how to fabricate and install a sugar glider e-collar - Sugar Gliders

HOW TO FABRICATE
AND INSTALL A
SUGAR GLIDER E-COLLAR
The following are step-by-step instructions detailing the correct
fabrication and installation of an e-collar. This design has proven to
be very effective, and nearly 100% successful when installed
correctly. If you do not have all the supplies listed below in your
clinic, they can easily be obtained at any WalMart, Target, or even
many large grocery stores.
When attempting this for the first time, it can often take a couple of
tries to get it right. Therefore, it is strongly suggested to get a doublesupply
of everything you need. All totaled, it should only cost about
$5-9 for everything.
1) SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Moleskin adhesive cloth
(found in foot section of stores.
Pictured are 3 pads that are 4 5/8
x 3 3/8” )
- Flexible clear plastic
(pictured is a lid from a cookie
package, but any flexible clear plastic,
like a radiograph film, will work)
- Scissors
- 2” Duct Tape (or Elasticon)
- Black sharpie marker (not
pictured)
- Pen
- Ruler (not pictured)

2) Trace this template onto the clear plastic using a dark permanent marker. NOTE: This
template is designed for an adult animal. If you are dealing with a baby, you will still use this
template, but you may have to reduce the extent of the padding in step 5 around the inside of the
collar so it will close more tightly.
Outer edge
Inner edge
It should look something like this….

3) Cut 2 strips from the moleskin pad.
They should be ¼” wide, cut along the
long edge of the pad (4 5/8”).
4) Remove one adhesive
backing and apply that strip
directly on top of the other.
Leave the other adhesive strip
in place. Make sure to press
together tightly.
5) Cut ¾” off the mole skin
strips, remove remaining
backing, and adhere to the
clear plastic as shown. Be
sure to start exactly at the
edge of the plastic.

6) Cut a 1 3/8” strip of moleskin along
the long edge of the pad (4 5/8”).
1 3/8”
7) Cut slits in this strip that
are ½” deep and spaced at
½” intervals along the long
side of the strip.
8) Flip collar over so the
moleside is down. Remove
adhesive backing from
notched strip. Affix about
¼” to inside edge of collar
as shown.

9) Wrap the notched strip back around the collar, maintaining contours. Adhere notched side –
starting in the middle and working your way to the edges. Trim off any excess. Make sure to
press down tightly as the notched strip covers the 1 st ¼” strip so that it follows the contours as
shown.
CONTOUR
10) Cut a ½” strip of the moleskin, and
attach it over the notches as shown.
Make sure to position strip directly
along the contour, starting on the right
edge.
11) Cut a ¾” x 1 ½” piece of moleskin. Position it in the contour along the right edge, and wrap it
around as shown.

12) Apply a small amount of duct tape as
shown. Fold over a small amount along the
end to make a tab for easy removal.
13) When folded in place, one edge should fit nicely inside the “notch”. When duct tape is
applied, it should create a somewhat “even” inner edge as shown.

INSTALLING THE E COLLAR
ON A SUGAR GLIDER WHICH IS NOT Sedated…
In most cases, it is advisable to install the E collar while the animal is sedated. This will make it
very simple to install and adjust the collar so it is tight and cannot be removed. Practitioners can
then also safely trim the outer edge of the collar to the precise depth needed without risk of injury
to the patient.
In the event that sedation is not possible, the following is the best way to install the collar on an
alert animal.
The “Taco Wrap”…
1) Place the glider feet down onto the
corner of a towel. This allows the
patient’s nails to naturally grip the towel
and immobilizes it as they are being
rolled up. Make sure the edge of the
towel is almost covering the animal’s
face so they can’t work their arms up
and out of the cloth.
2) Roll the patient very tightly into the cloth so it cannot move. Once it is tightly secured, roll
the edge back so the neck is exposed.

3) Insert E collar fully under chin. Wrap snuggly around base of neck, making sure it is very
tight ON TOP of the shoulders. Monitor breathing and color of the patient’s nose for the
first 5-10 minutes after installation. If nose begins to turn blue or purple, loosen slightly.
4) Once installed, trim back the outer edge so that the patient can still feed itself. In many
cases, clients will still need to hand-feed the patient in order ensure adequate nutritional
intake. Due to the overall design and resilience of the duct tape, this collar can also be
temporarily removed for supervised feeding sessions, but continual installation/removal of
the collar can be stressful on the patient.

5) Clients should be advised that the patient will not like the E collar in the beginning.
However, over time they will adjust to it. Clients should be strongly encouraged to give it
plenty of attention and affection while recovering to avoid depression and minimize
stress.