GliderGossip - Kazko's Wet Method of Intros Works on Darla and Dizzy

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Kazko's Wet Method of Intros Works on Darla and Dizzy

Jan 09 2011

08:19:42 AM

LuckyGlider Zippy Glidershorts

TX, USA 5266 Posts

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[post-publication editorial comment on this post: NOTICE! This "wet" method of introductions is controversial and has caused a great deal of concern in the glider community. At present, it's use is ON HOLD here after having used it twice. This was to save two individuals from a sad existence in which one was a severe over-groomer / SMer and another was frightened and stressed-out from being alone. This only after traditional methods failed. There are parts of the method that are being re-thought such as the use of vanilla extract for scent masking. A paper is being written which will be shared with veterinarians to weigh-in on the method after a two-month post-introduction waiting period so we have more time to observe the suggies. These introductions were extreme cases and therefore we do not recommend using this method as an everyday means to introduce gliders. Over the years we have published introduction guides that are more traditional and that's where you should start. Here is a link to a detailed Q&A on this method in which we qualify its use and the circumstances under which we felt it was appropriate for at-risk gliders:

http://www.myspace.com/luckyglider/blog/541846834

We are not going to be using the method until we get favorable input from veterinarians after the publication of the paper

Here is the GG link to more traditional introduction tips we have published:

http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25918

post-publication editorial comment: Original text of the post follows...]

We are happy to report that two gliders - both of which had been bitten by other gliders and have recently healed - have been successfully joined. We used Kazko's "wet method" for the introduction - and like Clyde and Ginger from a week ago - it worked very well.

Dizzy and Darla have been together now for two nights. This morning, I checked their nesting box and they were both curled up around each other very peaceful-like - that is until I disturbed them. I checked them both for wounds and they both checked out OK.

Here at Lucky Glider Rescue & Sanctuary we have joined or attempted to join many singles and small pairs over the years. We have dozens upon dozens of introductions under our collective belts. We've done everything from slow intros using the time-honored bedding swap, box swap and cage swap - all the way to hand-held intros in a common pouch while sleeping - to just going for it and plopping them in a dry bathtub together. It's all been hit and miss.

Our friend Terry who administers glider gossip and who has experience in rescue himself, has developed a methodology for joining strange gliders. He did this recently with a 4 + 3 combo of male gliders and it worked great. This lead to us trying it at LGRS.

First, let's address why it is important to try to join single gliders. The fact is most gliders have a tendency towards depression and even self-mutilation or over-grooming when they are alone. Most gliders do not like to be alone. So it is a good idea to try to join them if they are solo. We can tell you from experience that gliders live happier, healthier lives when they have company. We spend a lot of time trying to couple them for this reason. As you can imagine, a lot of gliders come in to the rescue solo, so the opportunity to pair them up is constant.

There is also the fact that gliders are often expelled from their colonies and picked on. When they are picked on and wounds happen as a result, they must be culled from the colony. Why? Because the wound will be over-groomed by all the members of the colony to the point where the wound becomes too big and the glider is in grave danger from blood loss and infection.

The method:

1. You get a small, hospital-sized cage. Real small, like not much bigger than a bread box. Clean it so it has no hint of any gliders' scent on it. It must be neutral.

2. Get the gliders you want to introduce completely wet. Be careful not to dunk them or hod their mouths under the water. You don't want to mistakenly drown them. Their fur repels water so you must get the water in the tap lukewarm and let it run over them while you hold them and rub the water into them. Dip some cotton balls or qtip into mouthwash and wipe their cloaca area with it. Now that they are completely soaked, put them in the tiny cage. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING (FOOD, POUCH, TOYS) IN THE CAGE. Let them sit in the cage for about an hour until they are exhausted from grooming themselves, running around, etc. They will look pitiful, but don't feel guilty.

[post-publication editorial comment: on the two occasions we used this method, we used non-alchol based mouthwash to no ill effect. However, in retrospect vanilla extract would have done nicely and if veterinarians agree we will use that in the future so long as we have consensus on the professionals]

3. Put a completely clean, scent-free pouch in the cage with some fleece in it. The gliders will most probably jump into it immediately to get out of the open air and the light. Shine a bright light on the cage so they will avoid the light and stay in the pouch. They should commence to groom each other and dry off in the pouch. Leave them in the pouch overnight. Do not feed them.

4. In the morning you can transfer them into a neutral, thoroughly cleaned cage. Put toys, pouch, box in the cage. You should be able to feed them at this point.

Why does it work?

Kazko's "Wet Method" works for a few different reasons:

1. Gliders hate being wet. Being wet causes them to *not* concentrate on who's the alpha, who's dominant, and who's going to show whom who's boss. All they want to do is get dry and find a warm place to crawl into.

2. Gliders go by scent. If they don't like the scent of another glider, they will fight. By getting them wet and further masking their scent with the mouthwash, their scents intermingle while they are getting dry and grooming one another.

3. Glider like to stay warm. Gliders will avoid fighting if they want to snuggle and stay warm.

4. Gliders are territorial. If they are in a small cage, it is not large enough to establish what part of the cage represents a territory. They are forced to interact.

What to watch out for.

Look, I think this method is just brilliant. Lord knows after all the years we have been rescuing these animals we have tried it all. It works. But it's not magic. If gliders start to fight you should be prepared to separate them immediately. Wear gloves to do this so you don't get bitten. You will know they are fighting if they ball-up and start landing bites on one another and start screaming.

If one chases the other around and growls and crabs, that is not fighting. That is just a show of dominance. Clyde and Ginger had a lot of this after their introduction. It means nothing so long as they are not actually biting one another.

If they are not sleeping together the first few nights don't worry. Eventually they will. Even if they don't the quality of life or your gliders is much higher being together even if they just tolerate each other. The alternative is complete isolation which can be a death sentence for some gliders that have a tendency toward over-grooming and self mutilation.

In summary, we recommend this method, but be ready to separate gliders that ball-up and bite each other. In addition you should check your gliders every evening and every morning for wounds. If you find wounds, put them in separate cages.

[post-publication editorial comment: Since the first publication of this blog, we have gotten a lot of negative commentary on this method and we are sensitive to that. We do not recommend this method as an everyday introduction method. We only used it in two extreme cases for at-risk gliders who's quality of life was threatened by being alone and for whom traditional methods did not work. We do not recommend this method unless those are the circumstances and you should consult your veterinarian about it to see if he or she supports the idea.]

Here are some photos of Darla and Dizzy:

Dizzy (background) and Darla (foreground) after a successful introduction using Kazko's wet method.

Dizzy chowing down. She's always the first one out to eat. This was her first trip out of the nesting pouch after her wet intro to Darla.

Darla peeking out of pouch after her introduction to Dizzy

Edited by - LuckyGlider on Jan 30 2011 03:48:30 PM

Jan 09 2011

08:28:38 AM

KuroNeko Fuzzy Wuzzy

USA 1617 Posts