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Overweight :( #166261
11/03/06 12:47 PM
11/03/06 12:47 PM

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I think Zero's becoming overweight...but I'm not that sure since I see him everyday...everyday he just looks the same to me I guess. Anyways, my question is how to get him back to a smaller size if he is over weight? Proper diet is included in this, and so is a running wheel...but is there anything else?

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166266
11/03/06 01:04 PM
11/03/06 01:04 PM

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I would first suggest getting a scale. I think the digital postage type ones are fairly cheap at walmart.
Before doing any drastic weight loss diets, I would definitely consult a glider knowledgeable vet. Some gliders naturally have a bit more bulk on them than others.
What diet do you currently feed? Is he active with his wheel? Does he get any other activity, like tent time, where he is given more room to run around?

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166272
11/03/06 01:21 PM
11/03/06 01:21 PM

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I feed him a vet approved diet, and every 3 or 4 days I give him half a boiled egg with some apple, blueberry...or other fruit and then about a tablespoon of veggies. These days it's not really vet approved, but it's not unhealthy...he also has staple food in his cage at all times. I also give him two yoggie treats (peanutbutter) a day...one before I fix his meal which is where I come home from work...and the other after I fix his meal and go to bed.

I allow him to roam my room every couple of days...and he stays out for about 3 or 4 hours.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166305
11/03/06 02:18 PM
11/03/06 02:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
KattyM Offline
Serious Glideritis
KattyM  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
My vet told me in May that Hiroshi was overweight (around 190 grams), and needed to lose down to 160 grams. I can't remember his target schedule now (maybe 2 grams a week), but it seemed excruciatingly cruel (for me more than Hiroshi, I think!), but I have slowly been watching the grams come off.

As aproductof noted, it's best to get a gram scale so you can weigh Zero daily (at the same time). Also, if Zero has cagemates, you'll want to make sure he's the only one losing weight.

I feed BML, and offer mealies each night, along with other treats occasionally. Since putting him on a diet, he was cut back to one mealie a day (previously 4-5; I don't have the heart to cut them out completely), and no yogurt drops, no snacks that don't come out of the allotment for food that evening. Because all three share the same cage, I put Keiko in first to sample from each kitchen and pig out to her heart's content. Then I put Tomoki in, and last goes Hiroshi.

So far they've been maintaining and he's been losing (down to 164 now). thumb

If you haven't already, you might want to check out the diet page. Just don't choose Darcy’s Sugar Glider Diet, since it was originally designed for weight gain. smile Many diets (like BML) do not require a staple food be left during the day. That might be part of the problem with his weight—too much easy access to food 24/7. Imagine if you had the same at your bedside, your desk, wherever you might be! Even with exercising, you'd probably be putting on weight yourself.

Good luck!


Forever owned in my heart by my :grey: "Eight is Enough" colony:

:rbridge:
• 2002: Keiko (F) + 2003: Hiroshi (M) = 2004: joey Tomoki (M)
• 2009: Sammy (F), Charlie (F), Murray (M), Herbie (M)
• 2010: BJ (M)
Re: Overweight :( [Re: KattyM] #166310
11/03/06 02:24 PM
11/03/06 02:24 PM

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Originally Posted By: KattyM
Many diets (like BML) do not require a staple food be left during the day. That might be part of the problem with his weight—too much easy access to food 24/7. Imagine if you had the same at your bedside, your desk, wherever you might be! Even with exercising, you'd probably be putting on weight yourself.


How do you know what my desk looks like? LOL j/k

Check out the diets page. smile Diets I personally use and love BML.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: KattyM] #166311
11/03/06 02:25 PM
11/03/06 02:25 PM

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Yeah that makes sense. He doesn't have cagemates. I thought it was pretty cruel to not keep food in his cage 24/7, but considering how they are in their natural enviroment, I suppose this isn't true at all. (Having to hunt for their food and all)

I think I'm going to take the staple food out. I feed him BML except for every 3 or 4 days...he's pretty picky and won't really eat it after so many days so I give him a change and then he's good for a few more days. Considering what's in the BML, I don't really think that day off is really unhealthy at all in relation to what some other people give their gliders. Sadly, finding an exotic vet is pretty hard (and expensive), but I'll probably have to find one.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166322
11/03/06 03:00 PM
11/03/06 03:00 PM

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If you do choose to stick with BML, you really should offer every day, as designed, otherwise you aren't exactly feeding the correct diet.
As far as an exotic vet, unfortunately, that's something too many people don't look in to before deciding to get a glider. vets for these guys can be expensive, and that's just a sacrifice we make (SHOULD make) to keep them as pets.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166331
11/03/06 03:23 PM
11/03/06 03:23 PM

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Most exotic vets don't really know about many animals; I've heard of exotic vets offering to file a gliders teeth down in belief that it was a rodent. vets aren't as vital to a gliders health as they are to other animals since they're very healthy critters. The diets are factual...so you really don't need to see a vet about this unless they're over or underweight. I'm probably going to take Zero to a vet soon so he can tell me how over weight he is (if at all), but besides that he's very healthy and energetic. He gets all of his vitamins everyday (including the off day), and his ratio of fats, protein, and calories are perfect. I am thinking that the problem is that he had access to food 24/7, and being a single glider it may have been his way of finding something to do when he was bored. O_o Thanks for all of the input though, it's highly appreciated.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166371
11/03/06 05:33 PM
11/03/06 05:33 PM

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Well, actually, having a glider knowledgable vet is really important just in case of an emergency. You are correct in that not all exotic vets know what to do with gliders...exotic vets see such a wide range of animals that it is hard for them to know everything about all the exotics that can come their way. So a glider knowledgeable vet is best.

Actually, sugar gliders can be prone to injury/illness more than many other exotics, and they can go downhill very fast due to their small size and fast metabolism. It is important to have a glider knowledgeable vet in mind, or at least a vet who you know is good and maybe a good glider vet you can consult by phone.

That being said it sounds like just cutting down on the staple and maybe a bit on the treats should make the grams come off for your glider smile Good luck!

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166546
11/04/06 02:42 AM
11/04/06 02:42 AM

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I came home from work...Zero just looked at me waiting for his treat, and when I didn't give him one he just stuck his arm through the cage and was reaching for them. I guess I'll have to hide the container too frown.

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166549
11/04/06 03:30 AM
11/04/06 03:30 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
SugarBlossoms Offline
Serious Glideritis
SugarBlossoms  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
I would give him at least a small piece of say honeydew melon or something. I couldn't have my suggies reach for a treat they always got and not give them something. I have a couple of gliders that are huge by comparison. Our vet isn't worried cause they are healthy and active. Even a grape or a bit of applesauce isn't going to make them fat. There is no real fat in yogurt either. smile

Our male trimmed down from 286 grams. Our female stays about 300 grams no matter what. She is monkey and eats upside down, runs in her wheel and loves to play. She is just fluffy. LOL


Keeper of Handprints on my Heart, You left your Footprints on my soul.
My precious loves that left to quickly, Peanut, Katie
Isabella, Kiwi, Bonnie and Monroe.

Spread your wings and glide free of pain,
Until the day I see you again.

God speed my precious angels. I love you. Mama.
Re: Overweight :( [Re: SugarBlossoms] #166569
11/04/06 04:36 AM
11/04/06 04:36 AM

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SugarBlossoms, don't you just love "Fluffy" gliders? heart mlove heart

Re: Overweight :( [Re: ] #166572
11/04/06 04:55 AM
11/04/06 04:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
SugarBlossoms Offline
Serious Glideritis
SugarBlossoms  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
Yes I do!! mlove


Keeper of Handprints on my Heart, You left your Footprints on my soul.
My precious loves that left to quickly, Peanut, Katie
Isabella, Kiwi, Bonnie and Monroe.

Spread your wings and glide free of pain,
Until the day I see you again.

God speed my precious angels. I love you. Mama.
Re: Overweight :( [Re: SugarBlossoms] #166608
11/04/06 11:16 AM
11/04/06 11:16 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,579
Sherman, Texas
MizValorie Offline
Glider Addict
MizValorie  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,579
Sherman, Texas
Hi,
I know it is kinda far but Dallas has some pretty good glider knowledgable vets. I have been to two great ones in two different areas in Dallas. One vet did a neuter on my male and was wonderful. Everything turned out beautiful and he wasn't in pain once.
I also just had a wellness check for both of my gliders for free (only for new patients though.) They were pretty knowledgable and went over everything to make sure I was doing everything right. My male who is about 5 yrs old weighed in at 163 grams. The vet would prefer him to be around 150 grams, but said that since everything I was doing was good, just suggested to watch it to make sure he isn't gaining (which I already do with a gram/ounce scale.)
If you would like the numbers to one of these vets just PM me and I can give you a location too. I have to drive 2 hours, but it made me feel so much better knowing I was doing what I could to help my babies!
HTH and feel free to PM about anything!


Valorie and our 10 fur children

RIP Mary Kate
Re: Overweight :( [Re: MizValorie] #166660
11/04/06 03:59 PM
11/04/06 03:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
KattyM Offline
Serious Glideritis
KattyM  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,910
Phoenix, AZ
MizValorie, if your vets aren't yet in the Vets Database, it'd be great if you could add them! thumb

Zero won't die without his treats, but I agree that you can give him something (a portion of fruit or veggie from his evening meal). Sometimes just the special attention in hand feeding him a goodie is enough, too, and what he really wants. heart


Forever owned in my heart by my :grey: "Eight is Enough" colony:

:rbridge:
• 2002: Keiko (F) + 2003: Hiroshi (M) = 2004: joey Tomoki (M)
• 2009: Sammy (F), Charlie (F), Murray (M), Herbie (M)
• 2010: BJ (M)

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