Riker started his SM before his neuter, but didn't stop until fully healed, about 4 weeks post op (pom off-$155.00 plus meds). He was 6 mos. OOP at neuter. BabyBoy tore his incision a bit immediately on waking, but once we got sufficient pain meds in him, no further issues. Pom on, $100 including pain meds. Peek (neutered at 9 weeks), Teal'c (neutered at 11 weeks), Gimli (neutered at 2 years old), all poms on, $100 including pain meds each, none of them had any issues at all. Chronos came already neutered, and while he had SMed his tail (reportedly) no reported issue with his neuter-pom on. Binx was also $155 plus pain meds, pom off, and had no issues.

This doesn't mean an owner doesnt' need to be prepared in case. When SM does happen, it can go bad and turn fatal quickly, or require weeks-months of recovery. Most of the time there isn't an issue. It's just that it's such a horrible ordeal for both glider and owner when it does, awareness of the potential is a good thing. It's not something to live in fear of, but to know what to do just in case.

I had Lan and Tas(father -3.5 years- and son-13 weeks oop) neutered at the same time. Lan had previously SMed his tail, so I was half expecting him to SM after the neuter, since he had a history of it.

Together, the neuters (and Tas' first exam - which he needed to have before they'd neuter him) cost me $461.70. This didn't include take home meds, because my vet didn't feel comfortable providing them. Poms were removed.

Lan & Tas were in separate temporary cages. Tas did beautifully and went back in with mom & sister the next day, although he probably could have gone back in the same day.

Lan, on the other hand, ended up SMing quite badly on the way home from the vet - before I had a chance to get him in a collar as the one I had brought with was too small - he was kinda fluffy!! So, I had to bring him into the e-vet to be cleaned and sewn up. E-vet cost me $370.58 - but they did send home pain meds and antibiotics. Lan was in an e-collar and separated from his family for almost a whole month. Now, of course, everything is fine and we have a wonderful family colony and everyone's healthy and happy!

2 Neuters / 1 problem (not entirely unexpected)

My boy Jack is neutered, he was already neutered when I got him. His previous owner said that everything went very smoothly, and it truly was a blessing because he was having some biting problems beforehand, but about 6 weeks post-neuter they were gone!

Rei I had neutere when he was 10 wks old and never had a problem. vet didn't remove the pom and he never once messed with the area. 3days after surgery I started to introduce him to his cage mate. They have been together for 2yrs now.
Elvis was a rescue and came to me at 6yrs old. We had a an SM problem with him. 3days after the neuter he decided to attack himself. He ended up going back in and having his pom removed and in an e-collar for 30 days. Never hd an issue since.
Peanut decided to neuter himself. I got him when the woman didn't know what do to and he was at deaths door. He also was in a collar for 30 days. One year later he is a healthy little boy.

Cedric was neutered at ~6 months OOP using a laser procedure.
Expensive, but clean, and he had pom removed. No shaving. Brought him in at 9am, they finished surgery around noon (they called me).

Came out of it great. Absolutely no SMing, he was up and running around normally by 10pm (I couldn't keep him still!). Ate normal, did not have a problem with Saccharin overgrooming the area, and he's not had any problems since (except a little weight gain, but he needed it!)

I've had 12 neuters done by my vet, ( 10 rehomes / rescues and 2 joeys being sold with their sisters) No problems at all. All done with poms on, all given a pain shot after surgery before they woke up, no stitches or glue ever, and all went right back in with family / buddies as soon as they got home.
All the neuters were $85 except the first, Nubby, who needed a follow up fecal and UA. I also asked for lots of pain meds to take home as a nervous mom, $125. He only needed one dose, so I have enough left over for life .

BTW: I had to almost force my vet to learn how to neuter and now he is so into the research that he is always telling me of new faster, safer procedures he has found.

Yeah!! That's exactly why I wanted to start this thread! Gliders need to be neutered - I believe in it so much! I don't want the fear of the "what ifs" to prevent one person from taking their glider in!

These neutering stories are so fascinating! They are almost like birth and labor stories - any woman with kids can tell you every detail of her birth and labor! Seems we are the same way with our fur kids' surgeries!



That sounds so horrific and terrifying!







sounds like a TERRIFIC vet! My vet actually researched up on glider neutering before she neutered Rocket. I printed up stuff from GC, and she was happy to be able to learn. That's really great!

Yes, I have 2 neutered. Both done at Harris pet hospital near me.
Both boys came out fine. Even though I was hovering a bit with them after words. Didn't want to put them down. And watched them a wee bit stalkerish that night. heehee
But they where perfectly fine. Didn't even seem to notice anything happened. Except they didn't want to go into that pouch again after.

I have had two done with no issues. I have one intact boy left (Timmy) and I am nervous about getting him done. He came to me as a very aggressive 'flosser' and although thankfully he has stopped (since Gidget came) and he never started sm'ing, I think he was pretty darn close. He would make squeaks when he was doing it and I could not get him to stop. I fear having it done may cause him to start again and hurt himself. Since they have never had joeys, there is no medical reason I HAVE to neuter (yes, the smell is there, but with no other boys intact, he is less 'marky', so I can deal with that.) I would suggest to anyone to find a good vet with experience doing neuters. Talk to the vet about your fears. More times than not, it goes just fine.

Levent was neutered with his pom removed. He did open the surgery area a couple times, but NO SM. After the e-collar was put on, he did just fine. His neuter totaled to about $100.

I've had 20 neuters done by my vet and no problems at all. All where done with poms on and all went right back in with their familys as soon as I got them home. I did take there wheel out for about 1 week. I only gave one boy a dose of pain meds because i just couldn't tell for sure so I wanted to make sure he was not in pain. He acted a little diffrent. but nobody had any problems at all.

forgot to add my vet charged 40 each because i had to get so many done after a rescue.

1 Neutered/1 Major Complication


Suggie was neutered (his suspected age is between 4-7 y/o) pom on, but immediately after coming to, SM'ed him site and opened his abdomen. More pain meds, closed site, had to remove badly torn pom, then woke again to tear all stiches and elongate the tear in abdomen. More pain meds, closed site again, 5-6 sitches to close abdomen (tear from pom to just under chest area). Restrained by vet tech until I could pick him up and get a collar on him. Remained in collar 30 days until competely healed. Extensive damages took VERY long to heal under matted/scabbed skin/hair.

FULL RECOVERY, happy as can be, and as a result, much closer to Mommy! Total cost for neuter/meds $150.00. After all post-op care, additional meds, etc. entire ordeal easily $300.00+

Love that! Perfect description!

I had my Peitry neutered...it was $90! :-D

It went great, it even enhances out bonding process. He has been bonded to me ever since! ;-) I got the vet to put the e-collar on him BEFORE he woke up. Id rather be safe than sorry!

Ugh. sounds like a horrific experience! Thank you for sharing it. I want people to be aware that the vast majority of neuters are trouble free. However, everyone should also be aware that when they go wrong, they go VERY wrong VERY quickly!

I've had 9 neutered, 4 with problems.

Asher and Teagan- vet took the poms, both pulled the stitches, Asher had to go back 4 times, Teagan 3. The last time Asher went to the vet, we got a jerk vet that used staples, and he tried to SM the minute he came out from under the anesthetic. I took them to a different vet practice, he did hidden sutures and pain meds, no problems after that.

Second time I took 4 males and they were all done laser, took the poms, no problems with any of them whatsoever.

Third time was a young male, vet left the pom, he was crabby and very interested in the incision, but no problems.

Fourth time was Inca and Rascal, the vet took the poms, both had removed the stitches by the time we got home. Took them to the emergency vet, had them resutured, by the time we got home the second time, the stitches were loose in places, but barely held for a few more days, then totally fell out. They took over two weeks to heal enough to go back to their families.

I'll never do anything but laser ever again. It's completely worth it to me to drive 5-6 hours each way, to not have complications.

I've had 7 done here....my vet charges me $52 for the rescues and $62 for others. That includes meds and follow up visit. We leave the poms.

I've had two, just done this month who both went after their stitches post op, but both were fine once their numbness wore off and were back in their cage that night together with no issues. At their follow up visit there were no issues even though they were pretty adamant about getting to it right after surgery.

I believe I'm up to 36 or perhaps 38 neutered here. MOST have been kept in a travel carrier until about 7pm or so and then returned to their cage and cage mates with no troubles.

A few of them I had to put into ecollars as soon as they came out of anesthsia but they were able to come out of the collars about 4 hours later after the pain meds really did their job and they were fully revived from the anesthsia. I believe their urge to bite was caused more by the disorientation they felt from the anesthsia than anything else.

Two had their poms removed and had ecollars for 3 and 4 days. They kept going after their site. I can't say they self mutilated because I did have the collar RIGHT there and got it on them BEFORE they could SM.

I want to add here in a seperate post so it isn't as likely to be over looked.

Neutering a glider is NOT a terrible thing to do. It not only prevents unwanted/unplanned joeys but it can even reduce the risk of other medical problems for the glider.

Neutering can be extremely safe for the glider. Just make sure your vet is not only comfortable doing the proceedure but that your vet will use PROPER pain management including sending you home with pain meds JUST IN CASE they are needed (most of mine did not need pain meds after coming home).

Have an ecollar there at the vets and make sure your vet knows how to put them on. (don't just assume they can as it is very different than putting them on a dog or cat).

I also wanted to add, as one of the survivors of a "horror story" that given the chance again I would still neuter. The benefits out-weigh the pitfalls. And if prepaired (unlike me without a ecollar, of course cause it wont happen to me right?) and not given the chance to become a bigger issue, neuters are well worth it.

Also a positive that came out of the awful situation was my wonderful boy still loved me no matter how much he crabbed, bit, or thrashed around with the collar on. And we have the closest bond of all because of him being with me constantly for a month.