Enra Joey  49 Posts
Hello,
My younger glider is currently at animal clinic, dying.
I first notice something was really wrong on sunday evening. As I went to the glider's cage, he was on it's back, breathing heavily. Taking it, I noticed he was very cold to the touch.
(retrospectively, I could have noticed a few hours earlier when I took it with me for a nap. He was mostly fine but slower than usual. At the time I simply thought he simply was sleepy and not used to wake up during the day, since even though I work at home, I very rarely bother it during daytime)
Too late to call pet doctor, I kept it with me in the bed. I didn't sleep that night, checking often whether he died yet as he looked like he was about to. Sometime he would seem better, accept to eat and drink tiny bits from syringe, moving around, not being so noisy at breathing. Most of the time, he just lied on its back, refusing food, getting up only to vomit in my hand.
He made it through the morning and I got it to the pet doctor.
Since I didn't have appointment (there is 3+ weeks waiting list), all they agree to do is keeping it under oxygen tent until they have time to look at it. Later that day, they call me to explain he was dehydrated, has diarrhea (with blood inside), and some severe lung problem. They suspect the cause to be over-heating.
The stubborn little thing is still alive after 2 days and night at the clinic, (with no improvement whatsoever though), the doctors themselves seem surprised.
I finally got a phone call today asking me to take it back home, as they explained there is nothing that can be done when a sugar glider get sick. So basically they are sending it home to die, after charging an hefty bill. When I asked if he was in pain and if they recommend putting it down, I've been explained they can't know not make any recommendation.
It's the only "exotic pet" doctor in the city, and even to them a glider seem to be too exotic. (they are not native to my country)
Now, I am wondering how he got too hot and how to prevent it for my other glider. Sure it's hot here, but the room they are in have AC set at 27` (celcius) during the day. No AC during the night though as it is not that warm.
They drink for water bottle, with two bottles inside the cage because I didn't think the first water bottle we got was so good - it kept leaking - and got a second one, but didn't remove it and refill both every day since that younger glider never seemed to care about the new one. Point is: drink is always available and they know how to use it.
Another thing is, the glider was very young and apparently the younger they are the more they are sensitive to temperature. All the petshop here sell them much much too young. The salesperson mention he was "few weeks old" when we got it, and excluding the case he was basically the size of a wine bottle's cork. At the moment, he is between 2 and 3 months old.
Anyhow, I am getting home in a few hours with a dying and possibly suffering sugar glider, with basically no information or suggestion from the pet doctor on what to do.
Is there a way to tell if he is suffering ? Reading that, do you believe there is even a small possibility he could make it ? Should I ask the doctor to put him down ?
Any advice appreciated.
Enra Joey 49 Posts I got back from the pet hospital without my glider. They are now sure the cause of it all is a heat stroke, and the other symptoms are caused to damaged immune system. They still believe the damage is probably permanent. I asked them how much pain he is going through to help me decide whether I should put it down. They answered the pain is probably high due to the difficult way he breath but that it is irrelevant. They believe what matter most is if he is willing to fight, and so far he is. So I asked them to keep trying their best for a couple more days unless he shows he gives up. When I saw it he looked terrible. Lying on it's back like dying, with oxygen tube on him. He did vomit everything he ate since sunday. He still weakly tried to grab my finger. He still walked and climbed over me, from my knees to the top of my shoulder like he always does, as if he wanted things to get back to normal. Then tried to climb down inside my shirt's pocket, but he was too weak and felt down. He laid down on me some time, then got up to do the trick I've been teaching him, standing on back legs and rolling backward. I tried to gave him the usual treat for when he does that - a small piece of mango - but he did not care at all to eat of course. He was covered in pee and *. Very thin, (50g according to the doctor). I stayed about an hour. He would just lay down for a few minutes, then make effort to stand on its leg, walk a few steps, and flatten himself again. I asked the doctors to put him to sleep if they believe there is no way he can make it through. They recommended I don't ask them to use morphine as it's very bad for such a little animal and that if he go so far as really needing it then it's better to let it die altogether. I agreed. So, not dead yet but not much hope he can recover either. Enra Joey 49 Posts The last picture I have of him: 
Enra Joey 49 Posts Candy, you obviously care very much about gliders, and I understand that is the reason you write that. But please don't give fuel to those you would call "us" extreme zealots to push their "glider-can-just-eat-cat-food agenda" and would deny gliders need things such as proper cage space, stimulation, time, special diets, companions. When first reading about gliders, I had to decide whether I would believe chinese salespeople speech, ASGV, and community like here. Want to know what I first thought and believed ? it wasn't here, it was asgv. Not knowing better, I was under the impression that both local shops (saying just dog or cat food is enough, a small bird cage was fine, no companion was needed and the like...) and glidergossip were extremely biased while ASGV seemed like more reasonable, moderate peoples. Of course I was wrong. But maybe if some members of this community were more reasonable and considered enjoyment of the owner/practicality over a theoretical perfect environment for gliders ASGV would have had such an easy time convincing the like of me. I work sitting in front of a computer all day without much exercise, damaging my eyes in the process. I take cold shower because I can't afford hot water. I drink too much when doing business because it is the way to do business here. I don't sleep nearly enough as I should. I guess if you were my owner you'd be horrified that I do such unnatural things that are not good for homo sapiens and would reduce my lifespan. So yes, I do things that are not the best possible choices for my gliders. I let two animals that seems to be going all fine together stay together while I know the possibility of a fatal accident is always there, the same way I know whenever I cross the road a drunk driver may roll over me at that very moment. And yes, oh so shocking, I made a smelly glider with poo stain take a shower, not only for him but also, *gasp*, for my own enjoyment of a clean little beast. Yet I believe I take good care enough of my gliders. I was given an apathetic, easily scared, yellowish-brownish cracked-fur glider that is already getting better black-and-white colors, is more curious, active, relax animal which is starting to have better looking fur and ears. I make effort into a varied diet, spend time with them, provide proper equipment, and am not shy to pay for my sick one to stay 5+ days into animal clinic after sending them there as soon as I could with no afterthought for the cost. So back to the topic: sure, there is always a possibility that he got something from cohabitation with the hedgehog, it can't be 100% ruled out. However, I believe a team of doctors specialized in both hedgehog and gliders, to which I described everything I could as completely as I could and whom are keeping and observing the glider for 3+ days now, would come up with a more trustable diagnosis than someone on a forum only having elementary information I could give through a foreign language. They've seen hundreds of gliders suffering heat strokes and described to me precisely how the symptoms are related. They thought unlikely anything from the hedgehog, which I also brought for examination just in case, could be the reason. They have seen example of such co-housing without any long term problems, as well as examples of tragedies. They do not recommend it and advised me a separation would be safer but believe that as long as the cage setup is acceptable, the chances of any problems after a month of successful cohabitation are slim as each animals include other(s) in their routine life. This message is not so directed to you as it is toward a minority of over-zealous glider lovers on communities such as it one. While you guys only have the glider's interest at heart, you may be counterproductive by steering some owners away from responsible communities on the profit of mill-breeders communication experts like the PPP galaxy. Enra Joey 49 Posts Well, he is dead now. Stayed about a week at the pet's clinic under constant care, I instructed the doctor to let it go after its second seizure and loss of consciousness. A necropsy was done and confirm it's nothing contagious so there is no risk for its cagemate. It indeed was caused by heat. According to vets, Gliders are illegal to own in my country anyway. (which doesn't mean there is a risk of them being caught, its just a matter of bribing any cop or official who would realize that). Even though most pet shop sells them and many pet doctor advertise their speciality to be gliders, it actually isn't a sensible decision to have one here. The weather is much too hot and they need to be kept in AC room. Many young gliders die the same way as mine during their first summer, due to the combination of them being vulnerable because young, and the owner being unaware of their intolerance to prolonged high temperature. I will try and get a glider about the same age as mine so he doesn't get lonely, and won't replace them after they pass.
Enra Joey 49 Posts quote:
Originally posted by AubreyBarto
I'm sorry but this seems like you are looking at them as a hassle. If you are not dedicated to owning a Sugar Glider, it may be best to sell the one you have now IMO. I am really not trying to be mean, I just want you to think of all of your options.
I love having them. They are simply not meant to live in that kind of environment/weather. Even a pet doctor specialised in exotic animal, whose direct interest is too have customer owning glider, told me there shouldn't be any in southern china, as most eventually die this way. Had I known that they should not be made to live in that kind of environment I would not had bought one in the first place, but now that I have one I figure he won't be any worst with me, who knows how crucial temperature is, than with anyone else living in the same region anyway. The best I can do is never to buy one from a pet shop again. During summer, the temperature can go as low as 35 during rainy night and 50ish degrees during the day. The AC in my office is always set at 28 degrees and the cage is now inside it during daytime. sugarglidelover Starting Member  NY, USA 3 Posts they are not useually up during the day if they are then sumthing is wrong.sumtimes they get up to nibble during the day or go potty thats it.u should peak in on them make sure there doing ok or make sure there not to hot or not cold.Im not Critisizing you.im sure there were signs ahead of time before he got that bad should of been brought to sumone then.and if my baby was suffering that bad i wouldnt make him suffer more if there was nuthing possible they could do. if they offerd pain medication if that would help in any way which it would to the glider then id do it.and being that sick i wouldnt have let him try and climb me or do tricks knowing the condition they are in cuse i know that would only make it worse for him or even if he tried to.i would of just consoled him and told him what a good glider they were and u love them . .even if they have a lil fight in them sumtimes its better for them to not let them suffer. ither way the hole thing is very sad . vets can be idiots along with ppl not everyone is right or wrong not every vet knows everything about them some do things others would say are wrong and viceversa in the ends its whats best for the animal.i dont think gliders should be called IT ..they have feelings they care they feel pain they are human jut like us they cant talk but they tell with there eyes or noises etc. should always check to make sure there not too hot or cold. and to the other person given there glider a shower for there amusement is wrong.u should have more than one water bottle in the cage more if you have two and should be clean water everyday. i personlly think a mini dish with water in it its better than a water bottle but to each there own.and weather drink is always avalible and no how to use it isnt apoint. sumtimes dishes are easier for them to drink out of and wutever is easier for them is best.i think the last thing aperson neeed s to hear when ther epet is dyein about the heddgehog there next to.you should be honard she shared a picture of her baby with us. in any case im sorry for your loss
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I am glad it wasn't due to the hedgehog. 