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Itchy
Mar 20, 2014 22:31:03 GMT
Post by confused on Mar 20, 2014 22:31:03 GMT
Hi Guys,
My degu scratches her ears often, and sometimes a lot. I have tried mite spray and also dabbing pure alcohol on her ears, but neither have a long lasting effect. She does not appear to be in pain, it just seens to annoy her. If she tries to go under her jumper, here ears get sensitive, and she will shake her head. Any ideas, my local vet is not very good with small animals.
Today, i see her right right is sore with slight ooze. But still she shows no sign of pain or discomfort. I wiped it with warm water on a cotton bud and had a look to see if there was anything obvious, but could not see anything. She has been running about in the garden recently so maybe she got dust or something in her eye. It happened before but her eye cleared up very quick, over night, so fingers crossed.
But any advise is welcome
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Itchy
Mar 21, 2014 15:08:02 GMT
Post by ilikedegus on Mar 21, 2014 15:08:02 GMT
Hi Confused.
I'm guessing (from your post in November) you are not in the UK?
It's a long shot, but someone may be able to suggest a suitable vet near you - or phone round, some specialise in small furries.
I don't have any suggestions about the ears.
However I would just make you aware that problems with the roots of the molar teeth can cause apparent eye infections as the sinuses can get infected (we had this problem with one of our boys and before we went to a specialist vet, we were treating his "eye infection" for no good reason).
I really, really suggest you find a specialist vet who does understand degus, she may have problems both in and above her mouth. I hope not, and I realise that it can be a long way to a suitable vet.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 21, 2014 17:04:05 GMT
Please don't use rubbing alcohol on her ears to cleanse them. I would think that ear cleanses for a cat or dog would be much better, and would not dry out the skin outside and inside the ear, which will also result in irritation and itchiness. . Perhaps it is a good idea to ask what the skin of her ears looks like? Any tiny white flakes? The ooze that you are seeing, what does it look like? She may have an inner ear infection, which needs to be treated with antibiotics.
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Itchy
Mar 21, 2014 17:56:04 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Mar 21, 2014 17:56:04 GMT
There are also ear mites which obviously target ears.
As it could be anything from teeth problems, to infection to mites, I agree she needs to see the vet. Degus hide pain and discomfort very well, so she could be more uncomfortable than she appears. Check out other rodent forums or local rescue organisations for a recommendation, or get on the phone and ring round your local vets.
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Itchy
Mar 22, 2014 18:52:04 GMT
Post by confused on Mar 22, 2014 18:52:04 GMT
Hi all,
The scratching has stopped again, and her eye is completly cleared up. I think see might have gotten somethin in her eye while out in the garden. I sprayed her with something for the mites, which she hated, I had a really tough time rubbing it into her coat. Completly cleaned out her cage, and gave her a new nest box. She appears happy and relaxed today. So hopefully that did the trick.
I never used the alcohol to clean her ears, I have never gone near the inside of the ears. The vet said to put a bit on a cotton bud and dap it on the outside of her ears, that she may have been to hot.
Anyway, I am keeping a close eye on her. She is currently spralled accross my shoulder. The other morning something amazing happened. She has a large cage in my bedroom, which I leave open, so she can come and go as she pleases. Usually in the morning she makes her way up along the bed, and she with lay down across my head, or face, and stay there until i get up, but the other morning, the morning after I sprayed her, she came over and lay on the pillow beside me nose to nose and went to sleep.
So I think she is fine, but I will keep an eye anyway, and will log on if I have any concerns
Thank you
Oh, I am living in Dublin Ireland
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Itchy
Mar 22, 2014 20:20:04 GMT
Post by ilikedegus on Mar 22, 2014 20:20:04 GMT
I'm sure in a city the size of Dublin there will be some great small animal vets.
I love your story about her lying on your pillow, I'm pretty jealous in a way. Is she a lone degu?
Myself and jenowuk have both had lone degus that seemed pretty happy, had a lot of free-range time and a lot of attention. (My boyfriend works at home and really understands the goos)
My late Houdini spent his last year hanging out with my boyfriend and sleeping in a nest he built for himself down the side of our wardrobe. He'd never come up on the bed for a snuggle though!
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Itchy
Mar 25, 2014 6:32:08 GMT
Post by jenowuk on Mar 25, 2014 6:32:08 GMT
Bob (our long goo) would fall asleep on my husbands shoulder (invariably with his whiskers in my husbands ear!), or in the crook of my arm:-) As Degus huddle for warmth and comfort, I think he saw us as giant hot water bottles!
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Itchy
Mar 26, 2014 20:15:53 GMT
Post by confused on Mar 26, 2014 20:15:53 GMT
Yeap there are many vets, but Degus are pretty new to them, and they recommend a vet in Bray, in wicklow, whom, personally i dislike. She over charges and likes to recommend steroids, She is a lone degu now for 2 years, her mate died a slow and in the end painful death, due to steroids.
Stumpy as she was missing have her tale when i got her, has the run of the bedroom, and sleeps where she wants, Igive her as much freedom as possible tp make up for the loss of her mate. I am back living at home and my parents are no big fans of degus, so no chance of getting her a mate.
The parents are not big fans as she has chewed everything, and loves electrical cables. What is it about degus and electricty. I am going to put this question out. A few years back, i was hovering my room when bang, she bit threw the wire and sinzed all the hair around her mouth. I thought she was dead, but apart from lack of facial hair that grew back, she was none the worse for ware? Now last week, the parents got a brand new washing machine. I lost track of her for a minute and checked beside the washing maching as there is a lagre gap under the door, and i found she had chew almost through the cable. I had to do a quick diy job to cover her tracks.
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