Anaesthetics & Surgery Survey

[moletteuk]

We are hoping to gather some information on surgeries and anaesthetics for degus. Please share with us any experience you have on this subject. Tell us everything you can remember and any information that may be noted on the veterinary paperwork. For example:

Type of surgery undergone, procedure, keyhole or standard, wound size.

Age, general health of the degu, weight.

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery.

Any complications.

Type of anaesthetic used.

Experience of vet.

Year of operation.

Details of overall outcome.


Please get involved with this important topic and tell us whatever you can remember.

[saddlers]

Neutering and tail amputation, not sure on the method used, but wound was about 10mm long for neutering

Jose is 18 months old, has one cataract, and had a bite wound on the tail, 250g weight

Was already living alone at the time of op, back to normal after about 24-48hrs, but I would say 2 weeks before fully recovered and wound healed

Penile prolapse, unsure if related or just coincidence about two weeks after the op

Unsure of anaesthetic

Exotic vets with good degu experience, they had neutered several degus before and seemed very relaxed about the procedure

2012 year of op

Positive outcome, happy goo now shacked up with young lady friend ;D

[listracian]

Neutering - two male degus, done on the same day one after the other

18 months (roughly for both), health wise they were both pretty good, can't remember their weights at the time

They had been in isolation anyway - fighting! Left it a month before introducing the boys to the girls. This was my choice the vet said it was fine to do this earlier but I wanted more time for the boys to adjust without their bits and to see if their behaviour had at all changed before adding girls into the equation. They were fully healed within two weeks though

No complications.

They had a mix of drugs, Vetergesic inj 0.3mg, emeprid inj 5mg, baytril inj, 2.5%, hypnovel, 10mg 2ml vial and metacam inj 2mg

She had never actually come across degus before. She just happened to be going to an exotics conference the week before the op, so hassled lots of people. She was brilliant.

Year: 2012

Outcome: the goo's recovered perfectly, unfortunalty one male wouldn't get on with the other or the girls and so he is now at the rescue I work at with his new girlfriend and my other boy has his own harem, so all happy

[Whizz]

Anaesthetized for X-Ray and check-up on Molars.

2 Years old, Mario was/is poorly with suspected sinus/chest infection, can't remember the exact weight but around the 200g mark. (Mario is very small)

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery:
Was isolated for around 2 hours with the Vet trip in whole. I asked if he was able to go back to his cagemates and she was happy for him to go back. He was still a little sleepy for a day or so but he perked up and was happy again (good appetite, exercising etc.)

None.

Not sure on what drugs where used, it was a while ago so I have forgotten. (doh!)

Vet was great and had some experience with Degus (but was honest and said she was no expert). They were very relaxed and understanding.

Year: 2012

Outcome: Mario has no problems with his molars so his breathing problems are definitely an infection. Was told to come back if he got any worse as it gets colder.

[del]

Operation on eye/cheek bone.

About a year and and eight months, normal weight, healthy apart from wound.

In isolation for a week, was back to normal almost within two hours of anaesthetic wearing off, and wound had fully healed after two-three weeks.

Anaesthetic was administered via injection; mouth gas would of been used, but as the wound was on the face this was not possible. I believe the anaesthetic used was some kind of cat anaesthetic specifically for small cats.

Vets specialise in small animals, very experienced, never had any problems with either or dogs or goos.

End of 2012.

Degu was running around again almost as soon as we got him home, and showed no visible signs of distress. He's back to normal now, and has been for over a month at least.

[saddlers]

Elliott is 18 months old, 270g weight

Was already living alone at the time of op, back to normal after about 72hrs and the anaesthetic seemed to take its toll on him, but I would say 2 weeks before fully recovered and wound healed

Slight penile prolapse, unsure if related or just coincidence about a weeks after the op, but cleared up in a couple of days (related to the swelling?)

Unsure of anaesthetic

Exotic vets with good degu experience, they had neutered several degus before including one of our previously, and seemed very relaxed about the procedure

2013 year of op

Still waiting to see what the outcome is

[Maravilla]

Type of surgery undergone, procedure, keyhole or standard, wound size.
neutering, 2 cuts of approx. 1 cm each, cuts were stitched and then glued

Age, general health of the degu, weight.
degu 1: about 2 years, apparently good health, 240g
degu 2: about 2 years, apparently good health, 210g

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery.
Both still living on their own, have been living alone for a while due to problems with other males. Difficult past.
degu 1 was active in the afternoon of the day of surgery, degu 2 was still sleepy till the afternoon of the second day. Both started eating the first day. Have been active and jumping around after 2-3 days. Now, after 9 days, both seem to be perfectly fine. So far no problems with their wounds, they are closed, perfect colour, swelling is almost completely gone.

Any complications.
none

Type of anaesthetic used.
baytril 2,5% as antibiotic
anaesthetic: vetflurane (inhalation anaesthesia), xylazine 2%, ketamine 10% (pain killer and general anaesthesia)
antisedan

Experience of vet.
I consider her as very experienced. It was not our normal vet as he preferred to have the surgery done by his colleague who had more experience.

Year of operation.
2013

Details of overall outcome.
Not sure what to write here. I hope to introduce the males to our 2 females after the time of quarantine.

Hope this helps.

[bouncy]

Type of surgery undergone, procedure, keyhole or standard, wound size.
Xrays for possible damage to spine and hips

Age, general health of the degu, weight.
Unknown (rescue), but fully grown, generally fine, but some restricted movements, 269g

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery.
Put in the travel cage around 10.00, deposited at vet 11.00, call received from vet 13.30 to say he's come round, collected 15.45 back with the group 16.30

Any complications.
None. Vet was concerned he'd barely moved (hidden in hay), and hadn't eaten or drunk anything since. Put my hand in, said hello to him, and he immediately came out to have a drink and plonk his face in the food bowl

Type of anaesthetic used.
Gas

Experience of vet.
Experience with degus, and consultant vet available for more complicated cases

Year of operation.
Anaesthetic and xrays, 2016

Details of overall outcome.
Evidence of arthritis in hips and lower spine, on a dose of 0.1ml dog Metacam x2 daily

[blossombrooks]

Dental surgery, one back tooth was severely overgrown.

Pepper is 6 years old, 220g (lighter than usual due to teeth issues) and otherwise very healthy.

She was isolated for a day, took 3 days before she really stopped sleeping all the time and has made a full recovery just shy of two weeks.

I don't know which anaesthetic was used exactly only that it was a "Sniff of gas". No complications as such only that the damage from the overgrown tooth was worse than the vet first suspected.

Vet is very experienced with exotics but not specifically degus, she hadn't worked on any until mine but was excellent none the less.

Operation was April 2016.

Follow ups will be required as her teeth will decline again eventually, seems to be specific to just one of my three so possibly genetic, metacam was prescribed to help with recovery, only instructions were one drop daily as I felt necessary.

[bouncy]

Type of surgery undergone, procedure, keyhole or standard, wound size.
Xrays and teeth burring on ongoing occasions

Age, general health of the degu, weight.
Unknown, generally good with molar roots through nasal cavities.
Weight dropped from 269g to 234g, leading to first treatment.

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery.
Both occasions anaesthesia given, xrays taken, and teeth burred whilst waiting.
First time, reluctant to eat for 12 hrs afterwards, but enticed to eat with ground nuts. Subsequent visits, won't take critical care offered by vet, happy to eat normal forage and seeds within an hour.

Any complications.
None

Type of anaesthetic used.
Intravenous with fluids and dose of Metacam, just in case he didn't want to eat or drink.

Experience of vet.
Degu expert

Year of operation.
2016 onwards

Details of overall outcome.
Excellent. First time, weight was back to 253g in three weeks. Currently up to 280g.

[Deleted]

Type of surgery: neutering, standard, normal wound size, two wounds 1cm in length, glued shut.

Age of Degu: approximately 12 months, could be older.
Weight: 220g before procedure.
Health: relatively good health, some possible teeth issues.

Time in isolation: he will be isolated for 6 weeks from the op date due to my other degus being female (going to do 7 weeks to be safe).
Time for moderate recovery: recovered very quickly, 3 days.
Full recovery: 2 weeks.

Any complications: zero!

Type of anaesthetic: Gas and air.

Experience of vet : Seemed quite experienced. Wasn't the most experienced vet there, but he wasn't available. The nurses were also brilliant, several were exotics trained.

Year: 2017.

Details: So far so good. They didn't give me any additional pain meds as the injection they gave him lasted 48 hours. To be honest he didn't need more. They were brilliant. For the first three days he was drowsy, felt sorry for himself. Went for his check and he was right as rain, nurse looked him over thoroughly. They also burred his front teeth and trimmed claws. As of now, 3 weeks later, he's fine and happy, running around, seems very happy in himself and his situation!

[cookiedegus]

Type of surgery undergone, procedure, keyhole or standard, wound size.
Molar shortening and x-ray.

Age, general health of the degu, weight.
5yr old, weak when sick but still active, 160g.
Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery.
Insolation time at the vet was 5hours, Recovery hasn't happened yet, I think about a week or so.
Any complications.
After she woke up, she was very active, but after some time she was VERY sleepy, looked so weak, held in hands and was extra sleepy, the vet wasn't sure if she would survive, but turns out the anasthesia wasn't correctly split into her body. I asked to take to the oxygen room, and waited 3,5h at the vet and she was finally able to go home.
Type of anaesthetic used.
I saw when he put a bottle of something like pain killers and the general anasthesia from a small brown bottle, INJECTION.
Experience of vet.
11yrs of experience in rodents.
Year of operation.
2021-03-03
Details of overall outcome.
Maja is now active, happily with other degus, loves attention and now putting on weight

[teemu]

Type of surgery: Castration of two male degus. Two small incisions on both degus, sutures but no glue.

Age, general health of the degu, weight: Both were about three years old, in generally good health and weighing around 230-250 grams.

Time in isolation, time for moderate recovery, time for full recovery: Both degus were housed alone at the moment, so no separate isolation period. Moderate recovery in 3 days (or so), complete recovery took 6 weeks months due to complications.

Any complications: both degus developed aggressive infection in both wounds due to pulling on the threads, inflammation and general aggravation of the wound areas. The vet suggested the possibility that the degus were allergic to surgical suture material, but this could not be verified. Daily aftercare was neede for an extended period (2 months), and a long course of antibiotics was administered. Infection only abated after the stitches had mostly dissolved (quicker recovery in wounds from which the stitch material was removed towards the end)

Type of anaesthetic used: gas, not sure about specifics

Experience of vet: Experienced in exotic animals and specialized in them, had done numerous successful operations on degus previously, was recommended by another specialist who considered her to be the best choice for degus.

Year of operation: 2021, end of january.

Details of overall outcome: Both degus eventually recovered from surgery and complications and healed. However, one developed tumorous growths in the abdominal region a week later (could not be linked to the operation in any concrete way, possible underlying condition triggered by stress/medication?) and was euthanised due to poor long-term prognosis. The other made a complete recovery.