Sugar glider deep sleep concern!

Question

Gizmo   QUESTION: Since Gizmo's operation(neutered) a month ago, we noticed that he occasionally (only at night, and only when he lies on my chest while being pampered), seems to go into a very deep sleep. We have a video clip taken with a cellphone - unfortunately not the best quality - for you to be able to see exactly what happens.



This is the sequence of events and can be seen on the video clip:

1. I will pamper him by stroking his back (we call this "spa time"). I have been doing this for the past year.

2. He will lay flat-out, his arms and legs like that of a frog.

3. His body will make spasm like movements, only now and then.

4. His eyes will be half opened.

5. I can lift his foot, head, turn him around, lift his body, etc, but he does not respond. He does not respond to hearing his name either.

6. After lifting up his body about two times, he will suddenly wake from this deep sleep.

7. When he wakes up, it seems as he does not know where he is. He looks startled. As if he does not know why we are bothering him.



Interestingly enough, he never has this experience while lying in his hammock - when we talk to him during the day or night while he is in his hammock, the hammock will shake as to say "Hello, I am here" or he will peep out of the hammock to see what we are up to.



He has been laying with me (I keep him against my body) every day for the past year and he has never done this.



Gizmo is healthy, he runs on his wodent wheel (Wobust size), he eats his lead beaters mixture, he eats fruit, worms, all healthy things.  



Do we need to be concerned about this or is it normal?


ANSWER: Liezl,

I don't see a link to your video.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things for your Sugar Glider.  The only time I have seen this kind of trance behavior was with a rescued glider with advanced hind-end paralysis.  This should not be happening with Gizmo, since you feed him well and include calcium and protein in his diet.   

Most glider issues are related to diet or stress.  Since his diet is good, he may be suffering from stress.  Does he have a glider companion?  Since gliders are social animals, they do better when they live with another glider or two.  Human companionship really can't make up for living with one of his own species.  Perhaps his neutering changed something within, causing him to suddenly need this companionship?  Have there been any other changes in his environment?

I'm sorry I don't really have an answer for you.  I suggest you watch Gizmo carefully for other changes in his behavior or habits.  I am not a vet, so I suggest you have him seen if this odd behavior continues or becomes more frequent.  

I hope this helps.  Please keep in touch.

Betty


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Gizmo and his brother Boesman was neutered exactly one month ago by a vet
specializing in exotic pets. We went for a follow up visit about 2 weeks
after the operation when we fetched Boesman from the vet (Boesman was
naughty and opened his wound and had to spend some time in ICU). During this visit we discussed the deep sleep occurrence with the vet and she thoroughly checked Gizmo but found nothing out of the ordinary. As a precaution she treated him for parasites by giving him Flagyl for 5 days, 2x per day. My husband phoned her about a week ago to discuss this issue and she feels that his calcium intake is adequate. I will give you details of his exact diet below.

Let me assure you, Gizmo is NOT like this all the time. He is an active glider. He loves his hammock and his cage. It is only at night, when he receives a lot of pampering that this deep sleep occurs. He is a healthy boy, very alert, very affectionate and does not bite. He is not stressed and we heard from numerous glider owners, pet shop owners and vets that his fur is in excellent condition.

It is interesting to know that this deep sleep issue only started since his operation a month ago. For the year before that he has had normal behavior and we sticked to the diet at below since we got him. Note that we got the new sugar glider (Boesman) 1.5 month ago and that we are still introducing them to each other.

Gizmo's and Boesman's diet, as recommended by Gizmo's breeder
(www.xpet.co.za) and their vet:

Lead beaters mixture:
2 Cups Nestum baby cereal
2 Cups apple juice 100% pure (we no longer use apple juice but papaya)
1/2 cup honey
2 boiled eggs with shells
1 tsp calcium powder
1tsp Beefee taps (Bayer)
Liquidize all ingredients. Pour into ice trays and freeze.
We give them approximately 1/2 cube of lead beaters mixture each with 1/2 a cube of veggie mix and 1/2 a cube of fruit mix.

Also at night, they get:
Several fresh pieces of apple (red or yellow)
1-2 grapes (not peeled but pits taken out)a
Carrot (2-3 small pieces)
2-3 small pieces of pear
Fresh papaya (2-3 small pieces)
6 live small meal worms each (Gizmo did not want to eat live meal worms when he was younger. We then gave him imported tinned meal worms and silk worms).

Every other night they will get 2-3 mealie pits each.
Fresh apple juice and water mixture (more apple juice than water).
Every third night we will give them a pinch of acacia gum powder mixed into their lead beaters mixture.
Once a month we will give them a small piece of cucumber, berries.
Sometimes I will mix Purity baby food sweet potato flavor into their lead
beaters mixture. They do not want to eat the raw sweet potato.

In the mornings we will give them a drop of sweetened low fat strawberry flavor yoghurt each.

We ALWAYS wash their foods thoroughly.

Gizmo does NOT have any of the following symptoms of hind leg paralysis
(http://www.suzsugargliders.com/hindlegparalysis.htm):
*   Severe shaking
*   Apparent dizziness
*   Lack of coordination
*   Lethargy
*   Limping
*   Weakness
*   Loss of use of hind legs (dragging one or both legs)
*   Swollen toes and/or fingers
*   Sudden broken bones with no apparent cause
*   Joint stiffness
*   Sudden, inexplicable weight loss

Signs and Symptoms:
http://www.sugargliderinfo.org/sugar_glider_medical_terms_d2h.htm

. Paralysis
. Lethargy
. Limping
. Fractured bones
. Tremors
. Weakness
. Loss of use of hind legs or favoring one leg
. Poor gripping ability

I was alarmed to read that apple juice is a no-go. We changed from apple juice to papaya and berry juices in their diet.  

Gizmo's vet said that she contacted some vets in America who said that it
seems to be a sleeping fit disorder but that it has not been identified with sugar gliders before, only other animals.

Please note that these deep sleep occurrences only happen once or twice
every night and only when he lays on my chest as explained above. Other than that, his behavior is as normal as he has been for the past year -
energetic, loving, etc.

Thank you for the help! We are really concerned about Gizmo and truly hopes that this is not a neurological problem.

Liezl  

Answer
Liezl,

Thank you so much for the details.  I'll have to admit I am perplexed.  

Gliders do go through hormonal changes after neutering.  Could this have had some impact?

I'm glad you have consulted with a veterinarian about this problem.  My question is whether or not you should avoid having this happen.   Ask the vet if the episodes should be avoided.  Does it harm him in any way?    

Keep up the great care-giving, and hopefully this puzzling problem will not impact Gizmo's quality of life.  Again, be observant and take action if you see significant changes.  Please let me know if you find answers.

Good luck to you.  Please keep in touch.

Betty