My sugar glider ate cork wood and is straining to poop. Help!

Thanks for reaching out about Lemon and including photos. Even though the pictures are slightly out of focus, what is observed is the penis and probable rectal prolapse. Causes are likely straining to defecate or urinate. A veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible because once the rectal tissue dries, unlikely to be saved. Trying to keep it moist with a wet paper towel might work for now but is not a treatment. Good luck.

Sorry to hear about your sister sugar glider. Definitely, if he over-ate, he could have regurgitated afterwards. If lethargy, regurgitation or anorexia persists, a common factor between the two sugar gliders is a possibility. Possible ingestion of foreign material, toxins, etc. If you concerns continue, a veterinary examination is recommended, sooner than later. These small animals have little body reserves and need to eat daily to maintain their body temperatures and health.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Shadow is unwell. Guinea pigs often hide their illness until they are very sick, so I would recommend getting him to a guinea pig-savvy vet as soon as possible in the morning. The blockage at his anus may be indicative of constipation, which may be secondary to dehydration due to some other underlying illness, such as dental pain, gut stasis, infection or cancer. The vet will perform a full physical exam, check for dehydration and fever, and may recommend further diagnostic tests such as blood work or x-rays to determine the underlying cause of illness. At minimum, they can try to rehydrate him through fluid therapy, and prescribe pain medication and a special diet to help maintain his nutrition. In the meantime, try to offer him a variety of his favourite foods (hay, veggies, fruits) in order to keep up his strength and hydration. Keep him in a warm, non-drafty area. You can try to gently remove some of the impacted feces using warm water and a soft cloth. However, if he resists or struggles, I would not continue trying, as stress may worsen his condition. I hope this helps, and that Shadow feels better soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Zippy. If he is bloated, care needs to be taken on syringe feeding as to not force it. Treats and vegetable should be withheld, especially if fairly sugary (carrots, yams). Try offering water, as this could possibly soften minor blockages but if his condition worsens today or is not improved overnight, a veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), intestinal infections, parasites or blockages are all possible. Good luck.

Feel free to ask, it might take a while until you get an answer as i do not know how many exotic vet specialists we have online and if they also have some knowledge about specific behavior problems in sugar gliders.

Poor Sweeney! If you don't know his gender and he is acting constipated or unable to pass any stool at all, it would be best to seek veterinary care ASAP. There are several possibilities such as actual constipation, a blockage in the GI tract, something stuck, or, if he is actually a girl, a stuck egg (egg-bound). You may be able to feel something stuck by feeling in front of his vent. In some cases, gentle massage can help whatever is stuck pass, however if there is an egg stuck you run the risk of accidentally breaking it while still inside and causing more issues. Veterinary care is best to try and remove any blockages and find the initial cause for it in the first place, such as illness or nutritional problems.

Thanks for reaching out about Courage and including a photo. Blood in the stool should be investigated by a veterinarian, as soon as possible. Infectious colitis, intestinal parasites, ingested foreign bodies are all possible. Maintain good hydration for now. Good luck.