We all really need to be prepared for a medical emergency. Sugar gliders hide their illnesses very well - until it is almost to late.

Be Prepared

Have some money set aside for emergencies or make certain your credit card has some extra on it. You can also apply for Care Credit. Emergencies are not cheap.

You must have an exotic vet that sees sugar gliders on a 24 hour emergency basis. If you don't have one then find one now before you have a need for them. Have the emergency numbers ready and waiting. Don't be one of the people who come here yelling "help" my glider is sick or dying. WE ARE NOT VETS. A vet may not always available - so you need to be somewhat educated in what to do until you can get your sugar glider to a vet. And have the supplies you need on hand to do so. Do you have phone numbers of glider knowledgeable people you can call? We will help you if we can, but please realize that there are times when a vet visit is the only thing you can do.

Use common sense. If your gut reaction is to go to the vet - then do so.

Emergency Preparedness Kit

Here are some items that you should have available at all times.

• Emergency Phone Numbers (of vets,((more than one)) emergency clinics and glider knowledgeable people)
• Map and directions (to emergency vet or hospital)
• Pedialyte (for dehyration)
• Syringes for feeding (no needles) 2 of 1cc and 2 of 3cc (for administering medications and feeding)
• French Catheter #5 (for use in force feeding - used with syringes)
• Wombaroo Marsupial Milk Replacer or Esbilac Puppy Formula (for force feeding with needles syringe)
• [COLLAR E-Collars]
• Roll of Vet Tape (the kind that sticks to itself for wrapping wounds)
• Mole Skin (with sticky backing to put on edge of e-collars to make them comfy)
• Q-tips (for applying ointments, cleaning wounds, stimulating glider to urinate or poo)
• Cotton Balls (for cleaning wounds)
• Gauze Pads (for dressing wounds)
• 2 Small Hand warmers (to help keep glider warm when ill- what a hunter would put in their gloves or socks. They will give up to 10 hours of heat)
• Small pair of scissors (to cut mole skin, vet wrap, e-collars, Straws, string entanglement, etc.)
• Tweezers
• Nail Clippers (for trimming nails)
• Styptic Powder (or corn starch for nail bleeding)
• QuickDerm used for wound healing. Purchase from vet
• Small tube of Neosporin (an antibiotic for use in treating wounds. Only use Neosporin with Pain Relief with an E-collar as it has a numbing effect on any body part it may come in contact with)
• Sterile 0.9 Saline Solution (for cleaning wounds and sub-q for dehydration)
• Saline Solution (for flushing eyes - Bausch&Lomb Sensitive Eyes Plus is a good choice)
• Large, Clean Fleece Blankets (store in zip lock bags to keep clean - this is to help keep an ill glider warm)
• Bonding Pouch or Small Animal Carrier (for taking glider to vet)
• Large Milkshake Straw (for use with tail injuries. McDonalds large straws are best)
• K-Y Jelly (for retracting the genitalia)
• Pair of Magnifying Glasses (sugar gliders are so small, especially their feet and nails. Makes it a little easier to see their tiny features)

• Some of these things will have to be purchased from your vet - just about any vet would have them on stock or could order for you.

There are other things that can be added - but the above should help in an emergency situation. Get a plastic box with tight fitting lid to keep everything in and try to store close to the sugar glider cage or someplace you can quickly and easily find it. Be certain to check expiration dates occasionally. Good rule of thumb is to check the emergency kit supplies twice a year when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Replace anything that is expired.

This may seem extreme - but if you ever have an emergency, you will be glad you are somewhat prepared. Having these items and knowing what to do with them could save your sugar glider's life.

Information of perparing for natural disasters: [http://www.sugarglider.com/gliderpedia/index.asp?NaturalDisasterEmergencyPreparedness ]