Sugar Glider Cages & Zinc Poisoning

Sugar glider cages that are veterinarian-approved rarely present a problem for sugar glider pet owners. Zinc poisoning generally is a result of poorly coated cages, cages not intended for sugar gliders or cages that lack coating altogether. The best method of zinc poisoning prevention is to purchase vet-approved cages that guarantee the safety of your sugar glider.

  1. Cage Considerations

    • When purchasing a sugar glider cage, there are several considerations in selecting which cage is right for your sugar glider. To start with, consider whether the cage is made for a pet sugar glider or whether it is a cage designed for a different pet. If you are purchasing a sugar glider cage, examine its quality. Cheaply made cages are a danger even if they are coated because the coating and cage structure will deteriorate in just a few months, exposing the zinc underneath the coating.

    How Zinc Poisoning Happens

    • Unlike other pets that have destructive natures, such as hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs, sugar gliders do not chew on their cages. However, sugar gliders rub, walk and climb on their cage bars frequently; additionally, they clean and groom themselves just as often. For sugar gliders living in a cage with a zinc coating, the result of climbing is zinc residue left on their coat; therefore, when sugar gliders clean, they simply ingest the zinc residue left on their coat and skin.

    Prevention

    • The single most effective way to prevent zinc poisoning in sugar gliders is to purchase a cage that is vet-approved and/or from a company that guarantees the safety of its cages. Most pet cage coatings are powdered or painted on the cage; neither is long-lasting, and both wear off with time. Many sugar glider owners have found that medical-grade epoxy-finished cages are 100 percent safe for pets; however, expect to pay quite a bit more for this type of cage as compared with cheaper or less expensive models.

    Solutions

    • One of the biggest problems with purchasing a new cage for your sugar glider is knowing for a fact the cage is safe. If you are in doubt about your current cage, simply take the cage, or a piece of the cage, to your veterinarian with your purchase information. A veterinarian that specializes in sugar gliders or works with small animals should be able to determine whether your existing cage is safe for your sugar glider.

    The Glider Safe Trademark

    • Another alternative to cage selection is to see if your cage or potential cage is certified with the Glider Safe trademark. This trademark is used because of the problem that many cages sold for sugar gliders are actually cages designed for other small pets, thus making them unsafe for sugar gliders. To address this problem, sugar glider cage makers have come up with the Glider Safe trademark as a solution to prevent the selling of noncertified cages to new glider owners.

    Warning Signs

    • Zinc poisoning attacks the digestive system first; if your think your sugar glider is showing signs of digestive discomfort, such as not eating and/or watery stool, contact your veterinarian immediately.