Where in Texas are you located? I know of a vet that does the first visit for free.

try this link: http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/...8041#Post391856

MizValorie: I'm not too far from Houston

BeckiT: Thank you that one works!

I'm sorry I'm being such a downer guys, I'm so worried about her and I feel useless

Darn, The vet is in Dallas, you wouldn't happen to be close to Tyler would you?

No, but I'm actually headed up to the Tyler area tomorrow evening to visit family.

K calling a friend that lives there, that might be able to help out.

Have you tried for a care credit card?

Baske: Do I understand correctly that you WORK in a vet's office? If so, then you can make a restraint that's easier to adjust to your particular suggie's size without the frustration of watching Ginger kick off 30 minutes of work like the traditional e-collar.

You can use either Vetwrap or Nich bandage and cover it with 1" breatheable medical tape. Depending on Ginger's age will have direct bearing on how much you need to use...the bottom line is to STOP her from picking on her tail until you can get her some help. (By the way, you'll be putting this around HER NECK, not the tail. I fear the tail is too badly damaged to be saved, with you saying it's at a "weird angle". You'll want to make sure her tail doesn't start turning black...if it does, an IMMEDIATE trip to an emergency vet is a MUST DO!!)

I certainly hope you can get Ginger in SOON...

I've had several gliders with tail injuries. Your little one will need to be stopped from doing more damage first off. Either get an ecollar on her or hold her constantly until you can see a vet. Do not let her do more damage.
She will probably need a partial tail amputation as well as pain meds and antibiotics. On the high side, with this type of injury, once healed, the risk of them self mutilating again is low. (unlike other forms of self mutilation)

There are several excelent vets in the Houston area, Katy, etc... Let me see if I can get you some names and numbers.

PM sent Baske!!! Thanks for the call Val!!!!

Any vet can/should be able to do a tail amputation. It is much like docking a puppy's tail. It is done under anesthsia (isoflorin gas). Your vet can do telephone consult with other vets for the specifics.

Dr. Fronfield
281 495 9445

Dr. Croft
20701 Kingsland Blvd Ste 106A
Katy TX 77450

I just spoke to Mary and she said if you need any help, she is there in Katy area and is more than willing to help. Mary is TERRIFIC! and has a ton of experience. I will pm you her phone number. Please call her.

Oh, and if you call either of the two vets I listed, tell them that Mary Holcomb sent you to them. They both know Mary and are two of her regular vets.

Thank you everyone! I did put an ecollar on her and had some of my coworkers restrain her but she had it off after an hour. I held her for the rest of the day and a good part of the night. This morning she hadn't touched it and she was in a very good mood and very playful. She licked my hand for a while which was adorable. I picked up some vetwrap from work and I'll grab some medical tape. We'll try the ecollar again. I feel bad putting it on her because it makes her miserable but I know its for her own good.

I will call those numbers! I'm headed out this evening but I'm coming back tomorrow. Thank you guys!!

I used duct tape to keep Levent's ecollar on (whatever the vet used came off)... it stayed on nicely.

My glider just went through the same thing. One of the problems I had with the ecollar the first time I made it was the a) it wasn't thick enough (we had trouble finding mole foam) b) it wasn't tight enough. I got her tail amputated for 70. But the other vet located in des moines wanted 300. OUCH! I tried the medical tape and she just ended up getting frustrated and biting at it. So I took it off because I was more worried that she would bite her tail. You'll need an ecollar for after the surgery as well. Otherwise she can open it up and need another surgery. PM me if you have any questions. I have been through this for the past 3 months, so I have some experience.

Melek007, just tape it right to her fur? How do you get it off? Cora told me about putting a straw around her tail and I tried it but she kept curling up her tail so I'll need to either grow another hand or enlist some help haha

AliaBrown- I'm so sorry, you must have been worried sick! I'm glad your suggie is through it now. If I end up having to amputate her tail the vet I work for can do that. I really to want to avoid it if possible, the wound is still a healthy color.

ohh sorry, i skim read haha. I thought she was already to the point of needing amputation.

Just watch her tail. I gave my girl 5 weeks before it had to be done. In the beginning it was healthy color and looked like it was scabbing over but it slowly was dying away. The best thing you can do is get an ecollar on her so she doesn't mess with it and it actually has a chance to heal. Some antibiotics from a vet wouldn't hurt either. It helps speed up healing and keeps away infection.

Best of luck to your suggie!!

This indicates this glider needs vet attention asap. Making a glider in this condition wait is just cruel. Gliders chew at themselves because they are in PAIN. The source of that pain needs to be taken care of.

Please do not tell someone they can go without vet care with an injured glider. Too many gliders have died from this type of advice. If infection sets in, it can go systemic very quickly (where the infection enters the blood stream) and can be fatal in a fairly short amount of time (a day or two).

Dancing was this in response to my post? In no way was I telling her to wait, only she can be the judge of that. I was explaining my experience. My suggie bit at her tail once. She left it alone after that. I took her to the vet, they said to try and let it heal and put neosporin (without pain meds) on it. It looked as if it was scabbing up, she had left it alone. Then as soon as I noticed it dying off I took her in. Sorry if it seemed like i was promoting not going to the vet. I that wasn't my intention wat so ever.

If the ecollar fits right, that is all you need. The vet's office made one for Levent, but the tape they used didn't hold for long. The ecollar should be loose enough so they can eat, drink, breathe, etc, but tight enough so that they can't get out of it.

Baske, if you work for a vet, and he/she is willing, we can tell a vet EXACTLY what to do for your baby. I know a collar is stressful, but a bandage alone they will simply tear off and you're right back to constant holding. The collar, in addition to taping the tail to keep the glider from wrapping the tail INTO the collar and continuing to chew at it, is the only way the glider will be able to be left alone.

Keep in mind that SM is a PAIN RESPONSE, so even in the collar, she may not be able to go after it, but it still hurts. Imagine that frustration. Which is why we recommend the pain meds, Torbuterol or Butorphanol (can be given every 4-6 hours up to two weeks-the best ones for this...do NOT use Metacam...on a glider that can only be administered for THREE DAYS without risking permanent organ damage/failure) If you PM me, I can give you a dosage so your vet can calculate a SAFE one for your glider based on YOUR glider's WEIGHT (that is VERY important for a safe dose, and why we cannot give them on the board in public-what is safe for one glider could be too much or not enough for another because it is based on weight-this MUST go into the hands of a vet to calculate).

I can also give you a phone number for a glider experienced vet YOUR vet (not owners) can consult with by phone:

Dr. Laurel Harris, DVM
Wasatch Exotic Pet Care
2675 E Parley's Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
801-485-4736

Let me go and try to get a working link to that thread, and one that discusses/shows the different types of e-collars also.

Edited to add: Metacam MAY be used post op (it treats inflammation, it's an NSAID), but only up to the three day limit (that sort of came out wrong above). It cannot be used long term, though, or longer than 3 days without a week-10 day break in between 3 day courses.

Here's the link for a tail amputation in October:

http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=405208&fpart=1

I've tried it and it should work.

Here is a discussion on different types of ecollars:

Well, okay MODS, HELP! It says it's only visible to forum administrators? The types of ecollars thread? Nevermind-the link I have in my ad doesn't work-I think due to the board address change. I managed to find it the hard way, lol.

Different types of ecollars:

http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=421154#Post421154

I contacted Mary, and she gave me a lot of good info. She said to not use an e collar or straw, but to give her some meds. We have the meds at the office but I can't take them without permission. I called all the vets and techs and NO ONE answered! Or called back.

I contacted my grandmother, who runs a kennel and knows her vet pretty well. She couldn't get a hold of her vet but said she had some stuff called Albon to fight infection. I don't want to give that to Ginger if it's going to do more harm than good. Does anyone know some over-the-counter pain meds I can give her until the vet offices open back up?

There aren't any over the counter pain meds a glider can take. All I know that MIGHT be a deterrent that is safe is a topical called Collasate spray-IF you can find some. But if she won't stop chewing at it, I'd recommend a collar until you can get her in for the real stuff or she could kill herself before then. If she chews it off too short they may not be able to have enough tissue/skin left to stitch it closed.

Thank you Xfilefan. I think she might need it amputated

As long as I keep her on me she doesn't mess with it. But she's also more reluctant to eat anything but her absolute favorites. She's cranky tonight but I would be to!

Well if she does have to have it amputated let me know. I had my glider in an ecollar for 2 1/2 months (long story). Two amputations later and she's just now in an actual cage. Needless to say in 2 1/2 months I have figured out a lot of ways to rig cages, feedings etc.

If that's all she'll eat, then so be it. Calories keep up strength. Keep offering a variety, but losing weight will decrease the strength she has to get better, so whatever she WILL eat, she will eat for now. Worry about nutrition later, as long as a decent amount of food is going in. If you can get some, try some vanilla Ensure-has all the vit/minerals she needs, plus calories to make up for what she isn't eating (also known as the staple in Darcy's diet)-all she has to do is lick it out of a spoon if that's what it takes, and most gliders like it. Mine liked the high calcium vanilla best (slightly sweeter). It will help make up for any deficit in diet.

Just a point (as i never knew this and had no clue). If it gets to the point where your glider looks dehydrated or is acting dehydrated do NOT feed ensure. I guess it can kill them if they are dehydrated.

Well girl are ya confused yet with all the info (some of it very conflicting) that you have gotten from all of us today. Bottom line is the pain.........The offer to pay the vet still stands if you cant.
Dancing explained to me why the tail will need to be amputated in order to heal properly........I am so sorry you and especially your little girl are going through this. I am still learning from all these glider knowledgable people................You have one of the best who lives near you in Wallis,( Mary). Please keep us posted as we worry about your little one and want to go through the healing with you. Its also how we all learn!!!!

Update on this little girl as of yesterday she was placed on antibiotics & pain meds from the vet she works for consulting by phone with a vet recommended by another member here!!!!!
So hopefully she will continue to improve and grow!!!!!

Dont forget to keep us posted on this glider Baske!!!!!!(for the rest of her life..........may it be a long one!!!)