Self Mutilation - what it is not

I keep seeing posts pop up with strong warnings about the slightest thing causing a glider to SM. I want to address this.

Not every little injury to a glider is self mutilation.

When a glider removes glue or stitches after a neuter, that is not self mutilation
When a glider chews on a toe that is stuck in loose thread, that is not SM
When a glider overgrooms enough to cause a seeping wound, that is not SM.

These things are just a glider's natural instincts. Some gliders are a bit more zealous about follwing their instincts than others (LOL) but this does not make them self-mutilators.

Self Mutilation is much more than this. a glider that SM's WILL NOT stop unless made to stop or until he/she has done significant damage. It is always very serious when it happens. Many gliders who SM do so over and over again - it is not an isolated event. Cora and I live with gliders who have SM'd repeatedly. I know there are others, but I also know that most of you are familiar with Spencer and Jackie Chan. There are a few theories about why a glider might SM repeatedly once they start. For this reason, the SUGAR Group is developing a study for this.

Not every little injury to themselves is self mutilation. Gliders don't like to be uncomfortable any more than you or I. A glider who removes stitches or glue after a neuter or damages themselves a bit when trying to remove a string is not mutilating themselves, they are just tending to their discomfort. This is like you using neosporin with pain reliever. This doesn't make you a nurse, and tending to their discomfort does not make them a mutilator. Again, an SMer will NOT stop and will cause very significant damage.

Do we really want every little injury to be termed Sming? Why do we work so hard to put this huge fear into the heads of so many people? Really, SMing does not occur that often. Much of what I see people refer to as SM nowadays really isn't SMing. Let's try to help people begin to see the difference and to not panic people about something that likely doesn't require panic.

Excellent point Val. Way too many new owners are also in panic mode when taking their gliders to be neutered because they believe most gliders SM after surgery, when it is in reality only a relatively small number that even mess with the site and even fewer that actually SM.

great post val! i hope everyone gets a chance to read this

Here are my thoughts on this. I agree 100% with Val and I think what is happening is the term is being uses in general for glider who are chewing themselves for what ever reason.
I think there should be 2 terms one for true self mutilators like Spencer and Jackie Chan and a term for gliders who chew themselves to get rid of a problem like a broken tail or a sore Pom area. You can call a glider who is chewing at their temporary pain site a
__(need a name inserted here)___ and if they become a true self mutilator they should be called such.

The term is being used as a general term and not for the true meaning of the term. Maybe w need to make a change to the bad habit by creating a new term for these gliders. Maybe if we can start here and spread it to the other forums by word of mouth and maybe the mods on the rest of the site we can change the communities way of labeling them???

There is definitely huge differences between a true self mutilator, an injury self mutilator, and what a lot of people call self mutilating these days. I say my Lan is an injury self mutilator. He does not mutilate for no known reason, but once he starts, he will not stop without interference. He had to have his tail amputated after he tried to chew it off and he had to be in an e-collar for almost a month after his neuter when he chewed into himself so far that the vet said it was very close to his organs and we were lucky I got to him in time.

BCChins wrote:

Here are my thoughts on this. I agree 100% with Val and I think what is happening is the term is being uses in general for glider who are chewing themselves for what ever reason.
I think there should be 2 terms one for true self mutilators like Spencer and Jackie Chan and a term for gliders who chew themselves to get rid of a problem like a broken tail or a sore Pom area. You can call a glider who is chewing at their temporary pain site a
__(need a name inserted here)___ and if they become a true self mutilator they should be called such.

The term is being used as a general term and not for the true meaning of the term. Maybe w need to make a change to the bad habit by creating a new term for these gliders. Maybe if we can start here and spread it to the other forums by word of mouth and maybe the mods on the rest of the site we can change the communities way of labeling them???

i agree i think a huge part of the issue is that we don't have term for it, and sm is the closest thing people can come up. so instead of using a long winded sentence to explain what they cant term they just say "sm" and be done with it

Brenda - what term would you like us to use? I'm all for trying to get a change started. I just call it "tending" when I'm talking about it, but I'm sure there is a better term.

Brenda again, but different Brenda (USHA) - If it were up to me, I WOULD term Lan as a self mutilator. I do think that you have to be very careful with him for the rest of his life as he is likely to repeat the act. Those that remove stitches after a neuter don't continue this behavior and often leave other surgical sites alone. I don't think Lan would leave any bit of pain alone. But, he is not my glider, so I defer to your description.

IDK anyone have an idea?? Val do you think having 2 names is a good or bad idea??

I like "Tending." Val, you are right and I do consider Lan a self mutilator as I am sure he would do it again with any injury or pain. It is something that I am ever watchful and prepared for. I have just been told in the past that he's not a "True" sm'r because there is a reason behind his. Of course, there could very well be a reason behind those that do it for no apparent reason and maybe I just shouldn't have taken what I was told over 3 years ago to heart.

Just giving this thread a little bump. I think we all need a reminder from time to time.

Val do you mind if I copy and paste your first post on my Critter Love Facebook page (I will of course add a link to this site and give you credit)?

This is a very good point and information to share with others.

Go right ahead Peggy. I don't mind at all!

I think "Tending" or "Tending to" would be a good term for the normal instinctive behavior Val, and keep SM for the more serious nature of what that really means.

That's my spare change on the matter.
(I like to think I have more than 2 cents worth

Again bumping this up as a reminder to us all. It is really important when you are calling one of the emergency consult numbers that you are accurate in what you are describing.

*I* expect when you say "he is sming" that he really IS. So, remember, just because he/she has a wound, does not mean he/she is SMing.


For comparison, I'm going to show you some photos. They are graphic, so prepare yourself.

NOT SM:



SM:



NOT SM:


SM:


NOT SM:


SM:

Thank you, Val! I needed to see this. SM is tossed around so much that it's hard for us newbies not to believe it's super common and happens all the time.

Val, for the sake of my kids, I braved looking at these photos and appreciate even more what you are able to do for rescues! Mowgli has had a tail issue, TWICE now. I'm thinking it is "tending" to from injury. Metacam worked the first time so we are trying it again.