Post by layladegu on Nov 18, 2014 10:22:07 GMT
I had 4 degus, Layla, Lillia, Luna and Lola but they were separated into two pairs after they started fighting, about a year after I got them. In September, Layla suddenly got very sick. At the beginning of the week, she was a happy degu, running on her wheel and begging for treats but she deteriorated rapidly. We took her to the vets as soon as possible but you could feel that she was so cold and weak that they suggested we put her to sleep, even though they couldn't see anything particularly wrong with her. I didn't want to do that because she didn't look in pain and I wanted her to be with her degu friend, Lillia. We did receive Baytril from the vet to give her but they said it would be a miracle if it worked. Unfortunately, Layla only got worse and when I woke up the next morning, she was on her side and clearly in pain. As the vets is a quite far to travel, I didn't want to move her as looked like she was on her way out. However, she was so distressed and even started squeaking that I felt awful and took her to the vets to be put to sleep.
Now, my remaining degus are all together as Layla was the one who fought with Luna. Yesterday in the morning, they were fine and running on their wheels and being normal crazy degus but when I came to give them their dustbath and dinner in the evening, Lola was just huddled in the corner upstairs and wouldn't come down to the lower level for her food. Normally, she loves her dustbaths but she was very unresponsive. I eventually brought the dustbath up to her and offered her some food but she just sniffed the food and sat in the dustbath for a bit, not even rolling in it. As it was late, I hoped that she would perk up in the morning. However, today, she is very cold and not eating or drinking. She's just huddled in the cage. It seems like exactly the same thing Layla had and I fear that despite giving her a drop of Baytril, I'll have to take her to the vet as well to put her to sleep. Originally, they came from Pets at Home (which I realize now is a horrid company). I got them in 2011 so they are about 3 and a half years old, which sadly isn't that old. They have water and fresh hay and I give them Beaphar XtraVital Degu food. They have plenty of space, two levels, two wheels and lots too chew. Layla had cataracts and so has Lola but I don't know how that could be related to them having the same illness. I don't think it's a respiratory infection as they don't seem to have difficulty breathing and there's no wheezing.
Any suggestions on what it could be and what I can do to help? I feel so helpless as Lola isn't a very cuddly degu and always used to get annoyed when I tickled her tummy and would bat my finger away with her paw!
Now, my remaining degus are all together as Layla was the one who fought with Luna. Yesterday in the morning, they were fine and running on their wheels and being normal crazy degus but when I came to give them their dustbath and dinner in the evening, Lola was just huddled in the corner upstairs and wouldn't come down to the lower level for her food. Normally, she loves her dustbaths but she was very unresponsive. I eventually brought the dustbath up to her and offered her some food but she just sniffed the food and sat in the dustbath for a bit, not even rolling in it. As it was late, I hoped that she would perk up in the morning. However, today, she is very cold and not eating or drinking. She's just huddled in the cage. It seems like exactly the same thing Layla had and I fear that despite giving her a drop of Baytril, I'll have to take her to the vet as well to put her to sleep. Originally, they came from Pets at Home (which I realize now is a horrid company). I got them in 2011 so they are about 3 and a half years old, which sadly isn't that old. They have water and fresh hay and I give them Beaphar XtraVital Degu food. They have plenty of space, two levels, two wheels and lots too chew. Layla had cataracts and so has Lola but I don't know how that could be related to them having the same illness. I don't think it's a respiratory infection as they don't seem to have difficulty breathing and there's no wheezing.
Any suggestions on what it could be and what I can do to help? I feel so helpless as Lola isn't a very cuddly degu and always used to get annoyed when I tickled her tummy and would bat my finger away with her paw!
