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that sugar gliders prefer live insects, so the mealworms, crickets and grasshoppers should be the number one choices with mealworms the least of the three. That is because mealworm is higher in fat than what is good for them. Insects should be fed to them on a daily basis, with mealworm best to be fed only two to three times a week.

WHITE MUCUS DISEASE

The white mucus disease in a sugar glider is a coated white mucus which discharges from its eyes, ears or can occur in their feces. Considered an improper vitamin or mineral balance in its daily diet, it also occurs when its aged system is no longer able to break down needed nutrients. Their aged system also is no longer able to absorb the needed minerals. This is a condition which needs immediate vet treatment as death may ccur.

WHITE FATTY DEPOSITS

The young juvenile sugar gliders have been known to develop white fatty deposits in their eyes, eventually leading to blindness. This is due to the mother beeing improperly fed with poor nutrition and with a diet too high in fat. As in the cataract division above, the diet needs to involve protein which is low in fat, such as crickets or grasshoppers. Alternatively, sugar gliders who are fed diets which are high in soft textured carbohydrates will develop dental disease. The live insects with hard exoskeletons, such as crickets or grasshoppers, will maintain not only their teeth but prevent white fatty deposits in their young after being born.

BLINDNESS

Many sugar gliders are either born blind or may become blind due to disease, accidents, genetics, or their mother fed the incorrect diet. If living with a companion sugar glider and owned by a caring owner, they will survive as if they could see perfectly. Their cage should be easy to navigate with no changes made in the location of the nesting, feeding area, etc. Yet some small changes can be done, such as with their toys, which need to be done to stimulate them "just enough". When blind, the sugar glider has a chance to adapt and recover, depending on their care and if they are treated well and are happy.

EYE INFECTION

Eye infections can be caused by an eye abrasion or scratch, which is a very treatable condition. Eye clouding is its number one symptom, with is the eye looking grayish and cloudy instead of clear, sharp and black. Eye drops such as Gentamicin are usually given by the vet after an exam. These eye drops consist of a a sterile ophthalmic solution, which are carefully dropped into the affected eye. If left untreated long enough, this infection will spread from the damaged eye to both eyes.

Any eye scratch for the sugar glider involves the area known as the cornea, which not only means it hurts badly but also involves bacteria entering deep into the eye. If left untreated, a loss of vision or the eye itself can occur. In the most secure cases, a procedure known as the enucleation needs to occur, which means the eye needs to be removed by a vet.

REFERENCES

Moondance Sugar Gliders.
Website: http://www.moondance-sugarglid ers.com/sugar_glider_anatomy.h tm

Merck Vet Manual. Website: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/ mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171 600.htm

SunCoast Sugar Gliders. Website: http://www.sugar-gliders.com/g lidervet-5.htm

Caring for you Sugar Gliders. Website: http://www.ilpetaurodellozucch ero.it/doc/Caring_for_SugarGli ders.pdf

Learn more about this author, Nancy L. Young-Houser.
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