floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 22, 2014 22:22:41 GMT
|
|
|
Post by animalmadchloe on Apr 23, 2014 6:25:22 GMT
The link won't work for me, I would have made them pay for it lol he was already sick in there care
|
|
|
Post by rmazeds on Apr 23, 2014 9:01:53 GMT
I wasted time going to PAH vets too and in the end my little Molly died, when registering her they didn't even know what a degu was!!! It cost me a fortune and they wouldn't have her past 4 so by the time I found a different vet the next day it was too late for her really. I'd definitely keep all receipts and make them pay for everything.
I have to travel quite far for my vets but it's worth it as they seem to care a lot more and I feel a lot more relaxed with their advice that PAH.
I hope your degu is ok once he's seem someone more knowledgable and I hope it's not something too serious x
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2014 19:40:51 GMT
The john hopewell travel cages are good. I'm a bit puzzled about what might be wrong with your little one. I can't figure out how drool is getting above the level of his mouth, is he spreading it around with his paws? Could some be coming from his eyes. I think he is too young for his teeth to have overgrown as such, it would have to be a condition he was more or less born with. I hope you can find a vet who can give him a proper examination. Sorry you are having troubles so soon
|
|
floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 23, 2014 20:16:28 GMT
Hi moletteuk - yes he is constantly rubbing it with his paws and along the ground, he also keeps "pawing the ground" - indicating he's in pain/irritated (?). I'm pretty sure it's saliva....but I may be wrong. Although his eyes look "clean". The wetness is all over sometimes as I watch him grooming his chest gets wet then his back end as he's transferring it as he grooms. I'm starting to worry about him getting so wet actually, he must be cold. I will try and upload a better picture. Hi rmazeds I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sure you did your best for her and she was lucky to have you. I'm anxious about going back to PAH at the weekend but I'm stuck at what to do. Do I take Wilfred where he can defiantly be seen at the weekend and I'm off work? then after that visit take him to the better Degu vets?. Or do I not take him back to PAH at the weekend and travel to Leeds (I rang today to confirm they were Degu experienced and the receptionist knew exactly which vet I was talking about) But this vet only works Wednesdays and Thursdays. The earliest I would get of work is Wed 30th (if my boss kindly lets me) - seems a while for the little man to wait. Hi animalmadchloe - yes I was tempted to do that but just finding out what's wrong is the main thing on my mind at the moment. Wilfred also bit me this morning as I picked him up for his drugs - poor thing is so timid and is probably in a lot of pain...and all the time I'm thinking the drugs aren't doing anything for him anyway. Does anyone have any tips for picking him up? My plan when we bought him was to build his trust up really slowly but that is no longer an option. I have contacted john hopewell for a proper travel cage. Thanks for the advice everyone
|
|
|
Post by ilikedegus on Apr 23, 2014 20:36:59 GMT
Hey Floss !!!Welcome to the forum!!! I'm so sorry you are having this trouble with your new pet. Poor little Wilfred. He looks like a sweetie. I think it's good for him that you took him away from P@H, at least you can be happy that he is being looked after. I'd suggest that you try and find another, specialist, vet and cancel the P@Home vet (why give them any more money) - as long as you can still go at the weekend; a new vet will hardly be mystified by the Metacam/Meloxidyl. JUST A THOUGHT - are any of the rescues listed here in the W Yorkshire centre near you? Call them and ask them their vet? www.smallpetsmatter.co.uk/northeast.phpThis one is also recommending the vet you already found recommended on this forum: www.campnibble.com/vets.htmlYou may just have to phone round local vets until you find one who's definitely experienced with "exotics". I wish you were near me (you're not), we have a FAB vet who's great with degus. This group suggest they have exotics specialists (though personally I'm wary of large group practices): www.chantryvets.co.uk/my-pet/other-pets.html
|
|
floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 23, 2014 21:06:26 GMT
Hi ilikedegus, thank you, great idea I will do that tomorrow. The Royston and Sheffield ones are near(ish!)Although the Leeds vet does sound ideal.
I have rang a few local vets and all said no, although I have not rang them all (did it between my visits at work!)
PAH haven't charged me anything. I bought Wilfred from the Barnsley branch (no vets inside) and have taken him to the Huddersfield branch with a vet (that were open at Easter) To be fair the manager and receptionist in Huddersfield were really good and said they wouldn't charge anything (even though I didn't ask them to do that) and they would sort it directly with Barnsley PAH. Barnsley also said prior to this, take him to the vets (any vet) and they would pay the bill. I only enquired/took him to another PAH as it was open at Easter and wanted him booked in first thing Tue morning - everything else was shut. I really thought the vet would have examined him properly, I was upset Tuesday when my husband rang and told me what she had done as I knew we would be going back and I want (I'm sure Wilfred does too) just know what it is!
|
|
|
Post by beccavaf on Apr 24, 2014 12:59:27 GMT
If they mentioned an ulcer I'm surprised they didn't have a proper look.One of mine had one and it caused so many issues with her eating. Hope you get the little guy sorted!
|
|
|
Post by ilikedegus on Apr 24, 2014 14:43:48 GMT
If they mentioned an ulcer I'm surprised they didn't have a proper look.One of mine had one and it caused so many issues with her eating. Hope you get the little guy sorted! Becca - were the symptoms anyting like Wilfred's? What was the end result?
|
|
|
Post by animalmadchloe on Apr 24, 2014 18:47:58 GMT
I'm thinking that they already know there In the wrong if they offered to foot all the bills with out you asking how's little one doing ?
|
|
floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 24, 2014 20:47:17 GMT
I'm thinking that they already know there In the wrong if they offered to foot all the bills with out you asking how's little one doing ? Yes that certainly is a possibility!
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 24, 2014 20:58:12 GMT
I would pick a vet and try and get him properly examined as soon as you can now. They tend to hide pain and discomfort well, so all that saliva and him rubbing at it is quite a concern.
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Apr 24, 2014 23:58:49 GMT
The amount of saliva you describe sounds unusual, even for teeth issues. I can't help but wonder if he's perhaps got a birth defect where his jaw has been malformed in some way, making him unable to stop drooling.
An important factor in choosing a vet is also availability, if the specialist is only available on a Wednesday then they won't be much good to you in an emergency situation. So, although it may be beneficial to take your little one to them for this problem, you will need to search for a practice you're happy with for any urgent matters. Health problems with degus is often a matter of every second counts with them being so small.
|
|
floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 25, 2014 14:26:56 GMT
Sorry it wouldn't let me post anything yesterday. Thank you everyone for your concern. Wilfred looks to be having a little bit of luck. I rang the exotic vet in Leeds and asked if there was anyone "goo experienced" who could see him at the weekend and the lady that was recommended on here is actually doing a shift tomorrow! (usually works wed/thu) so he is booked in for the morning I also went to johnhopwells and bought him and his friend a proper travel cage....he was lovely and I had a nosey at the other cages which I wouldn't mind for my goos soon as we get a bigger house! Wilfred is not tame in the slightest unlike his friend who I have to battle to keep in the cage so I gave him his meds (painkillers) yesterday by putting a TINY pile of oats and the meds on top, let it soak for a few minutes...removed his friend and Wilfred gobbled it up! Wilfred however did wake my husband and I up around 530am this morning with only what can be described as a squeaking fit. He was squeaking really loudly, similar to when they get startled if I walk in the room fast or something but it was continuous. I ran in thinking one of them may be hurt/trapped somehow but Wilfred was running round squeaking like mad, he stopped after about 20 minutes, it was horrible. I have no idea if something startled him or he is doing it because of pain??
|
|
|
Post by ilikedegus on Apr 25, 2014 15:18:13 GMT
I'm jealous that you are close enough to John Hopewell's to actually visit! He seems like a really decent bloke by email.
The squeaking fit might have been about anything that scared him, could be something insignificant to us.
One of my late goos used to squeak a warning when a particular courier van went up our lane, most days, just a low rumble in the distance. A human would just filter the sound out.
Scratchy sometimes "goes off" apparently at random. He's almost blind, so who knows what he thinks he saw, or heard.
In summary, don't worry too much about a squeaking fit. (I do go and check if mine start an alarm, just in case.)
|
|
floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
|
Post by floss on Apr 26, 2014 18:59:54 GMT
Hello everyone Wilfred has been to see the lovely vet Sarah and he is not a simple case She anaesthetised him and x-rayed his head. She can't see anything obvious with his teeth or jaw they look ok. However his gums at the tops are extremely red and inflamed, so much so when she touched them it bled and he got blood on the little cone they use to put him to sleep She showed me the x-rays (I took some photos of them too) and said everything looks normal apart from his gums and possibly his sinus - his teeth are fine but the sinus area is a bit grey on the x-ray. She explained it may be one of several things - it may be a congenital problem with the formation of the sinus but because they are so small she doesn't want to open them up, it possibly could be a tumour in the area but she thinks this is unlikely with his age but not impossible and/or an infection, for some reason. We have Baytril antibiotics to give him plus painkillers we already have and need to let her know how he goes in a few days. She did explain she would have liked to take a swab to determine what antibiotic but there was no pus and didn't want to open it up. Wilfred came round from the anaesthesia well and seems really happy (maybe because she gave him an injection of painkillers today??) He got home and got out of his cage and came and sat on my hand b4 having a play with his friend around the room - he's never done that before he's usually so timid! and he has put 4 grams on from last week He appears to be eating ok and I have to keep a close eye on him to make sure there is no bloating and he is eating/going to the toilet due complications coming round from going to sleep. Time will tell if he starts to get better but she made it clear that it also may end up being palliative care if it is congenital. Has anyone else had a problem with their goos inflamed/bleeding gums ?? I would also like to say thank you to people for the advice regarding travel, if it wasn't for your tips about the cage and taking his friend I'm sure the journey would have been a lot more stressful!
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Apr 26, 2014 20:09:48 GMT
I am so glad that the trip went as well as it did, and that you have met a vet that has her wits about her! That is a great relief I am sure!
That sounds worrying about the uncertain Xrays, sinus, and bleeding gums. I hope very much for you that it is an infection that will be corrected with the antibiotics. Truly good news that his jaw and teeth are not a part of the equation.
|
|
|
Post by anita on Apr 27, 2014 7:19:10 GMT
Hi floss my fingers are crossed that the antibiotics work.
|
|
|
Post by ilikedegus on Apr 27, 2014 8:36:07 GMT
Thanks for the update, I have been checking to see when you would post.
Poor little chap, but yes, at least the vet knows what she's doing.
I so hope too that it's an infection that will clear up. Looking at the worst case scenario, make sure you give him the best quality of life, so if the treatment does end up being palliative you will know that you did your best and that he was happy for his time with you.
Also, I'm so sorry that YOU are going through this. Degus are lovely little guys with so much personality and I'm sad that your new pet is not well, it must make you sad.
I am heartened that you able to look after Wilfred.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 27, 2014 10:32:06 GMT
Sounds like you found a good vet, do keep in touch with the vet, they can be very helpful on the phone. I don't recall a sinus/ gum problem with no teeth problems on the forum before.
I'm glad he coped with the anaesthetic so well, let's hope it turns out to be a fixable short term problem.
Send the vet bill to Pets@home.
|
|