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How your sugar glider can be sick/injured #1039770
12/12/10 05:15 PM
12/12/10 05:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
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SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. My sugar glider got sick and I was barely prepared to handle the problem even after 2 years of owning sugar gliders. Because of my own experience, I thought it wise to share what I learned in order to help you be ready for some of the things that may very well happen to YOU.

These images you see are just a few examples of things that can happen to your pet. Sugar gliders are not the easy to keep animal that so many people claim they are. It is common for any of these maladies listed below to happen to YOUR pet even when kept and cared for properly. As a sugar glider owner, you absolutely must be aware of the various health issues that your animal faces and be prepared to prevent when possible and respond when needed.

Proper keeping helps to minimize many possible health issues, but some can happen regardless.

A simple unmanaged nail caught in a pouch can painfully rip the nail from the flesh and get infected or become necrotic, or it can also allow the animal to break and mangle its fingers or limb which can lead to possibly chewing it off to get free. This happens. Sugar gliders are smart little critters but they are not smart enough to calm themselves to figure out the best way to get free, they simply freak out and yank, yank, yank and bite, bite, bite.If a finger is swollen it can be the only sign to calcium deficiency. It may not mean it is infected but that the glider has parasites, bacterial infection or dietary issues that can lead to hind leg paralysis.(Thank you Dancing)

Never assume that it is something as simple as "just a swollen toe".
There are actually a lot of dietary issues including obesity, malnutrition and hypocalcemia.

A simple bite from another animal in the cage can turn into a hole, an open wound, stretched skin, infection and eventually death. An average person might think that a simple bite to the skin would scab up and heal but it doesnt. One of the many things that an owner must know about their sugar glider is that they fixate on things. An open wound is an invitation to clean it. If the animal can reach it on its own, it will do so and will end up making the issue much worse than it would be when left alone. If the animal cannot reach it, others in the cage will jump at the chance to continually clean it, and in doing so will stretch and rip and remove the skin thusly making the wound much more severe and life threatening. The first step in addressing any wound is to remove the animal from a group cage and also use an e-collar if necessary to prevent self mutilation. An open wound means a month or more of solitary confinement so the owner must have extra cages and supplies available for this possibility. The same holds true even for wounds closed by a vet. Glue and stitches are foreign to the animal and will immediately be ripped out making the wound even worse than original. The owner must find a way to keep the animal and others in the cage from grooming the area until it can heal closed with no scabs.

Overgrooming is when the animal presents with a stereotypy in the form of endlessly grooming itself in a specific area which wears that area down to the skin or possibly much worse including self mutilation. This behavior often arises from mental stress created from improper keeping. A small cage, loneliness, poor diet, lack of exercize are all things that must be addressed. Often adding an exercise wheel, ongoing mental stimulus, larger cage or a cage friend will resolve or prevent these kinds of issues.

A tail is very fragile, and once it has been bitten, it has also been broken. It will begin to dry up and will need a surgical amputation to prevent infection and death. Very rarely can a tail be repaired.

A bump under the eye is most likely a dental abscess which if left alone can burst and cause necrotic tissue and death. The eye may often have to be removed..

THE LIST GOES ON

The possible health issues are expansive. Here are some items to become familiar with:

Unmanaged nails get caught and ripped off
Toes swollen, bitten, infected, broken
Mating or fighting wound
Puncture wounds on patagium
Tail biting, chewing, amputation
Dental abscess
Eye scratch, penetration, ulcer, infection
Ear bites
Hind leg paralysis
Malnutrition and dietary issues
Overweight
Overgrooming and other mental/stress issues
Self Mutilation
Accidents around the house
Other household animal/pet attacks
Urinary tract infection
Oral tumors
Mastitis
Giardia
Parasites
Inverted or swollen pouch
Prolapsed cloaca, genitals, bladder
Teeth trimming, Wing clipping


Please learn as much as you can about this animal before jumping into ownership and be ready to prevent and also respond when necessary. Sugar gliders will need vet attention in their lives for one reason or another so you must be able to provide that. If you see signs of any of the maladies presented here, please go see a vet immediately.

These items listed above are brief and only a few of the many things a sugar glider owner must know to be successful. This post is designed to start you on the quest for learning. You are welcome to visit the Sugar Glider Encyclopedia and come read through, search and join in any of the forum discussions. And the sugar glider chatroom is often busy in the evenings for real-time interaction with other owners.


Life is full of questions, never be afraid to ask any of them. Please never stop learning and always share what you learn with others.

Last edited by SuggieDaddy24; 12/12/10 07:15 PM.

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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039783
12/12/10 05:45 PM
12/12/10 05:45 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12,099
Vulcan, MO
Meg_n_Von Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Meg_n_Von  Offline
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12,099
Vulcan, MO
Nice post! clap


Megan & LaVaughn

Sugar Exotics

:bb: Kira :grey: Sadie - Neal :wfb: Pip - Violet :rtmo: Logan - Charli - Tyler - Seamus :plat: Chloe - Cas :leu: Boone

RIP David
Your life was short lived, but your memory will last forever.
Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039789
12/12/10 05:50 PM
12/12/10 05:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
Joey Member
SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
Thank you i already took an aleve for my wrists dance


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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039793
12/12/10 05:54 PM
12/12/10 05:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Dancing Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Dancing  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Those photos are so HARD to look at but so educational too. I just feel so badly for each of those babies and want to hug and squeeze (gently) all of them.

There really are so many things that CAN happen.

On the way home from A Glider's Christmas gathering, Doc said to me..."you should never ask a vet if something COULD happen. If the vet says there is no chance "it" could happen, he's not telling you the truth. Instead you should ask what is the PROBABILITY of it happening" ("it" being anything/everything)


620-704-9109
Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance


The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: Dancing] #1039800
12/12/10 05:58 PM
12/12/10 05:58 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
Joey Member
SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
Originally Posted By: Dancing
Those photos are so HARD to look at but so educational too. I just feel so badly for each of those babies and want to hug and squeeze (gently) all of them.

There really are so many things that CAN happen.

On the way home from A Glider's Christmas gathering, Doc said to me..."you should never ask a vet if something COULD happen. If the vet says there is no chance "it" could happen, he's not telling you the truth. Instead you should ask what is the PROBABILITY of it happening" ("it" being anything/everything)
yes this is all so very true!


wave~Andrew~wave
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mloveMy girl:bb:Kia!mlove
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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039803
12/12/10 06:04 PM
12/12/10 06:04 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Dancing Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Dancing  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
I want to point out that second photo (on the top, left side) with the swollen toe. Sometimes this is the ONLY warning you get that your glider has a calcium deficiency. It may not mean it is infected but that the glider has parasites, bacterial infection or dietary issues that can lead to hind leg paralysis.

Never assume that it is something as simple as "just a swollen toe".


620-704-9109
Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance


The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: How your sugar glider can be sick injured [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039813
12/12/10 06:12 PM
12/12/10 06:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
Joey Member
SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
ooo...really! never knew that


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mloveMy girl:bb:Kia!mlove
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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039819
12/12/10 06:39 PM
12/12/10 06:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,060
Kansas
L
LSardou Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
LSardou  Offline
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L

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,060
Kansas
This is one of the most informative posts that I've seen in quite some time. Thank you, Andrew of taking the time to post this so that others may learn before it's to late. Excellent job!

Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039826
12/12/10 06:47 PM
12/12/10 06:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 28,219
Washington D.C. Metro Area
DCMuffin Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
DCMuffin  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 28,219
Washington D.C. Metro Area
So very difficult to look at but what a fascinating and educational post. Thank you, Andrew...so very much! I hope everyone has an opportunity to read this!

Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039839
12/12/10 07:01 PM
12/12/10 07:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
Joey Member
SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
Thanks im just trying to get as much information as possible


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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039856
12/12/10 07:24 PM
12/12/10 07:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
Feather Offline
Administrator
Feather  Offline
Administrator

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
The pics are not loading for me. Great post, by the way.


Kimberley
Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack
Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet :bb: T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon :wfb: TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring :rtmo:
Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the :rbridge:

Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039896
12/12/10 08:58 PM
12/12/10 08:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Dancing Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Dancing  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Why was your original post edited? The pictures are gone and my comment about not assuming it is "just a swollen toe" is now in your first post.

What gives?


620-704-9109
Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance


The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1039949
12/12/10 10:53 PM
12/12/10 10:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
SuggieDaddy24 Offline OP
Joey Member
SuggieDaddy24  Offline OP
Joey Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 144
Brighton, Colorado
i had to take down the pics didnt have permission i thought that i should put that in there


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Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1040073
12/13/10 01:52 AM
12/13/10 01:52 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13,454
South Africa
G
Gizmogirl Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Gizmogirl  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
G

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13,454
South Africa
Great post Andrew! Thank you so much.


Casper & Liezl
:grey:Gizzy, Boesman, Muchu, Kiamon, Sky & Boog:grey:
A glider's eyes have the power to speak a great language

RIP Sugar 2009 & Kaida 2013
Re: How your sugar glider can be sick/injured{Graphic} [Re: SuggieDaddy24] #1040135
12/13/10 06:12 AM
12/13/10 06:12 AM

N
NavyChiefWife
Unregistered
NavyChiefWife
Unregistered
N



Great post. Im sure it will help educate a lot of people that were unaware of those things. I wish I had gotten to see the pictures before they were removed. Maybe people that have dealt with those issues will post pictures for everyone to see?


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