Intussusception

That is a big word, huh?

Intussusception is a process in which one portion of the intestine invaginates (slides down into) another section, kind of like a telescope slides down into itself to become smaller for storage. Intussusception can lead to bowel obstruction, necrosis or other health issues.

It is characterized as an "anatomical accident" by pathologists. It is rare and very serious. In the case of my Beauty, it was fatal. To date, this is the only case the SUGAR Group has of this nature. Since we know it can occur in gliders, I am sharing it here with you all.

Beauty's only symptoms prior to death were that she was slow moving. Nothing serious, so I thought. After all, she was 8-9 years old. I had seen her moving slower that morning as she took her treats and went to bed. So, I thought "I'll check her this afternoon when I clip her nails and then, if I'm concerned, I'll get her in to the vet." That afternoon, when I went to check her, she was dead.

If this happens or is found, is this a treatable issue, Val? Since abdominal surgeries, to this point, have not been successful in gliders, what would be the other options, if any?

I don't really know the answers to those questions for sure. My understanding from Dr. Gilmore (one of our pathologists) is that it is almost always fatal in animals. I'm not eve sure how you would find it prior to death in a sugar glider. But, now that we know it happens, maybe we can begin to answer some of these questions. Because it is rare, who knows when we will see it again.

Let's hope we don't see it, but I'm also going to hope that more and more people do necropsies so that if it IS there, those answers can be had. :)

In larger pets like dogs and cats they go in and cut out the bad bowel and then rejoin the intestines. I do not see them being able to do it in very small animals.
You can tell in the bigger animals by X-ray and then ultrasound if needed.