Phase II - Assessment of Nutritional Status
The largest dilemma when discussing diets for sugar gliders is that their daily needs are not yet known. For humans, we have the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%-98%) healthy people and is based on daily caloric intake. For animals, daily nutrient intakes are also based on calorie needs, since energy regulates appetite. However, dietary nutrients are expressed on a dry matter concentration basis - rather than amounts - to standardize across the wide variation in animal sizes (weights), physiologies, and feeding ecologies.
While we have some data on normal circulating levels of biochemical importance in health assessment (electrolytes, specific enzyme activities, measures of protein and carbohydrate metabolism), the impact of various diets/nutrient blends on these values has not been assessed systematically, nor have specific measures of nutritional status been evaluated - particularly with respect to dietary nutrient concentrations. Blood values of specific minerals and vitamins will remain within a relatively stable range unless diets are imbalanced, or contain excessive or deficient levels. The use of homemade diet blends and/or supplements - some for which we have limited knowledge of nutrient content - can lead to potential and undesired nutrient imbalances. Comparison of vitamin and mineral levels in various diets, in relation to blood metabolite status in animals consuming those diets, will provide further information regarding the overall nutritional balance, suitability, and health implications, and lead us closer to determining actual nutritional requirements of sugar gliders.
While we have some data on normal circulating levels of biochemical importance in health assessment (electrolytes, specific enzyme activities, measures of protein and carbohydrate metabolism), the impact of various diets/nutrient blends on these values has not been assessed systematically, nor have specific measures of nutritional status been evaluated - particularly with respect to dietary nutrient concentrations. Blood values of specific minerals and vitamins will remain within a relatively stable range unless diets are imbalanced, or contain excessive or deficient levels. The use of homemade diet blends and/or supplements - some for which we have limited knowledge of nutrient content - can lead to potential and undesired nutrient imbalances. Comparison of vitamin and mineral levels in various diets, in relation to blood metabolite status in animals consuming those diets, will provide further information regarding the overall nutritional balance, suitability, and health implications, and lead us closer to determining actual nutritional requirements of sugar gliders.
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Enrichment
Testing
To review the costs/expenses for Phase II, please click HERE.
To help fund the Assessment of Nutritional Status project, please DONATE today!
Enrichment
Testing
To review the costs/expenses for Phase II, please click HERE.
To help fund the Assessment of Nutritional Status project, please DONATE today!
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following for their participation in making this study a success:
- Donors - without your generous contributions this could not get started
- Exotic Nutrition - donated and provided cages
- Ashley White - provided study animals
- Resa Martin - provided study animals
- Sandy Wesley, Sandy's Suggie World - provided study animals
- Glory Jovi, Sugar Glider Galore - provided study animals
- Sherri Lamb - provided study animals
- Peggy Brewer - provided study animals
- 3 Annonymous Donors - provided study animals
- Michelle Cutler, GliderGals Sugar Gliders - provided study animals
- SpinZone Global - provided exercise wheels for each cage
- Glider Nursery - provided cage accessories
- Karen Harper - provided cage accessories
- Donnie Ross - provided cage accessories
- Brandi Learn - provided cage accessories
- Becky Gomez - provided cage accessories
- Denise Gillespie - provided cage accessories
- Karen Sinkhorn - provided cage accessories