Sugar Gliders

Establishment of Hematological and Plasma Biochemical Reference Values and Analysis of Risk Factors for Pet Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) in Taiwan

“…and rodents, as well as hydration in dogs, cats, and rabbits [ 34 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Lower mean CRE value in this study could be related to the differences of diet consumption and smaller animal living space in Taiwan, compared to the United States, where the previous studies took place [ 5 , 43 ].…”

“…In the present study, diets with over 30% fruits, vegetables, or animal-based protein, as well as diets without formulated feeds, were considered unbalanced. Excess in fruits, vegetables, and animal-based protein in the diet of sugar gliders had been linked with obesity, periodontal disease, and metabolic bone disease, and formulated feeds, such as Mazuri insectivore diet and Leadbeater’s recipe, were often recommended [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. In the present study, higher eosinophil and platelet counts and lower MCV levels were found in sugar gliders with unbalanced diets.…”

“…Being social animals in the wild, keeping sugar gliders in pairs or groups was thought to be necessary, for fear of stress from lacking social interactions [ 9 , 43 ]. Solitary sugar gliders were described to be prone to aggression and self-mutilation; however, solitary sugar gliders in the present study were healthy, and these behaviors were not observed [ 9 , 43 ]. There were no major hematological or plasma biochemical differences between sugar gliders kept in solitary or with conspecifics in this study.…”

Pyometra in a sugar glider (<i>Petaurus breviceps</i>): surgical treatment and postoperative complications

“…Female reproductive disease including pyometra appears rare among pet sugar gliders [ 4 , 9 , 10 ]. The female reproductive tract of sugar gliders possesses anatomical features unique to marsupials and considerably different from those of placental mammals [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Removal of the female reproductive tract of sugar gliders is not a common procedure for either reproductive control or therapeutic purposes.…”

“…We performed ovariohysterectomy along with removal of bilateral vaginal canals with curative intent in this case, resulting in postoperative abscess in the uterine stump or central vaginal canal. The reproductive tract of the female sugar glider consists of ovaries, oviducts and paired uterine bodies, which open separately into a single vaginal cul-de-sac divided by a median septum [ 4 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Two lateral and one central vaginal canals arising from the vaginal cu-de-sac join and form a urogenital sinus which also receives the urethral opening [ 4 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”