I had only had my gliders for a month or so, when I noticed that Dreamer was acting strangely. She would hiss and hunch over while trying to go poop. Over the next few days, it continued to get worse and I could see that she was in a lot of pain and having a lot of trouble.
Insert me running to the computer to figure out why she was constipated and how I could get her unstuck.
After hours of research and me panicking that she would die from an intestinal blockage (told you I was a worrywart), I figured out what was causing her constipation. I had recently made a few batches of their food and in one of them, I had added too much apple, which can cause constipation (there is a lot of pectin in apple skin). Other causes include a diet too low in fiber and liquids.
I thought she might be dehydrated, but she was drinking well and showing no other signs of dehydration. (SUCH A RELIEF TO ME because it is incredibly dangerous!) Several websites suggested feeding her high liquid foods like watermelon or grape or citrus fruits. Some recommended giving apple juice or small amounts of olive oil. I tried giving her water-filled fruits, but she didn’t improve much. She could go to the bathroom, but it took her a long time and it was very painful for her.
So I kept researching. A lot of people said that pumpkin puree (WITHOUT ANY SPICES OR SWEETNERS) helped. We got a huge can of it and I started giving it to her. And it worked! She was able to go quickly and well again. I was so relieved!
Let me stress again how very important a good diet is to the health and well-being of your sugar glider. So many health problems can be avoided by feeding them a healthy diet. There are tons of diets out there and everyone has a different opinion on which one is best. Do your research. Hear the arguments from both sides. And don’t settle for something that isn’t best, just because it is cheap.
~Hattush
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