There are lots of discussions about the male genitalia. I would like to see one on the female pouch.

And please, I already know a vet check is necessary if they get a pouch infection - I have just never seen this discussed in detail before. So, let's help educate each other as most of us have little girls.

This would be for a suggie girl that has NOT just had a joey - as her pouch would look very different due to nursing and housing her baby.

How do you tell if a female has an infected pouch? What are the symptoms? Does it turn red? Have an odor? A discharge of any kind?

If there is an infection, how can you tell if it is bacterial or yeast?

If it is bacterial - what would be the normal prescribed medication and treatment? How long does the suggie need to be treated to be cured?

If it is yeast - what would be the normal prescribed medication and treatment? How long does the suggie need to be treated to be cured?


****DISCLAIMER**** None of us are vets and advice given here should not take the place of a vet visit - but we can at least be informed.

I hope someone who knows will post some of these bedccause that would be nice for me to know.

Yea - I want to know, too!!!

Still no answer. I have googles and searched on this subject until Im cross-eyed and I really cant find much out there. Anyone with any experience with this? Im hoping no on is posting because it isnt that common!

a post I made a few months ago, link

I couldn't find any reliable information then and I can't find any reliable information now.

I think the answer to all of those questions is fairly simple. If you notice your glider acting strangely or if you notice anything out of the ordinary, then take the glider to the vet. Different illnesses can show the same symptoms, and I think a vet should be the person to diagnose.

I haven't seen any mention of a bacterial infections in the context of the pouch. Bacterial infections do occur and are treated with antibiotics, but I haven't seen any mention of symptoms manifesting with regard to the pouch. My not finding any mention doesn't mean it doesn't exits, only that I don't know the answer. For yeast infections one can find references of it with regard to pouches.

I've searched and could not find any recorded case a female self mutilating due to a yeast infection. What I did find is the assumption that it may happen, not that it has. I don't know what that assumption is based on, as I don't know if a yeast infection is painful or not. I've seen mention of a test that can be used to determine pouch infections, but I'm hesitant to repeat that here as I don't know if the usage of the test is simply hearsay or assumption based on human diagnosis or if it's actually used. I've looked through the Merck site regarding yeast infections and the often stated afore test for diagnosing glider yeast infections is not mentioned at all for any of the diagnoses for other animals discussed.

I think this is a situation where obtaining information directly from a vet and not through Google or sugar glider websites will be necessary.

Thank you, Eric. You are so right. I, too, have really spent quite a few hours researching this and found very little information.

Like I said before, maybe its because it just isnt that common. My thinking was since I have 3 girls, having some knowledge would be good. I found over the years with my dogs they get much better care because I usually always know what is wrong before I take them in and know all the symptoms and what needed to be done medically. My vet always appreciates my knowledge as it was easier for her to pin down a diagnosis. Of course, I am always respectful that they are the ones with the medical degree.

So - I guess if and when someone's girls have a this problem, we will find out then.

I thought trinity had one because i could see her pouch and her teat. Turns out it was just stretched open but I was freaking out.

I had a ringtail that was pregnant and lost the baby from a infection of the milk ducts called Mastitus wich humans also get, her symptoms were swollen/puffy pouch, redness, oozing and a slight odour. The vet washed her pouched out with an antibacterial solution and said it should clear once her milk dried up, wich it did.
I also have seen pouch infections in wild poss before, as far as I know it is rare to have infection unless the mother has or has had babies.
I cant remember the name of the drugs used right now but I will have a look at my vet records and let you know.
sometimes to know the kind of infection and what meds are needed may require a swab of the pouch to determine if yeast infection or bacterial.
A friend of mine had a rescue where the Possum was stuck in a water tank, and her babies died in the pouch, my friend had to wash the pouch out each day and the poss was on meds I will also ask her what she used

I did find this - this person is supposed to be fairly well respected.

www.aemv.org/Documents/2006_AEMV_proceedings_6.pdf

Mastitis will normally be very warm to the touch also so I assume there would be redness...

Rach - Thank you! That site is great!

And according to Cathy Johnson Delaney - a pouch infection is NOT an uncommon thing to happen. And they CAN be either bacterial or yeast. But no suggestion of medications was made.

Hmmmm - I think Im going to call my vet tomorrow and see if I can find out. Probably what I should have done in the first place.

Im not sure what you googled it under but if you google Pouch infections in Possums there is a fair bit of info.