Posted By: Anonymous
Don't give up trying to revive them! - 03/30/10 05:09 AM
Over the weekend I made a horrible mistake, and tonight I am joining as many sugar-glider-related forums as possible to make sure no one makes the same stupid mistake.
Most of you know that toilets are one of the most dangerous things to a sugar glider in your home. If you're smart, you will keep an eye on the glider when they are out of the cage, and if you're smarter, you'll close the toilet lids as an extra precaution.
But, if for some horrible reason you should find your glider in the toilet - don't freak out. I assumed my baby was dead - she was completely rigid, unresponsive and not breathing when I pulled her out of the toilet. I tried rubbing her and pushing her stomach in and talking loudly: nothing. Worst feeling in the world.
But! She wasn't dead. Sugar gliders lack body fat so when they hit semi-cold water they immediately go into shock - which saved her life. It looked as if she was dead, and my boyfriend actually put her in a sack and stuck her on the back porch to keep me from [censored] out. But I begged him to keep trying, and I'm so glad I did.
He took her back in, rubbed in a towel while occasionally blowing hot breath on her, and in about five to ten minutes she grabbed his finger, and slowly starting breathing again. It was quite a miracle, to say the least.
But I couldn't help wondering if this terrible freak accident has happened to others, and if they assumed their glider was dead. Can you imagine if we left her on the back porch and she woke up?
God, a terrible thought. I am hoping to prevent this by sharing my mistake.
If you are unlucky and irresponsible enough as I was (and will NEVER be again) and you happen to find your glider in water, don't assume she is dead, please! Keep her warm and help her circulation. If she makes it, keep her warm for THREE days, and check on her breathing - if it is uneven she may have a respiratory infection, which is easy to treat by visiting your vet.
Don't give up on her!
Best of luck to all you glider lovers.
Most of you know that toilets are one of the most dangerous things to a sugar glider in your home. If you're smart, you will keep an eye on the glider when they are out of the cage, and if you're smarter, you'll close the toilet lids as an extra precaution.
But, if for some horrible reason you should find your glider in the toilet - don't freak out. I assumed my baby was dead - she was completely rigid, unresponsive and not breathing when I pulled her out of the toilet. I tried rubbing her and pushing her stomach in and talking loudly: nothing. Worst feeling in the world.
But! She wasn't dead. Sugar gliders lack body fat so when they hit semi-cold water they immediately go into shock - which saved her life. It looked as if she was dead, and my boyfriend actually put her in a sack and stuck her on the back porch to keep me from [censored] out. But I begged him to keep trying, and I'm so glad I did.
He took her back in, rubbed in a towel while occasionally blowing hot breath on her, and in about five to ten minutes she grabbed his finger, and slowly starting breathing again. It was quite a miracle, to say the least.
But I couldn't help wondering if this terrible freak accident has happened to others, and if they assumed their glider was dead. Can you imagine if we left her on the back porch and she woke up?
God, a terrible thought. I am hoping to prevent this by sharing my mistake.
If you are unlucky and irresponsible enough as I was (and will NEVER be again) and you happen to find your glider in water, don't assume she is dead, please! Keep her warm and help her circulation. If she makes it, keep her warm for THREE days, and check on her breathing - if it is uneven she may have a respiratory infection, which is easy to treat by visiting your vet.
Don't give up on her!
Best of luck to all you glider lovers.