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Sugar Gliders
Urine smell problem
Urine smell problem
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Feb 28 2009
08:41:23 PM
I am still new with my suggie and I wanted to know if there is anything safe to help mask the smell of sugar glider urine. My Winnie likes to urinate in her hammock, her bonding pouch, her bed, then she sleeps in them and because of that she smells like urine all the time.. I keep washing these items but as soon as they go back in the cage BAM they go back to smelling like urine. I realize she is probably just trying to make them hers but the smell is quite strong. I do not want my husband to have reason to dislike my new little baby especially since I want to find her a room mate.
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Feb 28 2009
09:55:52 PM
alyanne Face Hugger Visit alyanne's Photo Album FL, USA 487 Posts
I have two boys and one of them is mature and not nuetered so smell in my cage is a given. For a lone female, I'm wondering if shes been to a vet? There is probably going to be a smell but how bad of a smell would be the question. If her urine is that potent, I wonder if you should have her see a vet. Hopefully some other people will pop in who have just females who can help on whether thats even normal.
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Feb 28 2009
10:37:59 PM
Rita Glider Sprinkles GliderMap Gliderpedia Editor Visit Rita's Photo Album Rita's Journal MO, USA 12214 Posts
I also agree that if a female's urine has a really stong smell, then she needs to see a vet.

All gliders have a scent about them and as long as you have them, there is going to be a slight odor. If you are constantly cleaning the cage, they will mark even more. Try cleaning her toys and pouches on different days - along with cleaning the cage one side at a time. Gliders love their scent - it is perfume to them.

How old is she? How long have you had her? What is she eating? Sorry, but we need to know a little bit more before we can really answer questions.
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Mar 01 2009
07:10:38 PM
charliestar Glider Visit charliestar's Photo Album TX, USA 100 Posts
I have 2 girls. Unfortunately, gliders smell. I take the cage outside and spray it down once a week when the weather is nice. Of course, that includes cleaning everything else that is in it as well. During winter months, I am lucky to get to clean it every 2 to 3 weeks. The odor is bearable for the first week. After that, it gets pretty bad!! Gliders are like ferets, etc. They just have a certain scent. They are not pets for everyone. If the smell is not tolerable even after cleaning the cage, then I would definitely see a vet to make sure everything is OK.
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Mar 02 2009
12:33:51 PM
WinniesMom Starting Member 8 Posts
I have had her for 4 weeks. She eats fruits, Leadbeaders mix, veggies. She is very fond on grapes and apples. I think she doesn't like the smell of clean softened fleece It wouldn't be so bad but she sleeps in them after she urinates and then she has that "perfumed" smell. She definitely has a strong personality. : )
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Mar 02 2009
02:09:56 PM
alyanne Face Hugger Visit alyanne's Photo Album FL, USA 487 Posts
If shes never been to a vet, I'd take her for fecals and smear and I'd also bring up to the doctor her smell and her unrine. Every glider should see a vet twice within the first month of having them because they can carry parasites and one day she can look and act fine, and the next day, all of sudden, she can go down hill fast. At least, thats what I've read so much on here. I have to say though, her having an odor is normal. Gliders stink. I've read though too that most gliders will pee and poo right after waking up and some don't go to the bathroom where they sleep. Mine do go in there pouches but mine are still new to my home (only about a month) and they are super freindly but I'm sure still weary about being here so mine will go where ever they feel safe. She probably doesn't like the smell of clean fleece like you said but that still doesn't mean that she shouldn't see a vet. I don't know that gliders mark there scent by pee though. I think females even have scent glands to mark but just not as bad as un-unutered males. Anyone know?
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Mar 02 2009
04:32:30 PM
widdlecat Joey GliderMap Visit widdlecat's Photo Album MO, USA 39 Posts
I think every glider will mark a little differently. When they're in a new environment, it's natural for them to want some sort of security like familiar smells. My gliders don't like to pee or poo where they sleep as long as they can help it. If they're in the bonding pouch and need to go, they either hop out, or if they're zipped in, they wiggle around and try to get out until I get the hint. Then once they're out, they do their business. Each glider will be different as to how strong they smell, since they are individuals. Just as some people smell strong when they sweat and others smell pleasant...
I actually love how my gliders smell. They remind me of the smell of deer musk and spice. I realise that a lotta people would call that an awful odor though...
If you wash everything too much, your gliders will just keep trying to mark everything more fervently. It's an instinct thing that you can't really change. Don't spray air fresheners around the cage and I don't know if there's anything truly safe to use on them. I had seen something for sale at a couple websites that say they're safe on gliders, but I'd consult your vet first.
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Mar 02 2009
05:27:10 PM
kyro298 Glider Sprinkles GliderMap Gliderpedia Editor Visit kyro298's Photo Album kyro298's Journal CO, USA 15262 Posts
I really never noticed much of an odor when I just had my two girls. I would be a little concerned if their urine smelled as strong as you describe. It's hard not to think UTI but is it a possibility at all that she is a he? Then, the strong odor would make sense.
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Mar 02 2009
05:37:46 PM
dizzysmom Goofy Gorillatoes GliderMap Visit dizzysmom's Photo Album dizzysmom's Journal IN, USA 3882 Posts
That's what I was wondering. I have 5 (4 females & 1 neutered male) and get a bit lax on cleaning their cage sometimes - but I do put in a fresh cage set every weekend. There's no smell. Even my daughter (with a nose like a bloodhound) says there's no smell. I asked if our house smells like gliders when she comes to visit.
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Mar 03 2009
10:16:05 AM
THEHYLAND Zippy Glidershorts GliderMap Visit THEHYLAND's Photo Album FL, USA 4774 Posts
If and when I get lazy I have a urine smell to. I try to wipe down the cage about every three days, but sometimes with work it ends up to be like 5 or six.
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Mar 03 2009
10:17:57 AM
kyro298 Glider Sprinkles GliderMap Gliderpedia Editor Visit kyro298's Photo Album kyro298's Journal CO, USA 15262 Posts
quote:
Originally posted by THEHYLAND
If and when I get lazy I have a urine smell to.



We're talking about the gliders, Jerry hehe
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Mar 03 2009
10:20:00 AM
THEHYLAND Zippy Glidershorts GliderMap Visit THEHYLAND's Photo Album FL, USA 4774 Posts
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Mar 03 2009
12:54:16 PM
Ahsaehr Goofy Gorillatoes GliderMap Gliderpedia Editor Visit Ahsaehr's Photo Album Ahsaehr's Journal USA 3478 Posts
The only time glider urine has ever smelled out of all of my gliders- thats 8 (Technically 10 but my joeys dont count) was when there was a problem.

Trinity's urine somewhat smelled when we first got her until the pellets got out of her system, after we had her a few weeks though it was not noticeable at all. I guess it just depends on the glider.
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Mar 03 2009
03:17:07 PM
lovely1inred Fuzzy Wuzzy GliderMap Visit lovely1inred's Photo Album 1144 Posts
I have a lone female right now (working on getting her a buddy) and she has a slight odor to her. To me it's musky and sort of apple-y, and I don't mind it. My mom doesn't so much, but she doesn't live in my room so ha! I change her pouch out once a week and wash her cage one side at a time. I had a plastic slip-cover over her cage for a little while, til I made her a dining room to throw her food around in, and the smell wasn't as noticeable, but it is dangerous to put things on/around the cage because they can pull it in and get wrapped up in it if you don't watch them closely. That's why I removed it. If I was your hubby I'd be more worried about the walls and floor than a slight odor - she can't possibly smell as bad as a litter box, yanno? Pets just come with a certain amount of smell.
Urine smell problem

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Urine smell problem