FIRST COAST SUGAR GLIDERS 
"HOME OF THE SWEETEST JOEYS IN FLORIDA"
Possible Ailments
Keeping your sugar glider healthy is basically a matter of providing a well balanced diet, a stimulating safe environment, and companionship. Sugar gliders may appear to be delicate, but they are actually quite hardy. Their are prone to health problems if their diet is insufficient for any lenght of time. For instance, although they love foods high in fat, these are good for them in high quantities. A lack of calcium in their diet, over time, will kill them. Severe calcium deficiency is recognizable in a sugar glider who drags his/her ind quarters and is unable to jump. But by the time these signs become evident, it is often too late to remedy the problem. So, prevention is your best measure. Most importantly, be aware of behavioral changes in your glider and find a veterinarian who is familiar with treating this particular species. Inspect your glider's feet periodically for any signs of injury. Abrasions and sores due to sharp cage wire can lead to infection and death. And check your glider's fur for parasites.
A healthy sugar glider is easy to spot. Most veterinarians look for: bright eyes, moist pink nose, pink gums and membranes, the ability to grip with all four feet, clear ear channels, snooth fur coat free of parasites, good elasticity of the gliding membrane, feces free of parasites, a regular feeding schedule and documented diet history, and an active mobility. Some visible concerns to you and your vet would be: obvious deformity in limbs, parasites, blindness and cataracts, white mucus disease, hind end paralysis, and lack or limited activity.
DEFORMITY IN LIMBS can be caused by improper healing of broken imbs or recent breaks. Accidents do happen in healthy gliders as well as aged gliders. Keeping a safe environment and regular calcium suplements are your best defense. If you do notice any deformity contact your vet immediatelly.
PARASITES whether internal or external can invade your happy suar glider. To prevent this occurance always provide a fresh water supply, a fresh diet, and a clean cage environment. If you notice parasites or returning redness developing in the coat, eyes, ears, or in the feces contact your vet immediatelly. Do not let it go unattended.
BLINDNESS AND CATARACTS can occur in sugar gliders just as they can in humans. These appear as a pale "spot" in the center of the eye (in the lens) and result in blindness. Cataracts typically occur in very young infant gliders. Infection of the mother's pouch may lead to eye damage in the infant glider. Another possible cause is nutritional, since infant cataracts seem more common when the mother is on a poor diet, is fed too much sugary food or is obese. Vitamin A deficienncy has been roposed as a possible cause. Finally, there may be an inherited tendency to get cataracts. Although it is rare, some gliders are born blind.
WHITE MUCUS DISEASE presents itself with a coated white mucus discharging from orifices such as eyes, ears, or in feces. This may be caused by improper vitamin or mineral balances in the daily diet. In some cases, aget systems stop breaking down nutrients and proibit the absorption of needed minerals. If you suspect this condition contact your vet immediatelly.
POLIOENCEPHALOMALACIA This nurologic condition causes certain areas of the brain to degenerate. Signs may include weakness, dizziness, lack of coordination, gradual paralysis, tremors, disorientation and lethargy. The pet usually eats poorly and loses weight. The causes are not completely understood, but some animals appear to improve when given Vitamin B1, suggesting that nutritional deficiencies may contribute to this disease. A glider with a severe case may fail to improve and eventually die. Prevention is best accomplished by feeding your glider a balanced diet.
TRAUMA Gliders are easily injured if they are attacked by other house pets, if they are dropped or stepped on, or if a tail or legs becomes trapped in the cage wire. Torn skin and bone fractures are common. You can prevent injuries by handling your glider carefully, and providing dafe, secure housing away from the reach of other pets. An injured glider should be kept warm and placed in a small enclosure, such as a small cage to minimize moement. Please seek veterinary care immediately.
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS These may include bladder infections, urinary blockages, and kidney disease. These problems may be more common in gliders on a very high-protein, high-minerals diet, such as large amounts of regular cat food. Signs may include bloody urine, straining to urinate or dribbling urine, lethargy, decreased appetite, increased thrist or urine output, protuding and/or discolored penis, and weight loss. Seek veterinary care if you notice any of these signs. Treatment depends on the exact type of urinary tract disorder.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS Gliders may develop diarrhea or rectal prolapse (protuding bowel). Common causes include bacterial infection of the bowel, parasites, or improper diet. A fecal analysis should be done by your veterinarian on a fresh fecal sample. Antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs may be needed, along with anti-diarrheals.
SKIN PROBLEMS Poor-quality hair coats and/or oily skin may be seen with poor diet or moist, dirty cage conditins. Repeated escape attempts or pacing within a small cage may result in areas of hair loss, due to repeated rubbing of an area of skin. Ocasionally, mites may cause bumps on the edges of the glider's ears. Mature male gliders develop a normal bald patch on the top of the head between the ears, and another on the front of the chest, where scent glands are located.
A healthy sugar glider is easy to spot. Most veterinarians look for: bright eyes, moist pink nose, pink gums and membranes, the ability to grip with all four feet, clear ear channels, snooth fur coat free of parasites, good elasticity of the gliding membrane, feces free of parasites, a regular feeding schedule and documented diet history, and an active mobility. Some visible concerns to you and your vet would be: obvious deformity in limbs, parasites, blindness and cataracts, white mucus disease, hind end paralysis, and lack or limited activity.
DEFORMITY IN LIMBS can be caused by improper healing of broken imbs or recent breaks. Accidents do happen in healthy gliders as well as aged gliders. Keeping a safe environment and regular calcium suplements are your best defense. If you do notice any deformity contact your vet immediatelly.
PARASITES whether internal or external can invade your happy suar glider. To prevent this occurance always provide a fresh water supply, a fresh diet, and a clean cage environment. If you notice parasites or returning redness developing in the coat, eyes, ears, or in the feces contact your vet immediatelly. Do not let it go unattended.
BLINDNESS AND CATARACTS can occur in sugar gliders just as they can in humans. These appear as a pale "spot" in the center of the eye (in the lens) and result in blindness. Cataracts typically occur in very young infant gliders. Infection of the mother's pouch may lead to eye damage in the infant glider. Another possible cause is nutritional, since infant cataracts seem more common when the mother is on a poor diet, is fed too much sugary food or is obese. Vitamin A deficienncy has been roposed as a possible cause. Finally, there may be an inherited tendency to get cataracts. Although it is rare, some gliders are born blind.
WHITE MUCUS DISEASE presents itself with a coated white mucus discharging from orifices such as eyes, ears, or in feces. This may be caused by improper vitamin or mineral balances in the daily diet. In some cases, aget systems stop breaking down nutrients and proibit the absorption of needed minerals. If you suspect this condition contact your vet immediatelly.
POLIOENCEPHALOMALACIA This nurologic condition causes certain areas of the brain to degenerate. Signs may include weakness, dizziness, lack of coordination, gradual paralysis, tremors, disorientation and lethargy. The pet usually eats poorly and loses weight. The causes are not completely understood, but some animals appear to improve when given Vitamin B1, suggesting that nutritional deficiencies may contribute to this disease. A glider with a severe case may fail to improve and eventually die. Prevention is best accomplished by feeding your glider a balanced diet.
TRAUMA Gliders are easily injured if they are attacked by other house pets, if they are dropped or stepped on, or if a tail or legs becomes trapped in the cage wire. Torn skin and bone fractures are common. You can prevent injuries by handling your glider carefully, and providing dafe, secure housing away from the reach of other pets. An injured glider should be kept warm and placed in a small enclosure, such as a small cage to minimize moement. Please seek veterinary care immediately.
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS These may include bladder infections, urinary blockages, and kidney disease. These problems may be more common in gliders on a very high-protein, high-minerals diet, such as large amounts of regular cat food. Signs may include bloody urine, straining to urinate or dribbling urine, lethargy, decreased appetite, increased thrist or urine output, protuding and/or discolored penis, and weight loss. Seek veterinary care if you notice any of these signs. Treatment depends on the exact type of urinary tract disorder.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS Gliders may develop diarrhea or rectal prolapse (protuding bowel). Common causes include bacterial infection of the bowel, parasites, or improper diet. A fecal analysis should be done by your veterinarian on a fresh fecal sample. Antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs may be needed, along with anti-diarrheals.
SKIN PROBLEMS Poor-quality hair coats and/or oily skin may be seen with poor diet or moist, dirty cage conditins. Repeated escape attempts or pacing within a small cage may result in areas of hair loss, due to repeated rubbing of an area of skin. Ocasionally, mites may cause bumps on the edges of the glider's ears. Mature male gliders develop a normal bald patch on the top of the head between the ears, and another on the front of the chest, where scent glands are located.
