

My vet was to far for me to drive home and come back, too. It was a very long, tiresome day. The vet did his neuter around 10am and I couldnt pick him up until after 2pm. The area of St Louis the vet is located has pretty much no shopping or places to eat. I didnt want to venture off to far and get lost. I lucked out and found a Target store (where I found 6 Barrel of Monkeys!) pretty close and hung out there for the majority of the time. Went by a St Louis Bread company and got a cup of fresh fruit for Benji - then went back to the vets office to sit in uncomfortable chairs and wait.

Best wished to little Dizzy for a very successful neuter! And for Dizzy's mommy so she wont be so nervous. ***hugs***

Awwww....hugs & prayers for Dizzy & Raven!!!

We have had over 145 gliders neuterd and never a serious problem. We have a great vet who does a "ring block" when he does the neutering.( after sedation of course) This is what they do to cats when they do de-clawing. Our vet was the first to try this on sugar gliders and if your vet doesn't then you may want to ask him too. He thought this would reduce the chance of self mutialtion. I did notice right away that they hardly bother the site at all once he started doing the ring block. I have 4 gliders done with the scrotal sack off and they didn't do as well and messed with the site much more then the ones with the scrotal sack left intact. We perfer the scrotal sack intact for all males even ones with a history of SM and have not found removeal of the scrotal scak to be necessary. If your vet would like to speak to Dr. Murray, his number is 972-247-2221. He injects a numbing agent all around the scrotal sack in a circle pattern. He then does the neutering leaving the scrotal sack intact, no glue or stitches on the scrotal sack. There is one internal stitch that is up high inside. He then give the gliders a shot of pain medication and also a does of antibiotics and wakes the guys up after he applys an e-collar. Then I go and get them, they are usually drowsy, I bring them home, remove the e-collar, give them a drink and a few mealies if they want them. If they don't want them thats fine, some gliders can become a little nasueated from the sedation mediactions. Then I put them back with the family. I check on the gliders every few hours for the rest of the day/night.
I don't seperate gliders or remove wheels, ect. I don't usually need any other pain meds and usually by that night most of them act like nothing has been done. Some may not eat as much that night but by the next day seem fine. In the last 5 yeas I have only had to remove 2 gliders, both joeys (3 & 4 months old) who's moms tried to groom them down there. I removed them to a hospital cage for one night put them back in the family cage the nexr day with no problems. If the gliders seem to be uncomforatble then I would call the vet for pain medications but so far it really hasn't been needed here. I am not sure what method your vet will use but from my experience having an experienced vet is the most important issues, have them address the pain issues, either a pain shot or take home meds or both if that makes you feel better. Make sure to have an e-collar to take to the vets office if he doesn't make them there. Its normal for them to want to groom, but no chewing or biting should be observed, in that case the collar should be reapplyed quickly and the vet called. Also its normal for the genitalia to be out for a short time with some gliders after neutering but there should not be swelling or discoloration, for that the vet should be called right away.
We have had people from as far as TN come stay at our home so they could have Dr. Murray neuter their gliders.
Oh and I probably wouldn't take the family, its stressfull enough for one glider with all the different smells and such. They should be fine while he is gone if its just for a few hours.
I will be wating for a wonderful upsate on your boy and will be saying prayers for you both. (((hugs))))

The reason some of us insist on pain meds is because we live to far from our vet to run back and get some if needed. I always say its best to be safer than sorry...

That would definitely be the case with me, so I will insist.

So - It sounds like carrying the little guy around in a pouch on you after the surgery until he's fully awake is the way to go. Then put him back in with the family, and just check in on him every so often?

That's basically what I did.

Angie are you in the Dallas Tx area? Looking for a vet for future neuterings. Did find one but he wants 220 bucks to do it, sounded a bit high.

Yes, we are in the Dallas area. Are you in the Dallas area? If you are looking for a vet here then Dr. Murray would be the one that I use. The number is 972-247-2221. You will need to call a month or two ahead as he stays booked. Neutering is less than $100 and he does such a good job with the gliders.

When Im ready, I guess I will have to shop around. My vet is wanting something like 180-250.

Years ago I called one vet in the Dallas area for a quote on neutering, they told me it would be over $600 to neuter one male! I think I about passed out, called back and asked if there was some mistake. They told me no. Word of mouth, asking how many gliders they have treated/neutered in the past year, referrals from other owners, I think that those are the best ways to find a good vet.

I live just outside of Dallas in south Arlington. Thought that prefix looked familiar. Thanks for the info on the vet. About what age should I get my joey done?