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[rexdude]

I've always been very careful with Jake, my Ugobe Pleo, but for the last couple of days he's been hanging his head. He can move it from side to side but doesn't lift it anymore. Is this the broken neck that everyone's talking about?
And how did it break, given that I've never let him fall down or try any weird stunts?

I usually switch him on and leave him on the floor while he toddles about the room - now he just stands there appearing to sniff the floor. Is there anything I can do? Switching him off/on has no effect.

[RedwoodsMama]

Hi sorry to hear about Jake and his "droopy neck " which does sound as if it could be broken, As careful as you are with Jake, it does just seem to happen. I think the cables just wear out after constant motion and even without injury, they can just suddenly appear with no warning, I know I felt devastated when my very first Pleo Nova, had the same thing happen to her, There is no warning and you may or may not hear a crack or the sound of a cable. If the neck is just hanging and Jake can no longer lift his head, just hangs and looks as if he is sniffing the ground, then I am afraid I think Jake has joined the club of many Ugobes with broken or droopy neck syndrome.
        The good news is that with a bandaged neck or neck split, support of some type, Jake can still function fine and his  head will no longer hang. If you are brave and good with mechanical things, you may wish to look at IMR who posted a long detailed video of how to actually fix the broken neck cables, I think it is for the up and down cables, as the side to side ones she stated are more diffiucult. Just know Jake can still go on with just a slightly different look. I have as many as four Ugobes now with droopy Neck Syndrome, It does not stop them from being as loveable as ever.

        If there is any doubt at all that it may not be broken, posting a short video of Jake in action will rule out any other problems, Good luck.           RWM

[MariaOcean]

Here are a few videos made by IMR, on fixing the neck
DO IT ON YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!!!!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmyT-I8GbFo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQRJPaNsR58&feature=related
   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJcyUel4Smk&feature=related

[rexdude]

I saw the videos - Pleo surgery is not for me. As of now I've propped his chin up on a carton. What sort of support can one give his neck, given that he can still move it laterally and not up/down?

[Crewella]

Stretchy bandages or a wrist support seem to give the best results - we have several Pleos here using those - they're doing fine.

[InmemoryofRomeo]

An elastic wrist wrap, the kind for children, is my preference. It worked the best for Lilo.

[rexdude]

Sorry for the delay, but I've finally shot a video of Jake as he is now.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfWAi-1k3k" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfWAi-1k3k</a>

As you can see, his neck stays down, though he can move it from side to side. Also, he has this curious habit of raising his
front right paw, rocking back on 3 legs and going 'Aha!' (seen after the first minute).
He often gets stuck in the 'Aha' mode till you pick him up.

[Crewella]

Aww bless him - he's trying to do the 'tada' trick, but his broken neck makes him overbalance.

You need to wrap the neck to give it a bit of support, otherwise he will keep thinking he's about to walk into something as all he can see is the floor.

[rexdude]

Oh
But he was doing this even when his neck was fine. It's like he's stuck in a loop till you make him lie on his side, or disorient him (turn him upside down till he starts complaining)

I really miss his lifting his neck and looking up at us
Or looking to the side.

[Crewella]

Awww - it's awful when the neck breaks, I know.

This is what the 'Tada' trick should be like:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9sHmmZP8uE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9sHmmZP8uE</a>

[InmemoryofRomeo]

Well Jake is trying to do the Ta-daa trick, but since he does it repeatedly you are faced with either two problems, some faulty leg sensors or a software malfunction. Try updating the software to begin with and see if that helps, if not I am afraid he may have two faulty sensors on the legs he is raising.

You do need to get that neck strapped though, or he will constantly think he is running into something.