The SUGAR Group
Report of 2011 research activities
____________________________________________________________________________________________
In 2011 the SUGAR Group celebrated our 3rd full year of data collection.
This allows us to compare 3 years of data in some cases.
GENERAL STATISTICS
One of the SUGAR Group’s goals upon the start of data collection was to collect basic data regarding the
population of gliders living in homes throughout the United States.
Average number of gliders in home:
2009
6.0
2010
10.9
2011
data not in yet
Of those gliders, the breakdown for sex and neutering was as follows:
Female
Male
% of males neutered
2009
2010
2011
49%
51%
65%
49.5%
50.5%
72%
47%
53%
81%
Percent of joeys rejected:
2009
2010
2011
11%
6.0%
4.4%
* overall decline indicates that educational efforts are successful. Despite the increased number of gliders
breeding, the percentages of rejection are declining.
Average length of time respondents had owned gliders:
2009
2010
1 yr. 7 mos.
2 yr. 5 mos.
* will begin collecting this data again in 2012
2011
N/A *
AGE Data
Average Age at death
2009
2010
2.8 years
2011
4.8 years
4.6 years
Range = 3 months -11 years
Average age of living gliders
2009
3 yr. 6 mos.
2010
2011
4 yr. 4 mos
5 yr. 7 mos
Range = 2 months – 14 years
Sources of age data:
 Initial survey
 Necropsy reports
 Wellness reports
 Death Survey
Location of Participants
Texas
27%
Tennessee
Washington
5%
Florida
10%
5%
Ohio
9%
Michigan 5%
Wisconsin, Virginia, Arkansas and Colorado all at 3.6%
The remainder made up of participants from Indiana, Oregon, New Jersey, Alabama,
South Carolina, Missouri, California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada,
London and South Africa
Data related to the color of gliders in homes
Standard Gray
White Face
Black Beauty
Leucistic
Mosaic
Lion
White Tip
Cremino
Platinum
Other
% that are also hets
2009
2010
2011
62%
69%
51%
24%
20%
16%
6%
6%
6.5%
2.5%
1.7%
6.5%
2%
2%
15%
0.8%
0.9%
2.6%
0
0
1.3%
0
0
0.6%
0
0
0.6%
2%
.5%
0
n/a
2.1%
15%
Incidence report (major issues only)
Condition
2009
2010
Notes
# Gliders represented in sample
% of gliders breeding
“Mating” Wound
Open wound (not mating)
597
16%
2.4%
2.4%
1.5%
329
19%
3.6%
2.0%
3.6%
2011 already has over 600
Facial Abscess without tooth
involvement
*
*
Seizure
5.2%
8.2%
Includes death seizures *
Obesity
7.3%
5.5%
Dehydration
4.9%
3.0%
Death
n/a
5.2%
Constipation
1.5%
1.9%
*
Parasites
9.9%
1.0%
* = TSG is closely monitoring and/or creating surveys/studies to gather more data
Vet Trends Data
Survey completed 2011
According to the surveys, 95% of vets are performing fecal exams, urinalysis, dental exams
and physical exams upon a wellness exam as standard practice.
If asked, 99% of vets will perform other testing.
WEIGHT DATA
Range for “normal” means that approx. 85% of all weights fell into this range.
Adult Male (9+ months)
Adult Female (9+ months)
Juvenile Male (8 wks – 9 months)
Juvenile Female
Average Weight
Range of “normal”
113.3 grams
95.9 grams
73.8 grams
61.9 grams
75 – 134 grams
60 – 128 grams
65 – 91 grams
52 – 83 grams
Sources of Weight Data




Weigh-ins at RRRoundups and other gatherings
Surveys
Necropsy reports
Wellness exam forms
Allergies & Intolerances Data
* Only 45 surveys collected to date.
Percent of Households
that have a glider that
demonstrates allergy or
intolerance
Symptoms Noted
Dairy products
9%
Diarrhea, lethargy & poor disposition
Other food products
0%
Medication
7%
Most were to Baytril or PCN
Laundry detergent or fabric
softener
Other cleaning product
2%
Eyes swelling shut, watery eyes and nose
1%
Reported reaction to Clorox
Air freshener or spray
1%
Most reported they don’t use them
Specific Textile (fabric)
0%
Material used to create toys
0%
Product
Necropsy Data
Current as of 01/01/12
Data is presented as OVERALL numbers as well as 2011 ONLY numbers.
In 2011, we processed 43 studies – an average of 3.6 per month.
Condition
% of necropsies where
contributes to death
2011 ONLY
Hepatitis/ Liver disease
Cecal Impaction
Undetermined with histopathology
Nephritis/ Kidney disease
Bacterial Infection / sepsis
Pneumonia
MBD/ HLP
Biliary Hyperplasia
Metastatic Carcinoma of Liver
Multi-systemic Congestion
Urinary/ Bladder lesion
Lymphoma
Undetermined due to necropsy only
19%
7.2%
7.2%
6%
4.8%
4.8%
3.6%
3.6%
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
2.4%
16%
6.8%
6.8%
6.8%
2.2%
6.8%
4.5%
6.8%
2.2%
4.5%
0%
2.2%
0%
Notes
* Cage toxicity
Diagnosis currently recorded:
Hepatitis/liver disease, nephritis/kidney disease, bacterial infection (various), sepsis, cecal impaction, trauma,
metastatic carcinoma of liver/intestines, dehydration, metabolic bone disease (HLP), Adenoma (benign tumor)
of gall bladder/pancreatic duct, pneumonia, cerebral ischemic event, urethral blockage, electrolyte imbalance,
abscess of brain, medication overdose, renal insufficiency, malnutrition, urinary/bladder lesion, surgical
complication, aflatoxin, biliary hyperplasia, metritis, multisystemic congestion, thyroid hyperplasia,
hypoproteinemia, hydrothorax, chronic necrotizing exudative cellulitis, osteopenia, lymphoma, hemothorax,
pancreatitis, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, adrenal hyperplasia, multiple biliary cysts, emaciation.
Enrichment Data
Collected 92 surveys to date
Average # cages in home = 3.8
Average # play areas in home = 1.4
69% of owners spend time playing with their gliders every day.
Average amount of time spent playing with gliders in play area
15-45 minutes
23%
45 min- 1.5 hr.
51%
2-3 hours
23%
3+ hours
2%
31% of owners report that they will allow their gliders to play in their play area unsupervised.
Play areas utilized:
Tent
Glider-proofed bedroom
Glider-proofed closet
Glider-proofed bathroom
Screen room
Other
38%
10%
3%
15%
4%
8%
95% of owners report that their gliders regularly play with toys.
66% of owners characterize their glider’s activity level as extremely active, while 34% characterize it as
moderately active.
41% of respondents will utilize a wheel that has a cross bar
93% of owners report they have at least one wheel in every cage.
50% of owners report that they have a wheel in their play area
88% of owners will allow items in their supervised play area that they will not allow in the cage
Injury report
12% of owners report that they have had a glider injured on a pouch or sewn item
2% of owners report that they have had a glider injured on a toy
0% of owners report that they have had a glider injured on a wheel
Of interest to vendors
When asked what was the most important factor when considering safety of sewn items, responses were
as follows:
Stitching size
Quality of fabric used
Size of openings
That they are double layer
Other
41%
24%
17%
5%
12%
Percent of owners that insist upon hidden stitching in sewn items
Percent of owners that WILL use a pouch with top stitching
Percent of owners who WILL use a pouch with very small stitching inside
Percent of owners who regularly provide fleece blankets in sleeping areas
Percent of owners who WILL use hammocks or tunnels that are top stitched
Percent of owners who believe the size of stitching is important
Percent of owners who WILL use a cage item that has embroidery or
decorative stitching
Percent of owners who WILL use a bonding pouch that has embroidery or
decorative stitching
Percent of owners who think that single layer pouches CAN be made safely
Percent of owners who think jingle bells are SAFE for use on glider products
Percent of owners who WILL use a cage item that includes elastic as a
component
Percent of owners who WILL use a cage item that includes Velcro as a
component
Percent of owners who WILL use cage items made with cotton
Percent of owners who WILL use cage items made with flannel
Percent of owners who think that cotton or flannel MUST be surged or zig-zag
stitched in order to be safe
81%
60%
37%
88%
66%
100%
14%
52%
73%
24%
37%
21%
60%
73%
37%