Diet is by far one of the most controversial topics in sugar glider ownership. While every good owner agrees that having a staple diet is essential, there are quite a few different staple diets to choose from. Everyone has their own opinions, beliefs and evidence to support their diet. This article is purely my experience.
I fed the TPG diet for quite a while before deciding to switch to OPHW. (I will do a whole different post about why I choose OPHW later. I still love the TPG diet and think that it is wonderful.)
While I was still feeding TPG, I made a batch of food and blended the fruits and vegetables super fine so that they were basically a smoothie instead of chunks.
This was a big mistake.
Thanks to research and some amazing glider owners who set me straight, I now know that making “smoothies” from the fruits and veggies is a big no-no.
Sugar gliders have teeth that are designed to suck the juices from fruits and vegetables. Then they spit out the rest. When I made juice out of the fruits and vegetables, it forced them to eat certain fibers that their bodies were not made to digest. This can cause intestinal blockages and constipation.
My mistake meant that Dreamer suffered. She was straining a lot and having a really hard time having bowel movements. Because of the straining, she ended up with a slight prolapse. (I will do a whole different post on her symptoms, treatment and recovery.) She was in pain. She had to have a vet visit and meds for five days.
As soon as I realized what was causing her problems, I threw out the rest of the blended mixture and gave her fruits and veggies that were in little chunks instead of juice. Within days her straining was gone and her bowel movements were better than I had seen them in months.
A good diet is so important to sugar gliders. And not only good ingredients, but how it is prepared. It’s crucial to pay attention to the little details and to listen to advice that may seem pointless at the time. Learn from me, and don’t make the same mistake that I made.
~Hattush
Comments