Knowing what to look for in a healthy sugar glider involves some basics and some not-so-basics. The quickest and easiest things to spot when looking for a healthy sugar glider are its bright clear eyes, healthy weight, soft clean fur, alertness, activity level, and its responsiveness to its previous owner/breeder.
Something to avoid is the appearance of a yellow tint to the belly, referring to a situation known as jaundice which indicates possible liver problems. Combined with green color in the stools-both situations could be symptoms of Guardia. A priority when purchasing this popular little pet is to actually know how to choose a healthy sugar glider. The healthier the animal is, not only will there be fewer veterinarian appointments and bills, but also a happier animal and longer healthier relationships between the animal and the owner.
AGE
A big question many prospective sugar glider owners ask is "How old should my new sugar glider be?" Not a dyed-in-the-wool answer, many experts suggest a recently weaned sugar glider as it bonds with their new owner easier with less time involved and with fewer problems. Remember that law requires them to be 8 weeks of age and eating on their own, making for a healthier pet as it will be under less stress, which is approximately 60 to 70 days OOP (out of pouch).
Not all owners feel that only young sugar gliders make better pets, with many owners of older sugar gliders stating that have had no problems with their animals, other than the bonding may take slightly longer. A sugar glider "out of the wild" can live up to 15 years of age, so choosing a healthy sugar glider at the age of twelve or thirteen may be slightly difficult and hard to bond with.
EYES, EARS AND NOSE OF A SUGAR GLIDER
The eyes of a sugar glider are normally very black and clear with no white flecks or white cloudiness in them. Watch for runny eyes or drainage which shows eye infections or disease. Also, they should be alert and responsive, without a "sunken-in" look about them.
The ear canals should not have any ear mites in them, with symptoms involving shaking of the head, and scratching or excessive rubbing of the ears. The ear flap itself will spring back to its original shape when touched or gently rubbed down, while also being free of lesions. Wax should not be present in them and they should not feel or appear too dry.
As far as the nose is concerned, it should be pink and moist with no crust or nasal discharge around it. Also, when breathing no abnormal "bubbly" sounds should be heard in the nasal or lung area as it represents illness or something that requires vet attention.
FLUFFY TAILS
Choosing a healthy sugar glider has a lot to do with not purchasing one "too young". A quick short cut is to look at their tails. This will tell if it is not only healthy but the correct age to leave the nest, with many breeders releasing them too early. A sugar glider's tail is fluffy if it is old enough to leave the nest, whereas if the tail has short and smooth hairs it is only been out of the pouch under three weeks of age. The thing to recognize is that sugar glider breeders will date the birth differently, so make sure the correct procedure is known or the animal may be purchased too early due to pouch error.
SKIN
When pinched or held firmly in the two forefingers, the back skin of a sugar glider should release itself quickly to its normal position when released. If it falls slowly or not at all, the sugar glider is dehydrated and there are not enough fluids in the animal for it to function. This can occur through vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urinating, too much strenuous activity, acute illness, appetite loss, or inadequate water supply. Unfortunately, these reasons are in the not-so-easy-to-see area other than with the dehydrated skin. The coat of the sugar glider should be smooth with no bald patches or missing hair, unless it is in the "bald spot" area of the males where their scent glands are located.
TOES
When checking the feet of the sugar glider, they should be soft and very pink without any injured toes. Toenails should have been clipped, with most owners/breeders using small toenail clippers. Their glider grasping reflexes should be observed as they climb or hold onto ropes or their breeder, focusing on their toes and fingers as they do so. Sugar gliders will grasp with both front hands and hind feed.
ALWAYS GET A DATED HEALTH GUARANTE IN WRITING!
The easiest way to make sure you have a healthy sugar glider is by purchasing a sugar glider from a USDA Licensed Breeder. By law, they are required to have a writtenand dated health guarantee and a replacement policy if the purchased sugar glider becomes ill or dies:
The short USDA replacement standard consists of replacing the sick or dead sugar glider for two to three days after its purchase.
The longer USDA replacement standard consists of the replacing the sick or dead sugar glider one to two weeks after its purchase.