GliderCENTRAL

How can I help her groom?

Posted By: Anonymous

How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 03:22 AM

My Mishka is recovering from a really bad mating injury, and it looks like she probably will not be going back in with the male who did it. In addition to what is going to be a wide, inch-plus-long scar across her shoulders she's lacking the ends and claws of many of her toes. She's trying now to groom herself but having a really hard time of it, as she's missing her grooming claws on one side and missing a nail or two on the other back foot as well. It's mostly her right side feet that took damage, she only has a couple nails left total on that side.

Her fur is awful due to the past couple weeks of antibiotics and painkillers and quarantine and all, it's clumpy and greasy and gross. Is there some way I can help Mishka get her fur nice again (gently, because of the healing scar), and some way I can help her keep it nice in the future if she has trouble grooming?


(edit: said "left" instead of "right"... sorry, I'm pretty tired...)
Posted By: SugareeErin

Re: How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 03:32 AM

When my baby was sick I used cottonelle wet wipes and a baby toothbrush to groom her. Poor baby, I hope she feels better soon. Give her a hug for me! hug2 hug2
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 03:40 AM

Thanks! I'll go look for a baby toothbrush tomorrow. smile Is there some specific kind of cottonelle wet wipes, are they baby wipes or in the toilet paper section or where? I don't want to accidentally get something that will be bad for her.

The end of her tail is broken too. My baby got so beat up. cry But she's still THE sweetest glider in the world, and she loves getting pampered and spoiled rotten now. I have her in a half-height cage with a couple layers of fleece on the floor and a ton of hammocks, so if she falls she won't hurt herself.
Posted By: LSardou

Re: How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 04:48 AM

hug2 x 1,0000 I am so sorry to hear about your little girl! Sending tons of prayers her way. It sounds like she is so fortunate to have you for her mommy.....

The cottonelle baby wipes can be found in the baby section where the lotions, shampoos, etc. are.

Until you can pick some up, you can use a warm wash cloth to wipe her off with too. Just make sure that you keep her warm until her fur is completely dry so that she doesn't get chilled.
Posted By: Dancing

Re: How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 05:50 AM

Keep an eye on that tail too. Broken tails often require amputation. Even when it seems to have healed, scar tissue can build up and cause nerve damage to the end of the tail. This can cause tingling and lead to self mutilation (speaking from experience on this one).
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 09/22/08 12:19 PM

Thanks again! smile I've been having Mishka sleep in my shirt while my human baby naps, I can clean her then and be sure she's dry before I put her back into her cage. She looks like a badly-oiled muskrat with a shaved back.

Mish has her final followup appointment with the vet this week, I'll have her take a closer look at the tail. The break is right at the very end and it isn't a severe angle at all; but I didn't know there was an SM risk with that, I'll keep watch on it. smile
Posted By: sugarlope

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/06/08 11:04 PM

You want to be sure to use wipes that are non-scented, hypoallergenic, and NO aloe in them. I think Cottonelle does make some like that, but baby wipes that fit the bill will work. thumb

So sorry to hear she is having such a hard time, but she is sure lucky to have a mommy like you. hug2
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/08/08 01:49 AM

Edit:
I made a poor suggestion! frown
Posted By: LSardou

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/08/08 02:01 AM

Please do not use the chinchilla dust or baby powder on you glider. Any of these can cause serious respiratory problems.
The best suggestions already have been given for using the baby wipes (cottonelle) or just gently using a warm wash cloth to let her wiggle through to help clean her.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/08/08 12:55 PM

frown I guess I didn't think she'd inhale it. I've done it to gerbils before and they seemed fine.

Sorry.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/08/08 01:01 PM

Thanks again for all the suggestions! The only wipes I could find here did have aloe as an ingredient, so I've just been using a warm damp cloth and soft toothbrush instead. Maybe it's a local thing, but the only cottonelle wipes I saw did have aloe as one of the last ingredients on the list, so I decided better safe than sorry. Mishka's looking SO much better, and the fur is growing back in around her scar as well. laugh She's the biggest baby, she sprawls around with her eyes closed waiting to be toothbrushed.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 10/15/08 12:23 AM

Awwwwww... I'm sorry your Mish got hurt so bad. What a terrible thing. But she sure is lucky to have an extra loving mommy to take care of her! I can just imagine the cuteness (Is that a word?) of her stretched out on her back waiting to be groomed by her slave!!!
Posted By: kipluck

Re: How can I help her groom? - 12/02/08 06:29 AM

Originally Posted By: Halo
frown I guess I didn't think she'd inhale it. I've done it to gerbils before and they seemed fine.

Sorry.
Actually, this is a bit OT, but gerbils SHOULD take dust baths like chinnies and enjoy them. agree Both are desert animals. If you have gerbils you should also let them hunt a cricket. It is HILARIOUS! Aww... I miss Boo. (my gerb of 4 years just died this Halloween)

But no, not Sugar gliders. I second (3rd, 4th, whatever it is) the Baby wipes or a warm, damp wash cloth.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: How can I help her groom? - 11/10/10 08:17 AM

Aww, poor baby. I hope she gets better soon! And like everyone else has said, she sure is lucky to have you! You should totally take pictures of her sprawled out on her back waiting to be toothbrushed. It'd be HILARIOUS! laugh
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