Sugar Gliders: Common Diseases

Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are small, nocturnal mammals that are usually active at night and sleep during the day. Like kangaroos and wallabies, they are marsupials and, as such, possess a pouch in which the female sugar glider raises her young. In the wild, they live in New Guinea and the eastern coast of Australia in coastal lowlands and inland eucalyptus trees and rainforests.

Sugar gliders are social animals who usually cohabit in groups of six to ten, so they should not be kept as single pets. Sugar gliders have unique nutritional requirements that must be properly met to maintain good health. There are several diseases that every sugar glider owner should know about, so their affected pet can get veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Tooth Decay

Tartar build-up on the surface of the teeth is common with sugar gliders that are fed a diet that is high in sugars, such as canned fruit, yogurt drops, or human baby food. Tartar build-up will eventually cause gum erosion and will likely progress to tooth decay. 

"Tartar build-up will eventually cause gum erosion and will likely progress to tooth decay."

As with dogs and cats, two outcomes follow tooth decay in sugar gliders: either the affected tooth becomes rotten and falls out or the teeth and gums become infected and an abscess may form. Abscesses can be very serious and potentially life-threatening. Infected teeth and gums require removal of the infected tooth/teeth, surgical cleansing of the infected areas, and oral antibiotic therapy.

Dental Abscesses

The first sign of an abscessed tooth is a notable swelling at the front corner of one eye or at the center of the lower lid of one eye. The affected side of the face appears puffy and swollen. The eyelids on the affected side may be partially closed. A veterinarian experienced with sugar gliders will perform a thorough physical and oral exam. If the swelling is caused by a tooth abscess, there may be a loose tooth in the upper arcade on the affected side. There may also be a white to tan discharge (pus) around one of the upper premolar teeth. In most circumstances, the swelling has a soft spot that indicates pus collecting under the skin. 

Your veterinarian may request an X-ray of the skull to specifically identify which tooth is diseased. In most circumstances, an oral exam under sedation will identify a loose tooth. In this case, a culture of the pus may be taken for bacterial identification. Your veterinarian will administer antibiotics and create a plan to anesthetize the sugar glider, extract the loose/abscessed tooth, flush the abscess, and discharge the patient with instructions to continue antibiotics for 5–7 days.

Initiating causes for abscessed teeth include trauma from chewing on cage wire, tartar build up from excess sugar in the diet, and cage-mate trauma.

Diarrhea

Sugar gliders have a complex diet that requires attention to detail and following feeding instructions from qualified sources (see handout “Sugar Gliders – Feeding”).

Loose stool may occur from feeding an imbalanced diet (usually too much fruit or baby food), from a bacterial intestinal infection, or from intestinal parasites. Diarrhea stains the hair around the rectum and tail, causes dehydration, creates blood system abnormalities, and causes weight loss. A sugar glider may die from the effects of diarrhea if it is not addressed properly.

Bacterial causes of diarrhea commonly include exposure to a sick sugar glider or unwashed fruit and vegetables. Common types of bacteria that may cause diarrhea are Salmonella, Clostridium, and E. coli.

The most common intestinal parasite that affects sugar gliders is a flagellated protozoan called Tritrichomonas. This is a microscopic parasite that is related to another flagellated protozoa called Giardia. These protozoa cause a general intestinal inflammatory disease that creates a soft, sometimes mucoid stool.

"Sugar gliders have a complex diet that requires attention to detail and following feeding instructions from qualified sources."

Treatment depends on the exact cause of the diarrhea. Dietary imbalances will need to be corrected if there is evidence that the diet may be the culprit. Bacterial cultures of the feces and microscopic examination of the loose stool will help your veterinarian zero in on a bacterial or intestinal protozoa as the cause of the loose stool or diarrhea. 

In the case of Salmonella, all family members must follow strict hand-washing protocols when handling the pets, the cage, and the food and water dishes. Children, elderly family members, family members undergoing chemotherapy, and those with immune deficiencies should avoid handling the pets or the cage.

Intestinal Parasites

The most common intestinal parasite, as mentioned above, is the flagellated protozoa Tritrichomonas. This parasite can cause a variety of intestinal issues. The usual symptoms involve a mild softening of the stool but can progress to full-blown diarrhea. Severe cases may also cause an intestinal prolapse from constant straining due to diarrhea. The parasite is diagnosed by examination of fresh feces with a microscope. Treatment involves anti-protozoal medication administered orally. Some cases are difficult to completely resolve. Cases involving an intestinal prolapse may require hospitalization and a minor surgical procedure called a “purse string” suture.

Low Blood Calcium

Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) is caused by an improper diet that is low in calcium. Sugar gliders with hypocalcemia show a thin body condition, leg or whole-body tremors, and a poor appetite. Your veterinarian can confirm the presumptive diagnosis of hypocalcemia by taking a blood sample and performing a chemistry profile to assess the blood calcium level. Other diseases like sepsis (bacterial invasion of the blood) may mimic the same symptoms. Treatment will involve diet correction and oral administration of a liquid calcium prescription.

Obesity

The normal weight range for most healthy sugar gliders is 80–110 grams for females and 90–120 grams for males. A sugar glider is considered overweight when it weighs 10% above normal (an increase of 10 grams above normal). A male or a non-pregnant and non-nursing female sugar glider would be considered obese if they are 20% or more above normal weight, meaning they are 20–30 grams beyond normal weight.

Like any pet, an obese sugar glider has more than weight issues. Fat accumulation in the liver can eventually cause liver failure. Overweight sugar gliders may develop heart disease from making the heart work harder to pump blood through a fat-laden body. Joints become stressed to support the extra weight and will eventually develop arthritis, making it painful to move around.

"A sugar glider on a recommended diet will maintain a normal body weight."

The cause of the obesity is simple: too much sugar or carbohydrates in the diet. A sugar glider on a recommended diet will maintain a normal body weight. The following foods are not recommended for any sugar glider: yogurt drops, canned fruit, peanut butter, pasta, rice, or any human candy.

An overweight or obese sugar glider needs immediate veterinary attention and advice about a proper diet for weight loss and maintenance.