Post by floss on Sept 19, 2014 19:35:04 GMT
This thread may need moving to the introduction section so apologies if it is in the wrong place however I think our Degu Derek may be epileptic!?
I bought a large Sky X trail cage for our two degus (females - Derek and Wilfred) and the saw three degus (females around 10 weeks ish) that had been abandoned by their owner, so rescued them (we couldn't leave them in the shop!!)
I read the introduction section and spilt the cage (top/bottom) but they could still see each other as I left a small bit of mesh for them to see each other, we then introduced them all in the bath several times and this went well, we then decided to let them in the cage together after a very good clean out- this did no go well, there was lost of squabbling but nothing serious so we were stood on hand watching them after around 5 minutes all of a sudden Derek appeared to have a seizure, he was laid on the floor of the cage distorted wriggling around and unable to get up. I grabbed her with a tea towel and thought she was going to die as she then went limp and wasn't moving in my hands, I laid her down in some hay and she was breathing (panting), we actually thought initially she may have broken her back by landing funny or something. Anyway I Immediately took her friend out and separated the cage and put her back with just her friend. She laid on her back panting with her legs stuck up in the air ALL NIGHT, I didn't sleep much that night as I kept getting up to check she was still alive and by morning she was moving about again and seemed ok, running on her wheel like nothing had happened!
We decided we had moved too fast with the introduction and blamed ourselves, we put Dereks funny turn down to shock and let them all settle again for a week by not mixing them in the bath, we then let them mix in the bath several times over several weeks since and it all seemed again to be going fine, not even much squabbling just a few bums in the air at each other and lots of weeing. We have swapped both sets from top to bottom and bottom to top and mixed shavings bedding everyday they appeared to not be bothered by this.
We then decided today, it was time for them to meet again with the full cage opened up in the middle, straight away they began squabbling by chasing each other and about two minutes after being mixed Derek again was on the floor appearing all distorted (legs all over and her neck bent right back it looked like it had snapped!) and violently twisting and not able to get up. I immediately took her out and put her on a pile of hay, she lay their appearing to be exhausted. She didn't move for a few minutes so I stupidly stroked her whilst offering her water and got a very nasty bite. She then laid on her back but only for a few minutes before getting up. I separated the cage again and put the Degus back in, Derek now appears to be ok and running on her wheel.
What is going on? I'm thinking it may be stress triggering this condition/behaviour could it be epilepsy? I have never seen her do it before, only those two times but I'm stuck on what to do?? Do you think she needs to see a vet? (got a feeling the vet will not know much at all!) Do I continue to try and introduce them in neutral territory and take it over several months? or do I allow them to be stress free and live separately but with not as many friends?
Has anyone ever had a similar experience?
Many thanks
