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Post by animalmadchloe on Sept 13, 2015 11:07:40 GMT
My babies are only about 3-3.5 years old it saddens me that their roots are over growing already [/quote] That's how old my degu Chuugi was when his roots began to seriously overgrow. Since he was born he has received as balanced a diet as I could give him – the same as his other 6 siblings, 5 cousins, father and mother, and 2 aunties. My vet has told me that the issue is likely a genetic one – that a balanced diet helps to slow down the process but won't prevent it completely. Chuugi's father Sean (now 5.5 years old) has had spur trims several times, but his mother Peridot (also age 5.5 years) has had NO issues at all so far. His sisters Meiyo and Jin have a jaw-locking issue and have had small spurs removed, but his other two brothers (Yuu, Makoto) and other two sisters (Rei and Gi) have so far had NO teeth issues. [/quote] Earl and Dennis have had had no teeth issues at all and mr grey and big al are constant and there supposedly all brothers
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Post by yasmin on Sept 17, 2015 20:45:58 GMT
When I mentioned mashed food, I meant a home made, do you have a blender? You could grind up seeds and nuts to a paste and mix them into some sort of vegetable mash or oatmeal, maybe with a little moistened nuggets and even some Critical Care or recovery food mixed in, you might need to experiment to find a mix she likes. I am now going to try adding a bit of Critical Care to the mix. Meiyo is in an awful way this afternoon. She is wet on her cheeks and around her mouth, and one of her eyes is closed. All I could entice her to eat was some cooked squash and a couple of canned mung beans. Yesterday, she looked wonderful and I even saw her eating some of the hard food. I am beginning to fear that her roots are growing into one of her eye sockets – this has not been confirmed with an x-ray yet (was hoping she would regain some weight first to reduce her risk under anesthetic). Lilac is also having even more problems. Food she eats seems to be getting caught on this white bit that sticks out from one side of her mouth. I called the vet yesterday, and was put on a waiting list if there was a cancellation, but so far there's been no call. If it is a spur, it will need to be removed. But at least she will eat the mash and drinks from a syringe – so I am sure I can get some Critical Care into her.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 18, 2015 9:57:41 GMT
Oh dear, it seems like swings and roundabouts with Meiyo being so up and down and poor Lilac having more steady problems but perhaps doing better at trying to eat. Does Meiyo make up for lost time and eat lots when she is having a good day, or is she losing weight?
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Post by yasmin on Sept 18, 2015 16:40:13 GMT
Yes, she does make up for lost time. Today Meiyo looks reasonably good again – active, alert, running her wheel. Just a bit of wetness on her cheeks and the eye is almost completely open. Go figure. Lilac is loving the little nuggets I'm making with the Critical Care. Meiyo tried one but has refused each nugget since. However, she will eat cooked veggies sprinkled with Critical Care so I guess that's the way I'll get her to eat it.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 18, 2015 19:54:24 GMT
I think that's reassuring that she makes up for lost time, and also good that the problem is intermittent, it seems to suggest that her main problem is the jaw locking, maybe it causes pain or distortion that affects her eye, rather than overgrowing roots? Let's hope. You must feel like you are running an avant garde, experimental, gourmet degu restaurant as chef, waitress and bottle washer and the tips are terrible! At least you are making progress with the recipes
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 19, 2015 5:59:54 GMT
Here, here!! You are amazing, Yasmin!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 19, 2015 6:00:20 GMT
You could write a little pamphlet on recovery diets.
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Post by yasmin on Sept 20, 2015 23:55:43 GMT
A recovery diet pamphlet would be more like a flow chart. Try A. If A does not work then try B or C. If the degu attempts to eat B, and it falls out of their mouths, then continue on to page 2, Schedule 1.1 .... and so on. These goos are such individuals and their issues so varied. That said, I noticed Meiyo eating her regular food today. Hurrah – if only this could keep up for more than a few hours or, even better, until I have dealt with Sean who stopped eating last night and for whom I have so far found nothing that he will/can open his mouth for.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 21, 2015 14:17:19 GMT
Yeah, I was thinking it would be kind of like charting a river, full of turbulence, eddies, calm water, stagnate places where nothing is working, maybe a whirlpool or two. You are amazing, Yasmin! You have such wonderful patience and endurance. I am so sorry that Sean is not eating!
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Post by yasmin on Sept 21, 2015 15:36:06 GMT
Finally found a mixture that Meiyo will eat! A few almond slivers, with a peanut, some pea flakes all crushed up with a mortar and pestel and then combined with Critical Care and a bit of water.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 21, 2015 18:57:11 GMT
WOO HOO!! Well done, Yasmin!
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Post by yasmin on Oct 9, 2015 18:21:52 GMT
Update on Meiyo:
She continues to have jaw spasms. Sometimes it is so bad that she spasms every 10-15 seconds. So each time I go to feed her, I don't know how she'll be. I think I have come up with some sort of a routine. I first go see her and offer her a VL Herb Crock. It has to be split in half or quarters depending on whether she is spasming or not. When she's very bad, she won't eat it at all. Then, based on how she is, I prepare for her a selection of the following: • Puffed Rice, Ground Almonds (to save mess/time, I buy this pre-ground from the organic store) mixed with a drop of water and shaped into little rice-shaped bits, VL Crock Complete Herb • Cooked squash (to same mess/time, I buy a bag of pre-cut frozen from the organic store), cooked sweet potato, cooked carrot (carrot has to be small young carrots otherwise even cooked they are too tough for her), thawed frozen peas • Canned adzuki beans, canned mung beans.
• I am now also giving her Metacam every second day. She seems to only accept it if I put it on puffed rice and let it sit for a while and dry up. • I offer a bit of Alfalfa hay every couple of days. It smells good and it has lots of flaky bits that perhaps she can swallow without chewing. • When I mix Critical Care in with the ground almonds, it seems to stick too much to the roof of her mouth and this causes spasms. • She must have a problem chewing. Unfortunately, she refuses to take anything via spoon – she refuses anything watery like baby food and diluted Critical Care. • If she has three spasms in a row, I stop feeding her to let her jaw rest and return an hour or so later.
Because I work away from home, this is all very difficult. I look forward to nights and weekends when I can spend more time with her. And I worry about her when I am at work. I have seen her try and eat some dried leaves and occasionally some of the hard food, so I hope she is eating a bit of this when I am not there. Not sure if she is drinking from the water bottle.
I know this is not a balanced diet. I am working toward that but it seems like this all is more a case of two steps forward, three steps back. Right now all I can do is make sure that she is getting enough energy and as much nutrition as is possible all the while choosing foodstuffs that don't initiate the spasms.
The only thing, vet-wise, that I can do is have an x-ray done of her jaw to confirm that this is a mechanical, bone issue and not a muscular one. Not sure if the risk of sedation (given her underweight state) is worth it.
Her sister, Jin, continues to have the odd spasm too but it is not nearly as severe/frequent as Meiyo's. Jin still eats normal food.
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 10, 2015 4:36:29 GMT
I'm glad you have at least that much figured out. How can you not worry when you are away? I would too, and every time you post something new here, I have a mini panic wondering what I might read. I was going to suggest an XRay, but you are right about the risks of anesthetic. Such a difficult condition and situation!
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 10, 2015 13:31:51 GMT
How is she in herself? Does she still have good days or is this getting to be all day, every day?
It sounds like you are doing a good job figuring out what she can manage to eat.
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Post by yasmin on Oct 13, 2015 2:38:16 GMT
It's up and down with her. She is still active and interactive with her mom and sister, and she totally loves it when she gets the chance to run around in the degu room – so, she still has a decent quality of life I think. It's just when the spasms set in and those only seem to happen when she eats
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 13, 2015 19:45:13 GMT
Poor little miss! If I were in that same difficulty, I would find it hard to make myself eat, since it always/frequently results in pain.
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Post by yasmin on Oct 26, 2015 22:45:53 GMT
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Post by winic1 on Oct 27, 2015 4:47:56 GMT
So very sorry! Poor little Meiyo.
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Post by Bexi87 on Oct 27, 2015 7:47:11 GMT
Oh Yasmin I'm so sorry
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Post by bouncy on Oct 27, 2015 11:44:47 GMT
That's so sad, but take heart that you did everything you could to make her life as wonderful as possible.
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