Ill or Injured Sugar Glider

Warning Signs

Signs That Something May Be Wrong

• Not eating or drinking.
• Weight loss or sudden change in body condition.
• Lethargy, weakness, shaking, or acting unusually quiet.
• Cold body temperature or difficulty staying warm.
• Dehydration or skin that does not spring back normally.
• Diarrhea, constipation, abnormal droppings, or straining.
• Hissing, crying, or straining while trying to urinate or defecate.
• Difficulty breathing, clicking, wheezing, or open-mouth breathing.
• Dragging the back legs, weakness in the rear end, or inability to climb normally.
• Swelling, lumps, wounds, bleeding, abscesses, or signs of pain.
• Over-grooming, chewing at the body, or self-mutilation.
• Seizures, tremors, disorientation, or inability to balance.
• Cloudy eyes, swollen eyes, discharge, or eyes held closed.
• Fur that looks cracked, greasy, stained, or poorly groomed.

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First Steps

What to Do While Calling the Vet

• Keep the glider warm, quiet, and away from stress.
• Separate the glider only if needed for safety, monitoring, or to prevent further injury.
• Do not force food or liquid into the mouth if the glider is weak, gasping, seizing, or unable to swallow safely.
• Use a small hospital cage or travel carrier with soft fleece and safe warmth while preparing for the vet.
• Remove wheels, high climbing items, or loose fabric if the glider is weak, injured, or at risk of falling.
• Bring a fresh stool sample if there are digestive symptoms, weight loss, or suspected parasites.
• Take notes about symptoms, when they began, diet, recent changes, cage mates, and any possible accident or toxin exposure.

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Dehydration

Checking for Dehydration

Dehydration can become dangerous quickly. One common check is to gently lift the skin over the shoulders. In a hydrated glider, the skin should return to normal quickly. If the skin stays tented or returns slowly, the glider may be dehydrated and needs veterinary help.

Other possible dehydration signs include sunken eyes, weakness, tacky gums, dry mouth, lethargy, or refusal to eat. A dehydrated glider may need fluids from a veterinarian.

If the glider is alert and swallowing normally, a vet may recommend offering small amounts of fluid. If the glider is weak, gasping, seizing, or unable to swallow, do not force fluids because aspiration is dangerous.

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Digestive Problems

Diarrhea, Constipation, and Appetite Changes

Diarrhea may be caused by diet changes, stress, parasites, bacterial issues, or illness. Because sugar gliders are small, diarrhea can lead to dehydration quickly. If diarrhea continues, is watery, has blood, smells unusually foul, or is paired with weakness or loss of appetite, contact a vet.

Constipation, straining, or crying while trying to eliminate can also be serious. Watch for bloating, discomfort, repeated attempts to go, or lack of droppings.

A glider that refuses food, suddenly eats far less, or cannot hold food should be considered a concern. Monitor closely and seek veterinary care quickly.

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Hind Leg Weakness

Dragging Legs or Weakness

Dragging the back legs, weakness, shaking, trouble climbing, or difficulty holding onto cage bars can be emergency warning signs. Possible causes may include injury, malnutrition, calcium imbalance, illness, pain, or neurological problems.

Keep the glider low, warm, and safe from falls. Remove high items and contact an exotic veterinarian immediately.

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Injuries

Falls, Wounds, Bleeding, and Swelling

Injuries can happen from falls, cage accidents, unsafe wheels, loose threads, fights, doors, toys, or nails catching on fabric. Check for limping, swelling, bleeding, missing fur, favoring a limb, not using a hand or foot, or sudden aggression when touched.

For bleeding, use gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth while preparing for veterinary help. Do not use harsh chemicals on wounds unless directed by a veterinarian.

If a nail, toe, tail, limb, or pouch area is injured, keep the glider from climbing or catching the area again. Loose threads and unsafe fabric can make injuries worse.

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Self-Mutilation

Over-Grooming or Self-Mutilation

Chewing at the body, cloaca, tail, incision site, or a painful area can become life-threatening very quickly. Self-mutilation may be related to pain, infection, parasites, stress, surgery, urinary issues, constipation, injury, or other medical problems.

If your glider is chewing itself, crying while chewing, damaging skin, or reopening a wound, this is an emergency. An e-collar and immediate veterinary care may be needed.

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Breathing and Neurological Signs

Breathing Trouble, Seizures, or Collapse

Open-mouth breathing, gasping, clicking, wheezing, blue or pale gums, collapse, seizures, severe shaking, or inability to stay upright are emergency signs. Keep the glider warm and quiet and seek veterinary care immediately.

Do not place food or fluid in the mouth of a glider that is seizing, collapsed, gasping, or unable to swallow.

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Emergency Supplies

Basic Emergency Kit

Keep emergency supplies together so you are not searching for them during a crisis. Supplies do not replace a veterinarian, but they can help you stabilize and transport the glider safely.

• Small travel carrier or hospital cage.
• Clean fleece pieces or pouch.
• Small digital scale for weight checks.
• 1 ml syringes without needles.
• Pedialyte or vet-recommended electrolyte option.
• Cornstarch or styptic product for minor nail bleeding.
• Clean gauze or soft cloth.
• Heating source that can be used safely and monitored closely.
• Vet phone number, after-hours emergency clinic number, and directions.
• Small notebook or phone note with symptoms, food eaten, droppings, and behavior changes.

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Vet Visit

Information to Bring to the Vet

• Current diet and any recent diet changes.
• Age, sex, weight, and whether the glider is housed alone or with cage mates.
• Symptoms and when they started.
• Recent stressors, new cage items, new foods, new gliders, travel, or cleaning products.
• Photos or video of abnormal behavior if it is not constant.
• Fresh stool sample if possible.

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Related

Related Care and Safety Pages

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