One of the situations you may find yourself in if you own a sugar glider is that it pees or poops on you. This isn’t always done deliberately. Sugar gliders are animals. They’ll pee and poop anywhere.
However, sometimes it may be a sign that they haven’t completely bonded with you yet. They may think of you as nothing different than their cage or a table. As such, it doesn’t matter if they use the bathroom on you.
However, once they bond to you, there’s less likely a chance of them peeing on you. This is because they recognize you.
Another reason is that they may have just been fed or watered. Like any creature, they’ll need to use the bathroom shortly after eating and drinking. Handling your sugar glider after they ate a meal or drank some water opens yourself to the chance of being pooped or peed on.
How Do You Know If Your Sugar Glider Likes You?
There are a few ways that sugar gliders tell you that they love you. The first is that they’re less panicky about being handled by you. Babies who haven’t bonded are going to put up a lot of noise and fuss when you’re attempting to handle them.
Yet if you consistently handle your sugar glider, eventually they’ll come to recognize who you are and know that you’re safe.
Another way to know if your sugar glider likes you is if they fall asleep in your pocket. Because they’re programmed to find tiny and warm areas safe and comforting, they’ll likely relax inside of your pocket. If they’re still panicking inside of your pocket after a time, then it’s either because they don’t recognize you or because the pocket isn’t tight enough.
If your sugar glider is peeing on you, then it’s likely because you haven’t bonded fully to it yet. This can take time.
Can Sugar Gliders Wear Diapers?
Like other animals, some pet owners decide to put diapers on them. There are diapers for dogs, cats, and even sugar gliders. Yet just because they exist doesn’t mean you should use them. Diapers can cause a lot of problems for sugar gliders.
For one, unless you consistently clean your glider after wearing a diaper, you may make them develop a UTI or other urinary diseases. That’s because their poop and pee are constantly being rubbed against their bodies.
They might also just make a mess. Because sugar gliders are jumping around, the diaper may not support their body. As a result, you’ll have a diaper leaking their waste all over, anyway.
The healthiest choice for your sugar glider is to potty train them. You can decrease the chances of them developing a rash or other conditions. You’ll also find that they’re likely a lot happier.
Can You Potty Train A Sugar Glider?
It is possible to train your glider to use an area to use the bathroom. However, you have to help them. A sugar glider will not use the bathroom in areas where they sleep or play. They also won’t use the bathroom where they eat.
However, males will mark their territory in other areas of the cage.
To keep marking to a minimum, you can physically remove your sugar glider from its cage and show them where to use the bathroom. By consistently encouraging them to use the bathroom, you can enjoy them in your pocket or on your body without worrying about them using the bathroom on you.
How To Train Your Sugar Glider Not To Pee Or Poop When You Carry It Around In Your Pocket All Day
Potty training requires a few steps. These steps need to be followed daily to ensure your glider knows exactly when and where they should use the bathroom. As they grow older, they’ll need less assistance from you. This video gives a thorough explanation of how to properly potty train your sugar glider.
Those steps are summarized in the following:
1. Prepare an Area
You’ll want to put together an area where your sugar glider is going to use the bathroom. It should be outside of the cage for easy cleaning. Typically a newspaper makes a great surface for them to use the bathroom.
You’ll also want to have unscented wet wipes.
2. Wipe Bottom with Wet Wipes
Using your wet wipes, gently run them along the bottom of the glider. You can also stroke their tummy. These actions help encourage their bowel system. Every time your glider wakes up, you’ll want to make sure it uses the bathroom since this is the moment that they particularly want to use the bathroom.
3. Move Then Hand-To-Hand
After they have relieved themselves initially, they’re not typically empty. This is how you can make sure they’re entirely empty. That will allow you to place them in your pocket all day without any accidents.
Let the glider crawl from each hand. This exercise further stimulates their bowels. You may need to let them run from each hand for three to five minutes.
4. Another Round of Wipes
To make extra sure that they are empty, you should run the wet wipe along their bottom again. If there’s anything left, then it should come out now. By the time you’re done, your sugar glider will be ready to spend all day in your pocket without too much fuss.
5. Plan Feeding and Watering
You should always have a snack like an apple in your pocket for them to eat when they’re hungry and get some water. However, you should be aware of when they’re eating. They’ll typically want to use the bathroom 2-3 hours after eating.
By following the above steps, you can ensure your glider is completely empty and can return to your pocket safely.
6. Feel Them Moving
Finally, you should be aware of when your glider is moving in your pocket. This means they’re awake and likely need to use the bathroom.