|
Post by yasmin on Jan 20, 2016 16:26:11 GMT
My 4-year old male degu, Makoto, has been scratching his left ear and then shaking his head for the past week or so. I took him to the vet on Monday. He checked Makoto's ear and it was infected with yeast and bacteria. So he prescribed ear drops – not sure if the infection was due to him scratching his ear or some other issue but we were going to start with that. We've been giving Makoto the ear drops for the past two days but this morning he has become very lethargic and stumbles when he tries to walk anywhere. He is also not eating – he will take a nibble of a treat and then drop it.
I gave him some fresh greens last night – could it be bloat? He is not lying on his side. He is puffed up but does not look bloated.
Do I continue the ear drops? Is he dying? I am so worried and don't know what to do next. When the vet saw him, he checked Makoto's weight, heart rate, and listened to his lungs and all seemed fine. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (Of course my fear is that there are molar roots growing into his ear canal – is that possible?)
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 20, 2016 17:43:36 GMT
Perhaps the ear drops aren't working fast enough and the infection is getting worse. Can you phone the vet, tell them he is deteriorating and perhaps they will give you some oral antibiotics or maybe even an antibiotic injection?
I think a bad ear infection could account for all the symptoms by itself, it doesn't have to be dental related, but I think you are probably right to keep it in mind.
Has he had any other symptoms? Any dental symptoms? Did it come on suddenly?
|
|
|
Post by Karma on Jan 20, 2016 17:47:25 GMT
I agree .... Might have turned into a severe inner ear infection or possible travelled to the brain - where ear drops can't reach. Strong oral antiobiotics probably needed. Warmth, cuddles, anything that makes him comfortable.
I would contain him to a small cage to force resting, nothing he can jump up on to - his depth perception is probably off and you don't want any falls.
Hope he feels better soon!
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Jan 20, 2016 18:06:05 GMT
Thanks for the advice. I have made an appointment with the vet for this afternoon. Don't know what he can do but he could check the ear again and perhaps do an X-ray to see what else might be going on.
The ear scratching did not come on suddenly – it seemed to get worse the past week. The lethargy seemed to have started a bit after he spent the night with Roku (I've been trying to introduce them). The not-eating has come on suddenly. Last night he ate as usual – he loves eating. I did give him a bit of fresh chard and a few sunflower sprouts last night – could it be bloat? He has had bloat before. I tried to give him the Ovol but he won't eat.
Hopefully it is related to the ear infection and that it has not travelled to the brain. I have Baytril here but if he won't eat ... guess I should force it on him. We'll see what the vet says, I guess.
|
|
|
Post by Bexi87 on Jan 20, 2016 18:27:26 GMT
Oh Yasmin, I hope it gets sorted soon. Poor Makoto
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Jan 20, 2016 22:53:18 GMT
An ear infection will definitely account for all symptoms. The vestibular (ear) system controls balance, and it could well be that he feels so nauseous from this that he doesn't want to eat. Definitely another trip for stronger antibiotics. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Jan 21, 2016 0:40:31 GMT
An ear infection will definitely account for all symptoms. The vestibular (ear) system controls balance, and it could well be that he feels so nauseous from this that he doesn't want to eat. Definitely another trip for stronger antibiotics. Good luck! Back from the vet and that is what he said. It could also be that the ear drops are making him nauseous so we are stopping the ear drops and giving him Baytril and Metacam instead. It's a bit problematic because Makoto won't eat but the vet seemed able to give these to him via syringe so hopefully my husband and I can. I'm to call the vet with an update on Monday. Also, the vet said that there is no way that the molar roots are growing into his ear canal, so I'm relieved about that. If he doesn't start eating on his own soon, I will have to force feed him too. I am totally useless at that. Right now, I've removed one of the ramps so Makoto can only walk around the bottom level. He is still stumbling and refusing to eat, sitting instead in a corner all puffed up.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 21, 2016 11:29:24 GMT
Good luck with his appetite or the syringe feeding.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Jan 21, 2016 11:38:27 GMT
Bless! Hopefully, he'll perk up soon!
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 22, 2016 16:32:08 GMT
Oh my, Yasmin, I am so sorry! What a long season of trouble and difficulty for you and all your little loves. How is he doing today?
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Jan 23, 2016 0:29:43 GMT
He is not eating much. He tries – picks up food, nibbles a bit, then drops it. Poor baby still runs his wheel, then falls over on his side and lands on the floor. I have put in a lizard heat rock and he spends a lot of time sitting on it.
We are successfully getting antibiotic into him twice a day, along with Metacam once a day – thanks to my husband who is very good at it and so helpful – and we've started force feeding him a bit of water. I think we will ramp up tonight with Critical Care and more water. Wish he would at least drink when I offer him a syringe of water or a spoon of it, but he just stumbles away as fast as he can.
I so hope that the antibiotic kicks in soon and stops his stumbling and nausea. I am so afraid that he will die of starvation before that or that there is another issue causing his eating issues (a spur maybe?). I am also heartbroken that he does not have Roku or another degu to keep him warm. (He does not like be handled by us.)
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Jan 23, 2016 21:38:24 GMT
Poor little thing! Fingers crossed for him (and you too) x
|
|
|
Post by Bexi87 on Jan 23, 2016 23:32:41 GMT
I've got everything crossed for Makoto, poor boy. Could you get him a stuffed toy/sock that he can cuddle up to?
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Jan 24, 2016 2:00:40 GMT
I freaked out this morning. Makoto was running around agitated and squeaking. He picked up food, tried to eat it and then would just drop it. When we tried to give him his morning dose of Baytril, we could not get it into him and his fur around his chin came off in tufts. So I phoned the vet. Dr Auger wasn't in but another vet there – who I have dealt with before – Dr. Ellison was free to see him. ' I needed to find out if he was having an issue with his teeth. She looked at him and then I showed her how he takes a sunflower seed, opens it up and then just drops it – except, this time he ate it! And then another one, and another one after that! I have not seen him eat since Tuesday night. He had lost 20g – but here he was eating. She looked into his mouth and could not see any spurs holding down his tongue. She gave him his Baytril without any problem. This afternoon, he has eaten more sunflower seeds, a piece of carrot, some carrot leaves.... I am so happy. He still stumbling, but not as badly as before and is spending most of his time running his wheel. And he isn't squeaking anymore. I have made an appointment for a closer look at his teeth by Dr. Auger on Monday – Makoto is now totally bald under his chin and down the front of the chest and lost more tufts of fur at the vet today – but I am again hopeful.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2016 8:20:07 GMT
Oh Yasmin, I'm so happy for you! This is definitely a good sign! Re für, I'll knit him a little goo hoodie, if you like
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 24, 2016 11:48:02 GMT
I'm sorry he's given you such a fright, I really hope he has turned the corner now and will continue to improve now. Little monkey making a liar of you at the vets, but in such a good way!
I wonder if the fur loss could be a side effect of the meds, although I don't think we've had that on the forum before, I guess there's a possibility it is stress related, hopefully it will clear up when the infection has cleared.
|
|
|
Post by animalmadchloe on Jan 24, 2016 18:46:13 GMT
Glad he's feeling better xx
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Jan 25, 2016 1:42:34 GMT
Thanks. He is eating on his own today – I've seen him. He loves his fresh greens and he's even eating alfalfa hay. And I've seen him drink from a bowl as well. He is still unsteady but his balance is improving. Bald as a vulture under his chin and upper chest with tufts of fur still coming out. Have to go in to work on Monday so will reschedule Makoto's appointment for his teeth to be checked out later in the week. So far, so good.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Jan 25, 2016 9:30:12 GMT
I did some reading, and found a list of suggestions by an exotic vet. It appears he current stress and the amount of drugs he's on are sufficient to cause the hair loss. When everything settles down, he should return to his fluffy self.
In the meantime, if you need a hoodie, just shout x
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 25, 2016 17:17:45 GMT
Bouncy, that is excellent information to hear, and I am thankful that you have found it and posted accordingly. Well done! Would LOVE to see a little degu hoodie!!
|
|