|
Post by lilybee on Aug 31, 2014 21:28:44 GMT
I'd like to stress this is not my animal, it's my friends but I am desperate to seek help for it.
He's around 5 and half (he's from Pets at home). Around 2 months ago he started losing energy, he used to run in his wheel day and night and suddenly just stopped. He started getting a little wobbly on his feet and slowly losing weight. He was still eating and running round but seemed to be aging. Then about a week ago he lost a lot of weight rapidly. He's still eating but not as much as before. He was taken to a vet by my friend, the vet didn't even know what a degu was and said he's dying but they don't know from what and can't offer any help.
The degu has been eating little bits of soft bread and putting on a small amount of weight. He's still lively in himself but clearly ill. I am taking him to my vet tomorrow as I believe they will be more knowledgable (they treat my chins).
I've been assuming it's dental, mostly because the gradual weight loss, followed by rapid weight loss and teeth grinding. Does anyone else have ideas or advice?
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Aug 31, 2014 23:12:45 GMT
Lucky goo that you are taking charge of his well-being and bringing him to your vet. How much does he weigh now? If you can weigh him, please post his weight so that perhaps someone on this site can evaluate how far gone he is. The fact that he is "wobbly on his feet" may indicate something other than teeth issues however, I think your hunch that it is his teeth is worth investigating.
My main experience is with teeth issues, so this is the advice I can offer assuming that he is having problems with his teeth.
If he is cooperative, the vet might be able to look at his molars with a scope without having to give him any sedation. However, if removal of spurs is required, they will have to sedate him. I would advise that you insist that he is given only a mild sedative instead of full anesthesia if they need to do this because, in his weakened state, full anesthesia is risky and could kill him. However, assuming that it is a teeth issue, if the vet insists on full anesthesia then I would think your options are as follows:
Option 1) Go ahead with the full anesthesia and have the teeth taken care of. (You many choose to have x-rays take but these are costly and may only show that he has teeth growing into his skull.) Be prepared that he may pass away. or Option 2) Say no to full anesthesia now. Ask for Metacam to help control pain and inflammation and see if the degu will start eating again. If he does eat (see below) then get his weight back up. Once his state is better, then bring him back to the vet for full dental treatment. If he does't start eating in the next few days then your only option may be Option 1.
White bread is not really good for him. Will he eat anything else? Try feeding him soft stuff like thawed out frozen peas, rolled oats, shelled sunflower seeds, a bit of thinly sliced fresh carrot, flattened and/or softened bits of his regular food (what food does he usually eat? If he is having teeth issues, I recommend Versele-laga Degu Nature because it has bits like flattened dried peas and carrot slices and some pelleted food that are thin disc-shaped bits or long narrow bits that are easier for degus with teeth pain to eat. I pick these out for my degu Lilac who has major teeth issues), spinach or other leaves, shelled sesame seeds, etc. Also try Versele-laga Crock Complete herb treats because they have vitamins added and are easy for goos with teeth issues to eat. The key is to get him eating and to get him to put back some weight.
As well, provide him water in a bowl.
All that said, it could possibly not be related to his teeth at all but you won't know that until the vet has a look. Good luck and please keep us posted.
|
|
|
Post by lilybee on Sept 1, 2014 6:15:25 GMT
Thank you for your reply. I was reading online about the calcium: phosphorous ratio and investigated the degus diet.. He's fed pellets with a 1.8 : 1 ratio and the only other thing he eats is peanuts. He has hay but no vegetables or anything. So I imagine his calcium levels are much lower than they should be. Would it be too late to introduce vegetables? I read some cause bloat and diarrhoea, so I think it would need to be very slowly introduced.
Do you know if he'd need to be admitted just to mildly sedate and look at his teeth? He hates being held by people so I think it will be a struggle.
We were going to have him put to sleep but my friend can't handle it and wants me to take over and deal with it because its too difficult for him. I'm hoping we can at least get some weight on him and keep him going for a little longer. I'm phoning the vets when they open and booking him for the afternoon.
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 1, 2014 20:37:42 GMT
It's never too late to introduce vegetables. My only experience with bloat was when I was feeding mine the first clover leaves of spring. I gave 7 leaves each but that was too much for Makoto (who probably ate his buddy Chuugi's share as well). So now, they each just get 2 clover leaves a day along with other leafy veggies like dandelion, spinach, chard, etc.
If the vet is only mildly sedating him, he does not need to be admitted. My vet does it while I wait. Takes the degu out back, then looks at the teeth, shaves off any spurs, then brings them back. They are often a bit groggy for a few hours after, and then if dental work has been done they are usually in some discomfort for a few days. But within a week they're better than ever.
Good luck. Please keep us posted.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 5, 2014 0:53:54 GMT
How is the degu doing, and what did your vet say?
|
|