Oncology of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps): A comprehensive review

Abstract

Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are increasingly being kept as pets. Despite their popularity, relatively little is known about the oncology of this species. To summarize the current body of knowledge, a literature search was performed to identify published cases. Only a small number of cases was identified that described cancer in sugar gliders. The identified case reports described several tumour types, ranging from mammary (adeno) carcinoma to haemangiosarcoma. In the majority of cases, no metastases were reported. In several cases, the primary tumour was removed using a surgical approach. Pain management also was a cornerstone of the treatment. The prognosis was often poor, with only two animals out of eight being alive at the time of publication. It is clear that further research is required to get more insight into the epidemiology and characteristics of cancer in this species.