Sugar gliders are among the best low-maintenance household pets. They are easy to take care of, and you wouldn’t need to worry about buying them expensive products or treating fleas and tick infestations.
However, there are some things you need to know to keep them healthy. Like, do sugar gliders need shots? Or do they need regular vet visits? Most house pets need to have shots periodically, so it’d be wise to ask. Let’s find out!
Do Sugar Gliders Need Shots?
Sugar gliders don’t need routine shots like other house pets. However, they should have an annual visit to a veterinarian for a complete check-up.
Vaccines and shots are not part of your sugar glider’s routine medical care. They don’t even require regular flea prevention products.
On top of that, they don’t need anti-parasite treatments, and they’re even known for being non-susceptible to heartworm disease, a common problem for pets in the US.
Why Don’t Sugar Gliders Need Shots?
Pets mostly get regular shots to prevent diseases from getting passed between them or from them to people, and vice versa. In general, diseases like rabies and distemper in animals can be pretty fatal. So, pets get shots to minimize their chances of spreading these diseases.
Contrary to most household pets, it’s very unlikely for sugar gliders to carry the type of diseases that need to be vaccinated.
They don’t even carry rabies or heartworms, which are the most common diseases in house pets. Hence, they don’t need any shots or vaccinations.
The best way to prevent your sugar glider from getting sick is to make time for routine vet visits. That way, you can catch any disease early on before it develops further.
When Should You Take Your Sugar Glider to a Veterinarian?
Thinking that the only time you should go to the veterinarian is when your sugar glider is sick is a big mistake.
Sugar gliders should have annual vet visits for regular check-ups, just like any other pet.
Regular check-ups can keep your sugar glider healthy by ensuring that they are parasite free and there is nothing wrong with them. Most importantly, it will help diagnose any disease early on, making them easier to treat.
The best thing to do is find a good veterinarian who has plenty of experience with exotic animals. Schedule check-ups every six months or an entire year, depending on your pet’s health condition.
Signs Your Sugar Glider May Not Be Well
Keeping a healthy sugar glider isn’t always as easy as you might think. The fact that sugar gliders don’t need any shots doesn’t mean that they aren’t prone to some diseases.
Sugar gliders tend to show some abnormal behaviors when they are sick, and some of them may be more noticeable than others. Therefore, getting to know their common behaviors is a must. Knowing when and what to look for is also very important.
Here are some signs that your sugar glider may need medical attention.
Being Low on Energy
One of the first things glider owners notice when their pet is sad or sick is that they stop playing.
If your glider is suddenly a lot quieter than usual or doesn’t want to play with its toys, that is a sign that something could be off.
Sugar gliders are usually very energetic. They love to play, jump around, and make noises.
If your glider suddenly sleeps a lot or becomes much more mellow than usual, then something is probably wrong.
Lethargy often appears on gliders when they’re too cold. Check the temperature in the cage in that case. They may also get lethargic when they have a bacterial infection or when they’re dehydrated.
Other gliders can lose their energy because of an injury. In all cases, you should have it checked out.
Losing Their Appetite
If your sugar glider isn’t drinking or doesn’t want to eat, that is also an obvious sign that something is wrong.
They can easily get dehydrated if they don’t drink enough water.
A low appetite can be a sign of depression, as well as other diseases, like internal parasites and swollen gums, or broken teeth.
Shaking and Shivers
It’s pretty normal for your sugar glider to shake a bit or shiver right after waking up. But if you notice that the shivering keeps going for a while, especially in their back legs, that might indicate a calcium deficiency.
Such issues can develop into severe conditions, so you need to get them to the vet right away.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is one of the obvious signs of sickness in many animals. This applies to sugar gliders as well. If their coat isn’t in the best shape, or if you begin to see bald spots and thin patches, that can be a sign of a fungal infection or a parasite like mites.
How to Keep Gliders Healthy?
Sugar gliders are generally very resilient, and they don’t get sick often. However, they can get sick like any other animal.
Keeping them healthy and happy is easy with little care and some treats, like getting their appetite up with some fruit juice when you notice they’re not eating.
Make sure to always keep them warm and give them enough small blankets as their little bodies can’t generate enough heat on their own. When the temperature gets too low, they can show severe signs of sickness.
Also, avoid chlorinated tap water, as any spike in the chlorine level can harm your sugar glider.
Final Thoughts
To sum things up, sugar gliders don’t need any shots or vaccination for overall health or to get a county license. Unlike other house pets, they’re easy to take care of.
However, regular vet visits are crucial to protect and treat sugar gliders from any potential diseases that they might be prone to.
Also, always keep an eye on your sugar glider to be able to notice any behavioral changes or a decrease in their food portions, as well as their energy level.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.