|
|
Post by emmysdegus on Nov 17, 2015 23:02:12 GMT
My daughter has, or rather had, a pair of degus. Yesterday, they seemed fine. Today, sadly, they have both passed away. I feel horrible, and can't imagine what on earth we did wrong. They had fresh water, and they ate last night. They are probably just under a year old. Any ideas?
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Nov 18, 2015 4:55:43 GMT
I am so very sorry for your loss of both degus. What a terrible shock! Your daughter must be so devastated, and I can tell that you are, too. It can be very difficult to pinpoint a cause in such small animals. If I may ask some questions, it could help to narrow down some possibilities.
Did they have any injuries on them that would indicate fighting? Sometimes you have to push the fur the wrong direction to see anything, since degus have such thick fur.
Where in your home did you have their cage placed?
Was it near any kind of heat source? Or near a window that may not seal well?
Had you noticed any lethargy recently? Runny noses, or coughing?
What do you feed them, and had you tried anything new recently?
|
|
|
|
Post by krazypara3165 on Nov 18, 2015 8:49:16 GMT
so sorry to hear! In the room have any chemicals been used recently? aerosols, painting ect......
|
|
|
|
Post by emmysdegus on Nov 18, 2015 13:14:46 GMT
No injuries that we could find. Their cage was downstairs in the basement. Not close to a heat source. There is a window near their cage, but it's been fairly warm even at night and it doesn't seem drafty. I guess that's a possibility. I never thought to worry about drafts. No sign of illness. No aerosols or anything that I know of.
|
|
|
|
Post by emmysdegus on Nov 18, 2015 13:16:05 GMT
We feed them Timothy hay and degu pellets
|
|
|
|
Post by Karma on Nov 18, 2015 15:23:47 GMT
I would get your house tested for carbon monoxide ..... Small animals are much more sensitive to it than we are and being in the basement the degus could have been near a higher level than upstairs (a furnace that isn't working properly may give off carbon monoxide).
Think of miners carrying around canaries .....
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Nov 18, 2015 15:26:36 GMT
I wondered about carbon monoxide as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by emmysdegus on Nov 18, 2015 18:32:47 GMT
I've got to say, I wonder about that myself. However, our bunny was down there as well. I hate it. We have moved bunny just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure what Em will do next. They sure were cute little guys.
|
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Nov 18, 2015 23:26:57 GMT
The bunny is certainly bigger and heavier than the degus, maybe it was just enough carbon monoxide to kill them but not quite the rabbit?
If they both died at the same time, it has to be something environmental--something they breathed, something they drank, something they ate or chewed on.
I'd definitely get your house, especially the basement, and furnace checked for CO; and make sure the furnace is working and venting properly, no occasional drafting backwards into the house instead of up the chimney pipe.
|
|
