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Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant

Posted By: KarenE

Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 03:34 PM

This is something that I have seen posted time and time again since I first arrived on the internet, and have posted myself because somewhere I saw it posted by by one or more people with more knowledge than I had at the time.

But are they really?
Posted By: silverwolf

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 03:44 PM

I have wondered this myself. I have also been curious because they are suppose to be lactose intolerant and yet almost all of us feed yogurt. Yogurt has lactose in it usually if someone is lactose intolerant they cannot have yogurt either.
Posted By: princessmegi

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 03:53 PM

I agree, I have fed Priscilla's with plain yogurt for 4.5 yrs with no issues.
Posted By: Srlb

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 03:55 PM

I personally do NOT believe they are...I offer mac n cheese (milk added) scrambled eggs (milk Added) and my gliders have never had an issue.

Although I would not suggest to just up and offer a whole bowl of milk to a glider, I dont think they are, although there may be one or two that could be, just like with us.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 04:09 PM

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/40/6/1219

This is a link I posted a while back in the Diet and Nutrition forum, comparing lactose digestion in milk vs. yogurt. Yogurt caused fewer problems, even in the lactose intolerant group. Mine get yogurt on occasion, mainly as a treat, not like a tablespoon each night, but I know many people do feed this way without adverse effect.

Also, I've fed my gliders many, many things that are not "right" and never had a problem. Now, usually these are things they STEAL from me, lol, but I can name mac n cheese as well, and also add sour cream, cheddar cheese, vanilla and strawberry ice creams. So...I don't really believe they are lactose intolerant either, unless that pertains to large amounts consumed.
Posted By: silverwolf

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 04:13 PM

I would love to see where this actually started. So I agree with Karen if there is some proof lets see it folks.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 04:31 PM

Silverwolf, I believe where it started was with the rehabilitation of other marsupial species. Other marsupials are lactose intolerant for sure, and it was assumed that gliders were as well. I have Caroline MacPherson's book, it's over 10 years old so obviously has things out of date in it, but even there it says macropods are especially lactose intolerant with cow or goat milk, while the possum family can handle more lactose than what they produce in their own milk. Then it goes on to say to "err on the side of caution" and suggests cottage cheese and yogurt as more digestible forms of milk products.
Posted By: Dancing

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 05:04 PM

I believe that SOME gliders, just like some humans, are lactose intolerant. But I think it is wrong to blanket say "gliders are lactose intolerant".

I have fed cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, swiss cheese (their fav), yogurt, and use milk in their scrambled eggs. I've never had a single issue with any of my gliders over the years.
Posted By: Jackie_Chans_Mom

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 05:08 PM

I feed many of the things that are mentioned here on a regular basis, and MOST Of my gliders have no problems.

I do, however, have ONE that is for SURE lactose intolerant and one that it seems to play some part.

My lactose intolerant one, we tested by removing all food except boiled chicken for one week, then adding one food back in at a time (one new food every 5 days). With ANY dairy, he gets EXPLOSIVE diarrhea and a VERY poor disposition. If we avoid it all together, he is sweet as cherry pie and feces is normally formed.

All of that is to say that I agree that SOME gliders are lactose intolerant, but as a whole, I do not think they are.
Posted By: Akane

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 06:49 PM

Pretty much all adult animals are lactose intollerant. However this is not a cut and dried thing. I have lots of personal experience with it. Some cheeses cause less upset than others. For some yogurt is fine but for others it causes problems. For some it even helps. The amount of lactose in various dairy products has a huge gradient and the degree to which each person or animal's body reacts also has a huge gradient. What doesn't bother one at all may cause life threatening diarhea in another. It's best to be careful giving dairy to any animal and watch closely for their reaction and the firmness of their feces as well as appetite after giving each new food. This should just be standard for any animal and personally I would never ever give cow milk to anything not even a cat. It causes at least a mild reaction in every animal even if you don't see it. Mild lactose intolerance can cause no obvious symptoms but the slight inflammation in the intestines will lead to malabsorption and vitamin deficiency. I have my own blood tests to prove it. Humans are one of the few animals that most retain the ability to fully digest lactose as adults. Considering how common it is in every species of animal and how easy it is to avoid at least the worst dairy products like milk or too much cheese the risk is not worth it.

I'm not applying this risk to yogurt because if someone with lactose intolerance can eat any dairy product without symptoms they can eat yogurt. Most of the lactose is digested and what isn't doesn't matter because yogurt contains helpful bacteria to balance it out.

Most of the things mentioned here like mac n cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (eww anyway) I can eat. Whereas cow milk has me in the ER to IV all the fluids I'm losing since my intestines are not absorbing any or anything else and my stomach has gone on revolt so I can't keep it down anyway. Because you can eat somethings or some don't react does not disprove lactose intolerance.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/09/09 07:26 PM

This is a little off topic, but lactose tolerance in adulthood in humans is a mutation. Humans were originally all lactose intolerant as adults, and it is a fairly new mutation in our evolution! http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/science/11evolve.html

Sorry, I am a bilogy major in college and am hopefully going to graduate school to get my PhD. Heard about this in one of my classes. I love this stuff!
Posted By: Sheila

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/10/09 07:22 AM

I find that joeys do not tolerate yogurt as easily as adults. I have had two joeys in the last year who almost died from feeding yogurt. As soon as they were taken off the yogurt they improved and were back to normal. Both of these gliders were tested for bacteria. Symptoms were dehydration and diarreah.
Posted By: JillMarie

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/10/09 09:24 AM

My father and I are both lactose intolerant, he worse than myself. I have found that the more I eat milk products after a while the "intolerance" goes away. If I then avoid milk for a long time and then drink alot all of a sudden .....Oh boy look out!!! but as long as I drink alittle everyday, I can indulge and it doesnt affect me as bad (maybe just a bit....gassy and thats it)

just a thought....perhaps using them regualrly builds a resistance of sorts? or body adaption? whatever...
Posted By: sugarglidersuz

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 10/10/09 11:56 AM

Originally Posted By: Sheila
I find that joeys do not tolerate yogurt as easily as adults. I have had two joeys in the last year who almost died from feeding yogurt. As soon as they were taken off the yogurt they improved and were back to normal. Both of these gliders were tested for bacteria. Symptoms were dehydration and diarreah.
I agree, Sheila, that joeys are more lactose intolerant than adults. That is why I always recommend puppy formula instead of kitten formula for hand-raising IF a marsupial milk replacer is not available to the person. Kitten formula has a higher level of lactose in it and causes bloating, dehydration and diarrhea frown
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 11/14/09 03:12 AM

I agree that the blanket 'lactose intolerant' thing doesn't make sense. The reasons yogurt and cheese are easier on them are 1-yogurt is cultured-which helps digestion, and 2-cheese has enzymes-which also helps--so neither is straight milk so to speak...both are made in such a way that digestion is aided. We may have a problem, though, trying to feed straight cow's milk, cream, etc-which is where I think that misconception came from. We don't tend to feed our gliders dishes of milk or cream straight up, however.
Posted By: USMom

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 11/17/09 06:43 PM

There is actually starting to be a large body of evidence that shows Cow mild isn't really good for anyone/anything. Goats milk is much better tolerated (I personally can't stand it).

I have also seen some gliders (very few, thank God)that cannot tolerate any milk products, including yogurt and cheese. So, like humans, there are differences among their digestive abilities/tolerances.
Posted By: Pockets

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 08/05/10 05:50 AM

Will need to look into my research info but this is a start

http://www.healthy-bird.com/lactose_&_cataracts.htm
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 08/05/10 12:13 PM

Very interesting read!
Posted By: sunjana1

Re: Gliders Are Lactose Intolerant - 03/04/11 06:06 PM

There's been a discussion about baking chips vs. yoggies and the lactose in them. I'm going to do a little more digging when I have a chance, but was wondering off hand if anyone knows how the lactose content in baking chips, yoggies, and diets such as the Blended that contain yogurt compare to one another.
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