Top Health Concerns
For Short-Tailed Opossums (STO)
By Molly Kalafut
I am not a veterinarian. This health information is to educate about common problems and preventative measures. If you suspect your STO is ill, you should contact a vet right away.
Keeping STO Healthy
A healthy STO has bright, clear eyes with a nose that is clear and not running or sneezing. The fur should be thick and smooth, not patchy or thin. While healthy STO groom themselves frequently, they should not excessively scratch at their fur or bite their tails. Their weight should seem firm and not look visibly gaunt. STO that routinely use their exercise wheel are often firmly muscled. They should be able to climb well and walk steadily. When the pet STO reach their adult size, owners should weigh them and monitor any unusual weight gain or loss. Pay attention to any significant changes in their activity levels, food intake, or droppings. Anything worrying should be reported to a vet. Throughout their lives they should be kept in environments that are warm, draft-free, clean with plenty of fresh food and clean, fresh water.
Lifespan
Their lifespan is generally 3-5 years in captivity, usually closer to 3-4 but sometimes up to 6. The most frequent natural causes of death in old age for pet STO seem to be respiratory illness, digestive problems and tumors.
Fighting With Other STO
Most physical injuries suffered by short-tailed opossums are inflicted by other STO. Like all 60+ opossum species, STO are solitary animals and generally intolerant of each other. Short tail opossums may fight and even kill each other; particularly breeding pairs, mothers with weaned babies, and even siblings. Fighting STO tend to target each other's ears, eyes and tail. To prevent hostility, short tail opossums acting aggressive towards their siblings can be separated anytime after 6 weeks. Breeding pairs are usually separated after 12 days spent together or after mating has been observed (usually around day 8-9), and should be monitored for aggression during the time they are together. Mothers can be removed safely from the babies after 6 weeks though most prefer to wait until after 8 weeks.
Dehydration
STO are water-dependant animals from tropical environments and need access to clean, fresh water at all times. While it is rare for a pet STO to die from this, if deprived of water it can take less than 1-2 days for them to die. The warning signs of dehydration is the STO moving very unsteadily, trembling, shaking and stumbling. It can usually be cured very quickly by placing dishes of water near them, and high-moisture content foods such as applesauce. To prevent dehydration, owners should regularly check that the water bottles work properly, and regularly offer high-moisture fruits and insects for their diet.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is often caused by a new food or too much of dairy-products such as yogurt or cottage cheese. The main danger to the STO from diarrhea is dehydration. To prevent the problem, new foods and dairy should be given in small to moderate quantity, and the STO's droppings monitored. Diarrhea is usually easy to diagnose because it can be seen and smelled in the cage, the STO may have visibly wet or caked fur around their bottom and may be visibly distressed. If caused by a new food, the problem usually clears up quickly. Any excess food should be removed and replaced with high-moisture content foods such as applesauce, and extra dishes of water placed in the cage near to the STO and their nest. A vet needs to be consulted if it takes longer than a day for the STO to recover and should be called immediately if the diarrhea seems to occur for no reason.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be caused by cold and drafty environments, as well as bacterial infection. Preventative measures include keeping the STO in a warm area free of drafts. Some owners cover their STO's wire cage with a blanket at night. Chinchilla dust can be used for baths instead of water baths, which can expose STO to drafts and cold. Symptoms of pneumonia include lethargy, shivering and labored breathing but may not be dramatic until the STO is very ill. A vet should be consulted immediately because they are usually very sick by the time symptoms are noticed.
Mites
Mites are not a frequent health problem because their fur is so dense it is difficult for the mites to burrow in. Older STO with thinning fur may be more susceptible than young and healthy STO. Preventative measures include keeping the STO away from other household pets that are prone to mites, using heat-treated cage bedding that is guaranteed to be mite-free and isolating the STO's tank if other household pets are diagnosed with mites. Typically the mites will congregate on the hairless ears and tail and are visible. Symptoms of mite problems include excessive scratching particularly around the ears, biting at the fur or tail, obvious distress and irritation, patchy fur, and visible mites on the ears and tail. STO with mites should be treated right away, as the scratching can cause stress, irritation, blood-loss and dehydration. Owners report success using treatments that include Ivemectin/Ivomec, mite remedies labeled safe for all small pets, and Sevin dust.
Veterinarian Care
STO are small exotic pets, so waiting before consulting a vet can be deadly to them. As most vets are unfamiliar with STO, an exotic or small pet veterinarian should be found before the STO becomes ill. It is best to have a first visit with the vet while the STO is healthy so the vet can establish a baseline of normal and healthy. Do not consider any of my advice as the definitive guide to STO health - when in doubt call your vet!
