Degu Cone Head?

[Karma]

Question - has anyone on here ever tried to make or use a cone on their degu? I am not having any luck with Einstein and his foot and this may be the next step. I have paperwork on how to create one for a sugar glider but was wondering if anyone had personal experience?

We need Einstein to stop chewing at the bandage on his foot - he has irritated his entire foot and if he doesn't leave it alone it may come down to amputating that whole leg. Of course we really don't want to do that ....

[winic1]

Sorry, can't help you there. Recently had a vet tell us to put a t-shirt on a cat to keep her from chewing her fur--yeah, right, lady. T-shirt on a cat, oh sure, that'll work.

[Maravilla]

Have a look here: www.degus-online.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36939&p=340780#p340780.

In this case it is made of plastic, I rather would try it with thicker cardboard (it is possible that you have to renew it a couple of times). The question is how to attach both ends. Here, some tape is used, but others say that it might be better to staple it. Or it might even be possible to sew it together.

You have to make sure that the degu can still eat and drink properly as well as use all ladders or ramps.

[Karma]

Thanks for the link maraville ... I ended up make one shaped like the ones you put on dogs and cats to ensure he can't get to his foot - although it ended up shorter than I wanted :/.

And it took him 2 full hours to settle down ..... But now he is resting -sigh-

As long as he will eat critical care and water from a syringe I think we have a chance ..... There is no way that he can eat properly since he can't hold food up to his mouth - this is why it is a last ditch attempt.

[Kins]

I think we need a picture of Einstein in his cone of shame...I promise not to laugh...

[Karma]

Lol he moved and panicked too much so they were all blurry last night .... And he got it off and out of the closed! Cardboard box 3 foot x 2 foot and probably 30" high from the tiny inch opening. How? I have no idea!

Sooooo he is back in the cage with his brother with no bandage and no cone. And they are sound sound asleep in their house. I'm going to store today I think and get some blankets I can put down on all the levels to keep him off the shavings and carefresh - it is bugging his foot I think and there is small sticks and things from their branches and such that probably aren't good for him to walk on.

I really don't know what to do .... I think at this point I will just leave him be and what happens, happens. If he ends up chewing more on that foot I guess he will end up a tripod.

One a good note though - he loved the apple banana critical care . And when I say love I mean LOVED. So if I do ever have to totally hand feed them, it will work.

[littlepaws1999]

Is it possible to maybe put some sort of material bandage on his foot. And blankets would work too.

[Karma]

I have been bandaging him for the last 2 and a half weeks ...... That caused his entire foot to start to be ruined from the rubbing of the material when he is chewing at it. The top of his foot is one huge sore because of it so bandages are not going to work since he won't leave them alone. So instead of just the toe being injured, now his entire foot looks like crap and injured.

What else have I tried?
- bitter apple soaked bandages - eats right through it
- cut down a plastic syringe to encase the foot without being a huge bandage - 15 minutes and there is a hole the size of a pencil eraser in the smooth side directly to his foot
- huge bandage so he can't chew down quick enough to get to foot - worked but caused all the irritation still on his foot
- cut down a piece of metal and put on top of bandage where he was chewing - first time worked amazing!! I was gone camping for 24 hours and he didn't get through it! Second time - 2 hours and there was a hole beside the metal piece and he reached his toe through it.


..... I am starting to greatly dislike how smart these little rats are!!

[littlepaws1999]

Well that really sucks that nothing has been working. Although have you tried useing a saline solution and possibly washing his foot in it at least 2 times a day.

[Karma]

betaine washes, hot water baths were done once a day before re-bandaging, as well as adding a cream done by Harrison bird food - heal-x booster plus.

Now that his foot is not bandaged I have been doing betaine once a day but the water washes and cream every couple of hours.

He has irritated it a bit today but I'm going to give him a couple of days to see if it will heal with less stress.

he also is still on baytril and metacam (which I also am halving and dosing twice a day instead of once as it seems to keep him a lot more comfortable that way).