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Sugar gliders are relatively low maintenance creatures. There are many things you can do in order to avoid common causes of injury or death for your sugar glider. The number one tip is to avoid accidentally transferring toxins or bacteria by always washing your hands, including under the fingernails, before handling your sugar glider.
Avoid common causes of injury or death to sugar gliders by creating a safe environment for them:
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Avoid drowning accidents by keeping them away from open containers of fluids like toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and buckets
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Keep away from hot items that can cause burns, like stovetops, light bulbs, toasters, coffee pots, etc.
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Avoid possible poisoning by removing fruit-scented air fresheners, fruit scented cleaners such as Lysol, scented candles, etc.
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Remove your sugar glider’s cage (and your pet!) from the room during cleaning to avoid spraying them with household cleaning products.
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Keep sugar glider’s away from insects, rodent baits or pesticides.
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Only give them filtered or bottled water in order to avoid poisoning from chemicals often contained in tap water.
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Keep them away from all chocolate or caffeinated drinks.
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Don’t let them near any toxic houseplants or holiday decorations
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Toxic trees for sugar gliders (they can cause lung irritation): Pine, Cedar, Fir, Box elder, Boxwood, Oak, Red maple, Walnut, Cherry, Almond, Laurel, Apricot, Avocado, Nectarine, Plum, Peach trees, and all trees that bear fruits.
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Toxic bushes and plants: Holly, Azalea, Mistletoe, Catnip, Rhubarb, Sweet peas
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Avoid all plants treated with pesticides or plants that have been treated with chemicals, fertilizers, or toxicity.
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Common Sugar Glider Health Concerns
Do not use unregulated Internet sites as guides. This often leads to malnutrition and poor care practices.
Malnutrition in your sugar glider can cause:
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Hind-limb paralysis
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Blindness
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Dehydration
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Cataracts
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Obesity
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Seizures
We recommend bringing your sugar glider to the vet for an exam within the first week of adoption. After that, unless medical care is required, annual checkups are sufficient. These checkups should include a stool exam and bloodwork. There are no required sugar glider vaccines at this time.
Males should be neutered whenever possible to avoid anti-social behaviors and self-mutilation.
How Can I Tell When My Sugar Glider Is Sick?
Keep an eye out for certain changes that demand medical attention:
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Pneumonia, which can be indicated by discharge from the eyes/nose
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Diarrhea resulting from dietary changes
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Stress-related diseases including self-mutilation, cannibalism of young, and eating disorders
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Hair loss typically resulting from poor nutrition and vitamin intake
Sugar Glider Emergencies
If your sugar glider seems sick, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with your sugar glider vet. The following is a list of symptoms that can indicate serious illness or injury, and should be addressed as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for these signs and changes in behavior:
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Decreased appetite
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Lethargy
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Sneezing or nasal discharge
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Ocular discharge
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Itchiness
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Lumps on the body
A telltale sign that something is wrong with your sugar glider displays any behavior associated with low blood sugar. Sugar gliders who aren’t feeling well tend to stop eating. This may make them weak and lethargic, which can lead to tremors or seizures. These symptoms may also be related to low calcium levels, which can be an emergency.
When under stress or in pain, sugar gliders are prone to self-mutilation. This behavior escalates very quickly, and is very dangerous. Call your veterinarian immediately.
