urgent help with sugar glider in collar

[hday]

Hi all

yes I am a disgrace I hardly ever get on here now which means when I do its to ask for help! (mainly as commuting and getting home at 7 means computer time is lower on list of priorities!)

ok many of you know phil and all his health problems, well he and lil have been fighting fit for some time... so much so they had twins last year.... and everyone had a trip to the vets to be snipped .... so I thought....
on return from haiti I had another addition and it was clear that phil hadnt been snipped!
so last week he and his son went for the chop... being a responsible owner and all that!
right now I am seriously regretting that decision
2 days post op phil removed the glue and one stitch and then the internal stitchso he had an open 6mm slit where he was de pommed

by the next day when he arrived at vets it was inflammed so instead of reglueing it they took him in

he had more surgery re glued stitched and a lot more tissue taken back to create a scab and give healthy tissue where he had disturbed it all.
I had suggested pre op about a collar....

phil is in a collar but instead of a cone shaped thing it is more like a victorian ruff ie sits at 70 degrees from head and is width of head all around.
but this means he cant chew stitches
but also means he cant get front paws to mouth,

he cant sleep as is having to hang his head off things to stop the pressure
is struggling to get into  his bed and sleeping on top of it (at risk of getting cold!)
 and cant eat! he can take from a teaspoon in his collar so to speak but not from dish no matter how shallow or raised off the floor

tonight I will try bottle and a hanging one to see if he can hang upside down to eat, but I doubt it
however I have lots concerns!

1) I originally was going to cut the collar back so he could get a paw to mouth but during the day it has turned the collar around so this would mean he can also twist it to access his stitches if it were smaller or had a gap.
any suggestions how to make a collar more comfy?

2) if I remove collar there is high chance he will attack the area again,.... and it is now a large abdo wound.... not good prognosis.... any experiences or advice on should/shouldnt

3) he only takes about half teaspoon- how much or rather how long can he live on that... almost like just taking enough to quell hunger then stops.

4)..... as ever.... supposed to be away for long weekend with my teacher housemate as my main annual leave break for this year (having used all up for the charity work in haiti)
I cant move my leave as there are no gaps at work... and if I dont go means me and housemate wont holiday together..... warring with myself as so tired really need break... but so scared on what will happen but not sure how me being her helps!

- anyone ever taken a glider in a carry case away.... would that stress him more....
- dont trust vets as they told me he would find away and now he cant eat!!!

- would you trust him with friends who can teaspoon feed but not handle.... he wont let me handle at mo to jumpy....
reality is seems like taking minimum from whoever .....

anyone able to help or host a poorly miserable glider for a weekend... or advice anyway!
why! phil again
why after I tried to do the right thing! and potentially thsi could finish him off!
and why is he always just before I go away

[roxyandboys]

Poor little sausage.  I got your text but my phone is totally broken and i have no more free internet texts to send.  let me read over this again and respond in a mo, i'll also see if Jen is on FB and get her over here

[roxyandboys]

Personally i'd not take him away at this moment as he is already feeling not at his best, stress will only make him worse i imagine, and i'm guessing that would also mean being away from his home as well, so maybe a rest from work in sunny Leicester is on the cards for you?

E-collar - erm, did you get the link for the 'how to make' - you could try making one on that style, or remove the e-collare for meal times and pop it back on afterwards

Sleeping - i'd make him & lil a large comfy nesting area in an ice cream tub or something, with lots of warm blankets but a reasonably large enterence he so he can get in and out

[Amalthea]

Maybe try taking the collar off during suporvised eating times.  That way, he can eat, move around, etc, but you're there to get his attention away from the op site if he shows an interest.  Extra tasty food bits is probably the best way to distract him, so allow him some honey or something similar that he doesn't get very often ONLY if he starts to show interest in his belly.  

ETA:  Rox beat me

[roxyandboys]

ps - i know i just texted you nonsense, just wanted to try let you know we had responded to your post and as i've said, my phone is very very poorly!

[hday]

bless love you guys!! thanks!! phew... yes was worried about moving and adding any more stess...
not sure will be able to get collar on or off easily!!!
however.... for the first time he has managed to get and sleep with the others!!
is learning to sleep on his back so it doesent push on his head!!!

still not taking much food but had the yogurt with antibiotic!!!
and had 2 friends turn up to order me to go away!!! and sit there and then do the feeding and promise to do morning and afternoon shifts....

still debating but little easier maybe my little fighter will make it!!!
did you gliders have to jump when there front feet are forced apart... unfortunately his only way into the box is to drop head first!!!

[hday]

wow thanks guys you rock considering I have practically ignored you all yet when need help get 3 replies in hour need....
seriously the bit thats made me happy is finally seeing him under a blanket and with the others as thats first time for 48 horus.... poor man!

[roxyandboys]

Thats us - the fantastic duo here to take on the world (or in my case a laptop)

[hday]

love yoU!!! so if I were to maybe get a contact number for if there is an emergency... does your phone work for that rox?
seem to remember youd dont do landline!

[hday]

after a face splat and kind of star- ing himself across a wide ramikin he has managed to self service some food very precarious as he only has half tail for balance....
maybe I should have left him 72 hours  before panincing instead of 36! he seems to be adjusting thank the lord!
and thanks for help and support as ever!
off line for bit now soo tired why am I up at 2 am!

[roxyandboys]

My phone is totally kaput with the exception of being able to read text messages and text in gobbledy goop!  Will have a new phone on monday and you're right, i do not possess such a thing as a land line, i have enough problems trying to ignore my mobile phone!  Glad he is starting to feel a little better

[hday]

ok! have put the web address on the care guide so if either of my twice daily helpers get worried they can log in here as me!
should be fine though! as he is definatly asleep in the glider pile this morning!

please let me know your new number when you get it lol!

[Marie]

How did you miss that Phil hadn't been neutered??

[hday]

dense! baby boys dont really have bits!!! so just presumed as he had been there with them that they had done him and not done poms..... didnt realise that you need to do more than just tie a knot in the end....

well too be honest didnt think about it too deeply!!!

he is coping with collar but has lost 10g poor man so now adding in oatmeal again (as well as fruit mush, crumbs of cat biscuits, yogurt and cheese!!!)

BUT it is looking good although scab has fallen off it is still untouched thank goodness....

nearly killed lil though... was hand feeding phil at bottom cage and she tried to muscle in by bundling out top cage to nick food, wasnt really watching so went to shut door and wasnt till she crabbed realised she was half in half out... ouch! she was not impressed and precedded to sit and bark for few mins....
did eat some food and was out this morning if a little subdued.. think it freacked both of us out!!!

[hday]

only just replied by the way as taking good 40min each night to feed phil often in several go.s so literally not had chance to get onto internet since got back monday what with meetings, eating dinner, glider loving and commutes!! still not checked email doing this from work (and for some reason able to get on here but not emails!)
did get to look after friends pygmy while she was away though.... and she curled up and refused to play even for treats grumpy girl!!!