Suggies For Dummies

a ) Check Up

You need to bring your sugar gliders for a health check up, when you first took it from your breeder or petstore. Make sure your sugar gliders has a clean bill of health, so as to avoid transmiting unknown diseases to your current pets or existing sugar gliders.

In addition, you are encouraged to bring your sugar glider for regular medical check up every 4-6months. Sugar gliders who consume live insects may need to deworm regularly in order to maintain their tip top health condition.

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b ) Disease & Disorder

Sugar gliders are excellent in hiding their illness, so make sure you're always alert about your gliders when they are sick. If your pet shows signs of illness, do not give it any medications unless prescribed by your veterinarian. Remember that with the appearance of any clinical signs, a qualified veterinarian should be allowed to make a definitive diagnosis. Identifying and treating diseases in their early stages is the key to successful treatment and cure. Like many other exotic species that become ill, sick sugar gliders are very fragile, and require prompt veterinary attention.

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Sick Glider


Obesity :-
- Gliders that are obese or overweight generally are inactive and very round in body size.
Treatment : A bigger living environment with plenty of toys to stimulate foraging activity and a wheel.

Trembling or Shakiness :-
- Shaking or shivering right after waking up from sleep is normal for a glider. But if it continues after a few moments, especially the back legs and the glider has weak limbs, it could mean a calcium deficiency problem.
Treatment : Calcium supplement has to be given if it is the early stages. The diet has to be changed. Best to visit a vet for advice and treatment.

Hair Loss :-
- If hair loss is at the center of a male's head, then it is normal as that is the male's scent gland. If hair loss is at other body parts, be it in hairless spots or thinning of hair, it could mean mites or fungul infection or malnutrition.
Treatment : Seek a vet for treatment.

Lack of Appetite :-
- A drop in appetite or eating very little could mean a few things. Stress can be one of them and this is normally seen with gliders in new homes. Another would be internal parasites, as worms and microorganism in the gut can cause a drop in appetite. Another would be the teeth or jaw. Check the teeth for any breakage and make sure there is no swelling to the gums.
Treatment : If it is from new surroundings, it is normal. If appetite is small, visit a vet and get your glider dewormed. If teeth has problems, visit a vet for treatment.

Diarrhea :-
- Watery stool. If the stool or poo is moist like tooth paste, then it is normal but if the poo is wet and has no shape, it is diarrhea. It can be caused by new food, infected or spoiled food, or parasites.
Treatment : Home treatment would be to provide Glucose supplement and Gatorade or a non-carbonated isotonic drink diluted with water and increase in food high in fiber. A visit to the vet is a must as diarrhea is fatal, especially to joeys.

Dehydration :-
- A dehydrated glider will have dull looking eyes, very stiff skin. Check your glider's hydration by pinching the skin behind the neck. If it retracts in a second, your glider is safe but if the skin fold is still there after 1 second, then your glider is dehydrated and would need liquids fast.
Treatment : Feed water with glucose mixed with Gatorade or a non-carbonated isotonic drink. 1 water to 1 glucose mixture ratio.

Constipation :-
- A glider would have constipation if it doesn't take enough fruits and water. The usual signs are seen when a glider hisses when it is defecating or pooing.
Treatment : A teaspoon of pure apple juice twice a day would cure this.

Urinary Tract Infection :-
- This means difficulty in peeing. These may include bladder infections, urinary blockages, andkidney disease. These problems may be more common in gliders on very high-protein,high-mineral diets, such as large amounts of regular cat food. Signs may include bloody urine, straining to urinate or dribbling urine, lethargy, decreased appetite, increased thirst or urine output, protruding and/or discolored penis, and weight loss.
Treatment : Need antibiotics from vet.

Hissing during Urinating :-- It is an early sign of difficulty in peeing.
Treatment : Quickly get hold of pure cranberry juice and feed a teaspoon of it twice a day to your glider.

Blindness :-
- Known as partial blindness in gliders, it is actually the cause from a high in fat diet. Gliders taking mainly mealworms or a lot of sunflower seeds in their diet would develop a layer on the eye that may look like your glider turned blind.
Treatment : Cut out on fatty food, change the diet.

Hind Leg Paralysis :-
- Weakness of the back legs. Can be seen when a glider has problems climbing, walking, excessively having trembling legs and may not be active anymore.
Treatment : This is due to a bad diet that lacks in calcium. Seek vet for treatment and change the diet. Include calcium supplements.



c ) Glider Proofing

When letting your sugar gliders out to play, it is always a good idea to "glider-proof" the room first. Removing any dangerous situations that the sugar glider could get into can save it's life.

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How to Start ?


Never leave gliders unsupervised :-
They must be watched at all times to ensure their safety, even if you have a glider proofed room. Sugar gliders are very curious by nature, and always seem to find a way into trouble.

Glider proof a proper room :-
Choose the safest room to glider proof. Laundry rooms are not generally acceptable, as they can easily make their way into the washer and dryer. Since dryers have a hose that leads outside, it would be very easy for your sugar glider to make it outside. Walk in closets and bedrooms make the best rooms to glider proof.

Remove other pets or other sugar gliders :-
No matter how much you trust your pets not to do any harm to your sugar gliders, please remove them from the room during play time. Animals can act on their instincts fast, and for no reason.

Close off cracks, holes, fireplaces and vents :-
Seal and close off anything you can fit more than a finger in. Be sure that you close it off properly. Sugar gliders are very smart so make sure the seal is secure and there is no possible way the glider an get break through.

Close windows, doors, cabinets, and drawers :-
Be sure that windows and doors are shut. Place a sign on the door when your glider is out of the cage to warn others, especially if your glider room opens to the outside.

Plug outlets, and remove excess cords :-
Be sure to unplug everything, and use child safety plugs to close off electrical outlets. Remove any cords or electrical items as possible from the room.

Remove dangerous furniture :-
Sugar gliders can be caught in recliner chairs, futons, and some gliding chairs. These items should be removed before the sugar glider is let out to play.

Cover open water and toilets :-
Sugar gliders can not swim. Cover or remove standing water such as fish tanks and toilets. Remember, toilets are especially dangerous, I recommend that you fold a towel between the lid and seat to ensure your sugar glider does not get in. Some sugar glider owners recommend a toilet ladder, which hooks on to the side of the toilet bowl for them to grab on to and get out.

Keep the glider room clean :-
Remove any garbage, laundry, or excess clutter. Be sure to keep a lid on any trash cans in the area. Remove any harmful items such as chemicals, medicines, unsafe house plants, and food.

Turn off fans, space heaters and appliances :-
Be sure that all fans, including ceiling fans, are turned off. Be sure to remove any space heaters or other items that create hot surfaces to ensure your sugar glider doesn't get burned or injured. Unplug and cover any appliances that can harm your glider, such as paper shredders, VCR's, and printers.