|  Author | Topic: Degus with Asthma or allergy (Read 193 times) |
mja241281
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|  | Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Thread Started on Oct 22, 2009, 8:04am » | |
Has anyone ever had or experienced a degu with asthma or allergies?
I was concerned about Gabis breathing lastnite (it was a lot more laboured and apparent than her daughters or dexters) and took her to see the vets. There is a lot more effort going into her breathing than there should be as it seems her bronchial (SP) pipes are inflamed. The vet gave me some baytril (SP?) to rule out an infection as her daughter does not have the same symptoms (but may be because her immune system is stronger as she is younger) but the vet seems to think it is possible that if it is not an infection it may be asthma or an allergy to something.
Apart from the breathing she is perfectly healthy, no bowel obstruction/abdomen mass, normal poo, no blood in her wee, Eats normally, loves playing and believe it or not even after I took her to the vets and held her as he poked and prodded she still comes up to me in the cage when I open the door (she was very very well behaved at the vets, just sat in my hands having a tickle, i was a very proud googling daddy)
Has anyone ever had anything similar??
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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gemmagreaves
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #1 on Oct 22, 2009, 2:06pm » | |
hey i think my goo has this problem - when he breathes his whole body moves with each breath and when he gets too excited he starts wheezing but we tried antibiotics and its still the same - he runs around in the cage and in his wheel. hes 3 years old now aswell!
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Degus - Ursula, Norman, Spice, Nutmeg, Maggi, Heidi, Levi, Derek, Brian, Halo.
1 guinea pig - Mr Scrufolofolus
1 hamster - Ginger
1 multimammate mouse - Mildred
2 gerbils - donna and janet
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2 axolotls naboo & saboo
11 tropical fish tanks |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #2 on Oct 22, 2009, 5:34pm » | |
Wow! So . . . what do you do for a degu with asthma?
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #3 on Oct 22, 2009, 8:09pm » | |
not much they can do, they can give animals as small as cats inhalers but as small as degus not much they can do at all  She's happy tho and hopefully Dexter will make her a great husband and will look after her
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #4 on Oct 23, 2009, 3:01am » | |
Maybe try adding some of these things to her diet. Brewers Yeast is very well known for having excellent Vitamin B content. I have read that Vit. B is a must have in treating asthma. So, this would be a way of getting some into her body without being intrusive, and Brewers Yeast is something degus can have. I don't know how much you can give her, but I would think a very small amount every 3 days would be a place to start.
Vitamin C is also supposed to be very helpful . . . but I hesitate to recommend the additive that is available for putting into water supplies. All the different brands have sugar added, which as we know is bad for degus. But . . . I wonder how a small amount of the low dose Vit. C that is to be swallowed would be received by a degu. You know, like a tiny chip knocked off of a pill. That's just a thought.
Lastly, there is a thing called Mullein Tea that is supposed to be very helpful for sufferers of asthma. I'm wondering if a rather weak solution of it might be beneficial, given through a dropper. BUT . . . I have no idea how it may affect a degu, so it might be rather risky.
I think I'm going to look into the last one for myself. Been having trouble with asthma lately. Let me know if you try any of these and if they help!
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #5 on Oct 23, 2009, 7:32am » | |
Thanks for that Degu Convert, Will look into that after the baytril is finished if she hasn't improved. 
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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gemmagreaves
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #6 on Oct 27, 2009, 11:29am » | |
hey thanks deguconvert - i'll look into the brewers yeast, where abouts would you get that from though as ive never heard of it?
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Degus - Ursula, Norman, Spice, Nutmeg, Maggi, Heidi, Levi, Derek, Brian, Halo.
1 guinea pig - Mr Scrufolofolus
1 hamster - Ginger
1 multimammate mouse - Mildred
2 gerbils - donna and janet
1 rabbit - Imhotep
2 axolotls naboo & saboo
11 tropical fish tanks |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #7 on Oct 27, 2009, 1:13pm » | |
you'd get it from any home brew shop as it's used to make beer in home brew set ups
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #8 on Oct 27, 2009, 6:59pm » | |
Health food stores often carry it as well, in various forms.
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #9 on Nov 7, 2009, 11:10pm » | |
right, I found some brewers yeast in holland and barratts and they have it in powder form, my question is is can degus which don't suffer have it? the reason i ask is because Gabi and Abi share a food bowl and when they all move in together they will all share food so dont wanna go getting any if the others shouldn't have it.
The powder is listed as having the following ingredients: Ingredients: Debittered Brewers’ Yeast
Powder.
Free from wheat, gluten, corn, soya, sugar,
starch, lactose, salt, preservatives, artificial
colours and flavourings.
They also have it in tablet for which would be better to give ti a goo but the ingredients are as follows: Brewer's Yeast Powder, Anti-Caking Agents
(Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate),
Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Bulking Agent
(Microcrystalline Cellulose). - are all these degu safe?
Finally they do Vit C Powder which the ingredients are: Vitamin C Powder (as Ascorbic Acid). No Artificial Colours, Flavours or Sweetener.
No Preservatives. No added Sugar or Salt. No Starch,
No Milk, No Lactose, No Soya, No Gluten, No Wheat,
No Yeast, No Fish.
Which should I get to try with Gabi the Goo??? I' so confused but want to try something to help her
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #10 on Nov 9, 2009, 8:50am » | |
any one know?? need to pop and get some but need advice first.
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #11 on Nov 9, 2009, 3:42pm » | |
Sorry for the long delay . . . we've had our night's sleep while you were waiting. I would try the first option . . . all the extras in the tablet form leave me uncertain as to how good they might be. If you can buy a small amount of the first type and try it, just tiny amounts at first I would think, that would be good. I would go ahead and let all the goos have a try at it. Brewers is actually an ingredient that some foods for degus, and other small animals, contain. It is a healthy additive for them, so I wouldn't worry about letting them all have a bit. The Vit. C sounds good, too.
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #12 on Nov 9, 2009, 3:44pm » | |
I'll grab some tomorrow lunchtime then and see how it goes, will just sprinkle a very very small amount on the food.
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #13 on Nov 12, 2009, 9:46am » | |
Well bought some brewers yeast powder and some vit c powder yesterday and put a pinch of each in the food this morning so will see how we get on over next few days. need to get some of that rx stuff too. will keep you posted
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #14 on Nov 12, 2009, 2:07pm » | |
popped some in thier food today to see how it goes but was wondering if it would be better putting it in thier water bottle?? I think Gabi is sensitive to dust so putting powder in the food might not be a good idea....what do you reckon Deguconvert??
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #15 on Nov 12, 2009, 3:23pm » | |
I'm not sure. I'm afraid that the water would possibly degrade the Vit. C. Is it just the Vit.C that is powdered? LOL! Just looked up at your post and see that they are both powdered. So . . . thinking . . . thinking . . . do you ever give them some organic tomato paste? Or what about fresh veg like carrot? I was thinking that you could put a tich of the powders into a tea spo-on of tomato paste and mix it up, and try offering it to her like that. Or gind up some fresh carrot so that it is wet and mushy and put the powders in there and give that a try. I'll keep thinking on it and see if I can come up with some other ideas . . . or maybe even these two will spawn a brilliant idea of your own that will work wonders! Whatever happens, be sure to let me know how it goes. I'm very interested!
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #16 on Nov 12, 2009, 4:18pm » | |
I've tried giving them tomato paste before but non of them seem to want to try it. Went home at lunchtime to check on her and found her bowl was half empty which is unlike her, and going based on the fact that they cant dig at the mo (fleece lined cage and only place to hide food is in thier hut which is empty) I can only assume they love the brewers yeast and vit C.
The vit C itself is designed for humans to mix in water to take it but still unsure of weither to do that with a goo.
Going to Asda (Walmart) to get some olbas oil to try a spot in the cage see if that helps her breathing too.
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #17 on Nov 12, 2009, 7:12pm » | |
That's good to know!!! If they like it . . . maybe only put it in their food every other day so as to prevent it from becoming too familiar. That way it will keep them interested longer. LOL!
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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mja241281
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #18 on Nov 12, 2009, 7:15pm » | |
I'm only putting it in every 3rd day at the mo see how that helps and gunna put some olbas oil under a shelf in a bit
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5 Degus - Dexter, Gabi, Abi, Coleen & Louisa
9 Rabbits - Pheobe & Pippin, Pebbles & Junior, Buster & Penny, Honey & Flopsy, House Bunny Minnie
2 Birds - Ollie & Bob
2 Hamsters - Rudy & Cruella |
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deguconvert
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| | Re: Degus with Asthma or allergy
« Reply #19 on Nov 12, 2009, 7:19pm » | |
Excellent!! I really hope it will make a wonderful difference for her. Do let me know if she starts to improve. I wonder if I should pop into my kitchen and crunch up a brewers yeast tablet . . . see how they would respond to it. Hmmm! Just might give that a go!
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1 minipoo Teddy,
1 standardpoo Queenie,
3 goos Reepicheep, Peekichew, and Snuggabug |
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