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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 11:39:05 GMT
No, I think the closer I get, the more upset he gets. He doesn't mind me sitting next to the cage near him though. Am trying to spend as much time as I can in the room though, don't want him to feel alone. This is why I didn't want goos again. It's breaking my heart I can't help him.
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Post by uglibug on Aug 7, 2016 12:36:31 GMT
You've done the best you can, the next few hours are up to him now. Just stay with him and keep offering treats to try and tempt him.
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Post by yasmin on Aug 7, 2016 17:06:08 GMT
The only thing you can do until the vet sees him on Monday is to keep him as comfortable as possible. Did the vet give you Metacam? Metacam can be given once every 24 hours.
It does seem like it might be a dental issue. There is no choice but taking the risk of sedation so that his molars can be inspected and any spur removal/trimming required can be done. That will cost $$$.
The X-ray is optional – it will show whether or not he has roots growing into his eye socket/nasal cavities and all that can likely be done if that is the case is palliative. I would only have it done now because he will be sedated for the molar inspection and this way he will only need to be sedated once. However, my vet is able to take x-rays without sedation by placing the degu into a sock-like restrainer.
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Post by goolover on Aug 7, 2016 18:09:13 GMT
Oh no hun, just catching up after night shift. These things spring on us owners so quickly. Thinking of you and BB, he's luckily a big boy so if he is loosing weight and needs sedation he will still be a good weight to help him fight this. Keep positive, you acted quickly and are getting him help tomorrow. I'm sure the babies are fine so just concentrate on you and BB X
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 19:32:52 GMT
He still hasn't eaten that I can see. He was shouting earlier, think it's in pain. Is grinding his teeth a lot. Have just noticed a hairless patch on the interior of one of his back legs, but he won't let me look properly. It looked pink & healthy, maybe just barbering? Would he do that if in pain? Wonder how it's related? yasmin - no, no metacam, just baytril. He can an injection of painkiller yesterday night, but it's probably wearing off now. Am going to take him in as an emergency at 8am, want him sedating & xraying/checking/sorting all at the same time if possible. They can check his hair loss better when he's sedated. Jeez, he's gone downhill so quickly in 24 hours. Hope he can hold on 'til the morning.
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 19:51:14 GMT
The babies are all sitting together watching him. He's sitting in the corner nearest them. Hope he's getting some comfort from them being nearby. Haven't seen the babies this still since they arrived. Every time BB squeaks in pain, the babies flinch in unison.
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Post by bouncy on Aug 7, 2016 19:52:06 GMT
Keeping everything crossed x
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 7, 2016 20:30:47 GMT
Do you have a house robe, or hoodie, or something soft and fluffy that you can wear and he can just burrow into and enjoy the closeness of you? When my degus were feeling down . . . well actually almost any time, unless they were full of pepper . . . they loved me to wear my robe and they would sleep in the sleeves, or my cleavage, or anywhere over top of my belt tie. It seemed to give a lot of comfort.
I think you may be right about it being tooth related. The emerg vet you saw, that isn't the same at the vet you got BB from?
Ok . . . ignore the first bit. I completely missed the second page, and have now seen and read through it. Silly me!! He really sounds like he feels horrible. Poor boy! It's too bad he is unnerved by you rather than comforted. I know you want desperately to help him!
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haaj
Foraging Degu
Posts: 99
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Post by haaj on Aug 7, 2016 20:32:45 GMT
Just caught up with this thread - hang in there! Monday morning is just behind the corner by now!
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 21:10:11 GMT
....The emerg vet you saw, that isn't the same at the vet you got BB from? Ok . . . ignore the first bit. I completely missed the second page, and have now seen and read through it. Silly me!! He really sounds like he feels horrible. Poor boy! It's too bad he is unnerved by you rather than comforted. I know you want desperately to help him! No, the emergency vet is just the out of hours service because mine was shut. Mine said they'd pay for any treatment when they gave him to me, but I think they meant for their own services, probably not the emergency one. Will ask tomorrow. Can't believe he's only been here 6 weeks & he's already in trouble. Same happened with Dave the chinchilla. Think people dump them instead of taking them to the vets, & I end up with a bill for hundreds for a critter we can't save. Makes me so angry. This isn't fair. Does anyone have a rough idea of the cost of sedation, xrays or dental work? Am assuming it'll be £200 or more for all 3?
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 21:13:56 GMT
Just caught up with this thread - hang in there! Monday morning is just behind the corner by now! Don't know whether to go to bed, I want to be with him if he goes. Have seen him drinking, so that's one good thing.
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Post by goolover on Aug 7, 2016 21:48:48 GMT
Would he snuggle into a towel or something soft as deguconvert suggested if its put into his cage. Think if he is warm he will sleep if lights and tv are off. Least he has taken water, it will keep him going until the morning. I know its hard but you need to get sleep yourself as you might need to nurse him after his surgery. Keep us posted tomorrow, I'm sure everyone here will be thinking of you both. Millie had pneumonia about 2 years back and lost so much weight it looked impossible she would survive, vet said to put her down but we wouldn't. Expected her to stop breathing through the night but she made it through and still to this day we don't know how she survived it. They are tough little things and if they don't wanna give up, they will keep fighting. Everything crossed x
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 22:07:38 GMT
He's got a furry tunnel (sounds all kind of wrong) that he sleeps on top of, so it collapses in the middle & he's surrounded by fake fur, kind of like a degu pile. He has been on there, but seems to prefer having a shelf or wheel above him. Can't believe your Millie survived pneumonia, that's a huge battle for any one to fight, let alone a little one. Gives me some hope, but I guess it depends what the xrays show for BB. The poor bugger is really grinding his teeth, wasn't doing that yesterday. Think it's almost definitely dental. Hope it's fixable.
Does any one know if degus do ok if they have teeth removed? I know rabbits & guinea pigs can do well with missing teeth, but chinchillas don't tend to do as well. Wonder where degus fit on that scale. Any one got a goo with removed teeth?
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Post by randomname on Aug 7, 2016 22:39:15 GMT
I've just tried him with some dried dill - he was very interested, think he ate a little. Then he went for a drink of water & went under his wheel grinding his teeth. Think the water is hurting him as he does it after every drink. (& at other times, but always after a drink) Going to try & get some sleep, see how he is when I wake up. There's not much I can do for him now. I sleep in the same room (temporarily) so if he makes any noise I'll hear him
The babies have just had their first tiny bit of rosehip & some caraway seeds - all hoovered up in seconds. They all seem well, so am not worried about them. Don't think it's contagious, probably dental.
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Post by yasmin on Aug 8, 2016 2:08:00 GMT
It's a good sign that he is drinking a bit and eating a bit.
(Re: having teeth removed. My vet says that degu jaws are too fragile – that any kind of molar extraction when the molars have overgrown roots will likely not end well. Too much damage to the jaw and the degu will experience a great deal of pain with not a great chance of recovery.)
Let's hope that there are spurs, perhaps trapping his tongue or digging into his cheeks, and that removal of the spurs is all that is needed. Wishing you and BB all the best.
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Post by randomname on Aug 8, 2016 6:04:53 GMT
Thanks Yasmin. That's exactly what I've been told about chinchillas too. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that. BB still alive this morning, looks fairly alert, but not happy. Going to take him vets in an hour. Will let you all know what happens.
Thanks so much for helping me stay calm over the weekend folks, have been panicky & worried & you've all been a huge help. Thank you so much xx
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Post by Bexi87 on Aug 8, 2016 6:47:30 GMT
Fingers crossed for you and BB x
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Post by randomname on Aug 8, 2016 7:33:20 GMT
Just waiting for taxi. This is the most I've left the house in 2016! Just hope he'll be ok. Got no choice but to sedate, so am worried about that, but can't avoid it. At this point, he just needs to be out of pain.
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Post by randomname on Aug 8, 2016 8:45:50 GMT
Have left him at the vets. They'll sedate him & check him top to toe. Will probably get a call around lunch time to let me know what's happening. He seemed pretty feisty in his carrier, so hopefully that's a good sign. Time will tell as they say.
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Post by bouncy on Aug 8, 2016 8:49:51 GMT
Go and find something to keep you occupied, or you'll be on tenterhooks all morning. If you're engrossed in something, the time will fly by.
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