Sugar Gliders Food Habitats: Risky Food Facts

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Mathews]Gavin Mathews
Not all human foods are safe for sugar gliders (SG). Some food items can cause toxicity in very small amounts, while others can cause organ failure in the long-term. Here are some of the examples that you should look out for.
Food Item: Chocolate
Evaluation:
Never give to a sugar glider
Explanation
Chocolate contains a smorgasbord of chemical compounds that can easily build up in a SG's system and cause immediate toxicity and death.
Food Item: Dairy products
Evaluation
Give sparingly
Explanation
Dogs, cats, and sugar gliders have varying degrees of lactose intolerance. It is believed that SGs are unable to fully digest food items with lactose - so it's best to spare your glider bear the pain and just avoid giving it cheese and other dairy products entirely.
If you have to, make sure to give your sugar glider a very small portion only. Just a enough to give the animal a taste of the treat, and no more.
Frequency is also an important consideration. If you have given your honey glider a dairy-based treat twice this week, avoid giving the animal any more.
Food Item: Fruits & vegetables that are not peeled before being eaten
Evaluation
Give sparingly
Explanation
Unless the berries or cauliflowers you have at home are 100% organically grown with no trace of pesticides at all, limit these treats as the pesticide content may be fatal to the small SG.
Food Item: Iceberg lettuce
Evaluation
Find a better substitute
Explanation
Iceberg lettuce may offer some roughage (digestible fiber) but it lacks the nutrients needed by sugar gliders to stay strong and healthy. Instead of giving a piece of iceberg lettuce to your glider, why not give it a piece of fresh fruit or some other vegetable?
Food Item: Animal fat
Evaluation
Give sparingly
Explanation
Honey bears can become obese very quickly. Animal fats can pack so many calories per serving and can cause dire health consequences in the short-term.
Food Item: Table sugar
Evaluation
Never give to your pet
Explanation
Like animal fat, table sugar is just empty calories with none of the real nutrients needed by the animal for growth and repair. Just say "no!" to table sugar. It's worse than mealworms and insects.
Food Item: Fried food items
Evaluation
Give sparingly
Explanation
Fried food items contain cooking oil, which also contains lots of empty calories. Stick to the glider bear's regular organic treat instead.
For more details on proper diet that can be fed, please read my article
My name is Gavin Mathews, I am a pet lover and exotic pet enthuses me to go the extra mile. As a sugar glider enthusiast I would like to share some of the knowledge I have gained in the due course.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Sugar-Gliders-Food-Habitats:-Risky-Food-Facts&id=6588858] Sugar Gliders Food Habitats: Risky Food Facts