weird noises

Question
Hi, I have a female sugar glider, she is 9.5 months old and i own her since 1.5 months ago. She started making weird noises today, and I am afraid she is sick. it sounds like she is trying to bark, but every time she inhales it sounds like sh-sh-sh if it was only one "sh" i would say it sounds like she is sneezing, but i also thought her nose might be stuffed. I live in Arizona, and the air is dry, so I bought a humidifier for her tonight, and also a heater. please let me know how it sounds, and also if you can recommend on the best way to keep her warm, because i bought an electrical heater which i think may be dangerous to keep on all night long. Thanks.

Answer
Dear yaniv:

I live in Arizona, too.  I don't use a humidifier for my gliders, but I can't see that it will hurt.  If it has been cold where she is, it is a very good idea to have the heater.  Sugar gliders should stay between 70-85 degrees. The recommended way to keep them warm is by using a ceramic heat emitter.  

Barking noises and the sh-sh-sh noises in and of themselves are pretty normal noises for sugar gliders.  But it bothers me when you say she makes a noise when she inhales.  

Based on that alone, I would take her to a vet to have her checked out.  If you live in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, you can see a list of vets on my website.  www.affinitysugargliers.com  

If she is otherwise healthy, sugar gliders make barking noises to locate other sugar gliders and to sound a warning.  We don't even know all of the reasons that they bark, but because it sounds like you have a single glider, she is probably trying to locate other gliders.  The sh-sh-sh noise made in combination with slightly raising her tail may indicate she is constipated.  I would have the vet check this baby out.  It is always good to have a baseline.  Make sure they do a fecal float to check for parasites.  

Best of luck with this baby.  

Laurie