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Keeping a Healthy Glider
Written by: HoodieGlider
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In the wild, gliders have limitless space to live in and a smorgasbord of
insects, sap or anything they could imagine to keep them healthy. Once we took
gliders out of the wild and into our homes we limited their food and their
living space. By taking a few precautions you can keep your glider healthy and
happy. A weekly in-home glider checkup will help you distinguish what is normal
for your glider and what isn’t. Also a nightly cage check before you go to bed
can prevent an escape or a glider from becoming tangled in a pouch. Finally
every glider owner should have a glider first aid kit handy in case an accident
should happen.
In-Home Glider Checkup
**Pinch the back of your sugar glider, the skin should fall back down almost
immediately. If the skin is slow or does not return to its normal state, your
glider is dehydrated.
**Place your index finger on your gliders chest and record the number of
heartbeats in 15 seconds. Multiplying this number by 4 gives you your gliders
heart rate (beats per minute). The resting heart rate may exceed 300 beats per
minute.
**A normal gliders temperature ranges from 85 to 95 degrees. Take your gliders'
temperature several times throughout a few months to learn what is normal for
your glider. Be sure to obtain a thermometer made especially for small animals,
and have your vet show you how to do this before doing it by yourself at home.
**To weigh your glider you will need a scientific gram scale. The normal weight
range is from 90 to 150 grams, males tend to weigh more.
**A healthy glider eyes should be bright black with no flecks of white or
cloudiness.
**A healthy nose is pink and moist with no discharge or crust. Hearing noises
while your glider breathes is a sign to take them to the vet.
**Healthy gums and membranes should be pink.
**The ear should always spring back to its original shape and not appear or feel
dry. No wax should be present.
**Feet should be pink, soft and injury free. Trim toenails with small toenail
clippers, avoiding the quick. If it is cut, apply styptic powder and pressure
until the bleeding stops. Make sure they use all their toes and fingers when
grasping. Make sure they grasp with both hands and both feet.
**Make sure the pouch is not sticking out, in females only.
**The coat should be smooth and shiny with no hairless patches, except for the
sent glands in males.
**Stool should be well-formed without parasites.
This is not a replacement for veterinary care; if your glider is in any way not
their normal you should see your vet as soon as you can.
Nightly Cage Check
**Your gliders cage should be no smaller than 2ft by 2ft by 3ft.
**Use only Powder Coated or Plastic Vinyl Coated
Wire.
**Size does matter, if your cage is too small your glider can become ill from
not having enough room.
**Where the cage is placed is also important. Keep the cage away from drafts,
direct sunlight, and other animals.
**Most scented candles and air fresheners give off chemicals that are harmful to
gliders.
**The Temperature needs to be anywhere from 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you
need to use a heating source make sure to keep it well away from the cage so
your gliders cannot touch it.
**Splatter proofing around your cage will help keep glider food off of your
walls and floors.
**Red light bulbs make it easier on your gliders eyes when watching them play.
**Your gliders cage should be cleaned weekly.
**Before going to bed make sure all doors are securely closed and that there is
no way that your glider could escape in the night. Glider First Aid Kit
**Quik-Stop
**Nail Clippers
**Alcohol
**Hydrogen Peroxide
**Heating pad with thermostat
**Baby food chicken and fruit
**Glideraide
**Freeze Dried Tofu
**Honey or nutri-cal can be rubbed along the glider’s gums, if you have a
lethargic glider that won't lick at it. |
