10/03/2024
Why Do Sugar Gliders Smell Bad, And What You Can Do About It
The Sugar Glider Scent
Like other social species, a sugar glider’s scent is vital in communicating with other gliders. Males, especially, begin to release a more pungent odor during mating season as a signal of their virility and willingness to tango with the ladies. Female gliders also have scent glands, but these are fewer in number than males, and they are less likely to scent-mark around their environment.
While it is possible to decrease the pungency of this scent, be aware that it will never be possible to eliminate it completely. A sugar glider’s scent is a perfectly normal part of their physiology
Possible causes of foul odor in Sugar Gliders
Poorly Formulated Diet
All sugar-bear parents are likely aware that diet is the most punctilious aspect of keeping a glider. A high-protein diet containing high amounts of meat or insects can increase urea production, resulting in an increased kick to your glider’s droppings. Therefore, ensure that your glider’s diet consists of approximately 50% pellets, 25% fresh fruit and vegetables, and 25% protein.
Another diet-related cause of the foul odor is diarrhea. Diarrhea may be caused by the sudden introduction of new food, feeding spoiled food, or parasites. A sugar glider’s droppings should always be well-formed. If your glider has diarrhea, book a veterinary appointment, as diarrhea can quickly dehydrate an animal this small.
Scent marking
Male sugar gliders have more scent glands than females (on their head, chest, and around the ge***al area) and, therefore, naturally have a stronger scent than females, especially during the breeding season, which occurs in Spring and Summer.
During this period, sugar gliders may scent mark more than usual, creating an increased body odor and stronger scent around their enclosure. While it may seem intuitive to rectify this by thoroughly cleaning all toys, bedding, nesting boxes, etc., be aware that by obliterating a glider’s scent from their environment, they will be further motivated to scent-mark to re-establish their scent. Instead, clean half the objects in your glider’s enclosure at a time to ensure that some of their scents remain in the cage, and they won’t feel the need to scent mark “new” objects in their cage strongly.
Fear
When frightened, sugar gliders may produce a white malodourous substance from the glands around the cloaca. This behavior is called “skunking” by some pet owners. If you notice this discharge frequently, further investigation should be done to identify and rectify the cause of this anxiety in your glider.
This discharge may be expected in the early stages of bonding with your glider but should resolve once your glider is well-bonded and feels safe.
Inadequate Cage Cleaning
F***s and soiled blankets/ bedding must be removed daily from your glider’s cage. In addition, consider litter training your glider, as this will make cage cleaning easier and decrease the build-up of odors in the cage. This will be further explained below.
Regardless of whether your glider is litter trained or not, the enclosure should be deep cleaned with hot water and dish soap/vinegar or a veterinary-approved detergent at least every two weeks.
Credit to: petvettips.com
