|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 25, 2016 13:41:00 GMT
Hi guys,
Unfortunately I have had a terrible time with my degus recently.
I had 4 sisters in a group with 4 other females for the past 4 years. I am unsure of their ages or backgrounds as they are rescues.
About 3 weeks ago one of the girls started acting strangely, I took her to the vets and they thought she had an URTI. It turns out she actually had a tumour and had to be put to sleep a week ago. 2 days later I went to check on them all as I do as soon as I get home from work in the morning and noticed severe wounds on another one of the sisters. I rushed her to the vets but she did not survive the operation due to shock.
Not long ago I noticed one of the other girls acting strangely and dribbling so after checking her teeth, one was out of place as if it had been knocked. I took her to the vets and they agreed it looked like it had been knocked but hasn't improved so I took her for a dental today.
They have come back to me and said her back teeth are in the stage of severe dental disease and they believe the 'knocked' tooth has been caused by one growing in the middle of her bottom incisors due to a possible tumour.
I have asked them to finish the dental for now in hope that they are wrong and this tooth does not make another appearance however they said it is likely and may be kinder to have her put to sleep.
I am desperate. I have had these degus for 4 years and adore them, to have lost 2, possibly 3 of them in a matter of 1 week.
Please, does anyone have any experience with degus and dental disease. Any pointers that could help?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 25, 2016 13:42:38 GMT
Note: obviously I want what is best for Myrtle but if there is anything I can do to help her then please let me know
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 25, 2016 14:20:36 GMT
I'm sorry, I've not had any goo with dental issues (touching everything that used to be a tree), but a couple of members have. One in particular is based in Canada, so will be online later.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Myrtle x
|
|
|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 25, 2016 14:36:46 GMT
Thank you.
I have asked them to fix what they can for her for now but they think she has a couple of weeks until she's back where she is now.
I would really appreciate any help. This is all breaking my heart
|
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Aug 25, 2016 15:59:38 GMT
There are two elements to dental disease, one is when the roots overgrow through the jaw and up into the sinuses, there is no treatment for this, it becomes painful in the later stages and is usually fatal, but they can survive a year or even two if it is detected early and the degu responds to diet changes. The other kind is where the top of the teeth overgrow or grow in odd directions, most often it is the back teeth that throw spurs off in odd directions that the degu can't wear away with normal eating. Tumours and extra teeth are more unusual.
I can tell you that the front teeth grow incredibly fast, something like 1cm in 10 days or so, so you will know soon if the problem is going to recur. Molar spurs normally re-occur much more slowly, like 2 to 6 months or so.
Recovery time after dental work can vary, normally it takes a couple of days for them to be happy eating again.
I'm very sorry for your losses.
|
|
|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 25, 2016 16:20:35 GMT
The vet said her back teeth were quite sharp. When you say diet changes to help it, what can I give her? She is currently on Supreme Petfoods Science Selective Degu to avoid them selectively eating.
I desperately want her to get better. Her bottom teeth and back teeth are the problems, her top teeth are perfect.
I know if it is a tumour then there is nothing I can do unfortunately but I really hope there is some way to lengthen her life span (with her being happy and healthy)
Thank you so much
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 25, 2016 18:03:46 GMT
I think Moletteuk is referring to a link between dental health and the correct levels of calcium and phosphorus. A good diet should be at least 1% calcium, and there should be a balanced ratio of 2:1 calcium to phosphorus, aka twice as much calcium as phosphorus. moletteuk, correct me if I'm wrong! |
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Aug 25, 2016 18:27:24 GMT
It's slightly unusual to have problems in the bottom and not the top, but at least that's better than there being a problem with all the teeth, perhaps there is something going on with the lower jaw. Quite often you get pairs of trouble with the top and bottom ones opposing each other causing a problem, this is definitely something to look out for with the front teeth.
Yes, make sure she gets plenty of calcium, the Science Selective is good for calcium, avoid grains if you can (which are high in phosphorus), although a few oats are good if they are off their food and losing weight. The other important thing is to feed plenty of forage in a good variety, including some fresh if you can.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Aug 25, 2016 19:32:04 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 25, 2016 21:29:31 GMT
Thank you for all your input. I picked Myrtle up today and the vet stated that she believes she is around 8-9 years old and hence I have been having problems with the sisters. The teeth have been filed for now in the hope that she is more comfortable and hopefully can eat and last a bit longer. Unfortunately the x-ray showed her back incisors have their roots in Myrtle's sinuses which as one of you said previously, is usually fatal  However she is back home and eating her food normally! When you say no grains, all of their food contains grains and I fear if I just feed her fresh food she will become even more ill, surely? |
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 25, 2016 22:29:06 GMT
There is a growing range of foods that are closer to a degu natural diet, based on leaves, twigs, seeds etc. Which country are you based in?
|
|
|
|
Post by melissage on Aug 26, 2016 6:54:58 GMT
I'm in the UK
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 26, 2016 8:55:01 GMT
If you want to try and move to a more natural diet, ratrations do a good seed mix, and you could add Burgess or Rosewood leaf/flower/herb mixes.
I'm currently experimenting with the degu mixes available in Germany, where degus are more prevalent.
|
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Aug 26, 2016 16:54:07 GMT
Good news that she has recovered so well  If you check out our commercial food chart and food review thread, you will see that some mixes/ pellets are grainless. I would add either the Rosewood Naturals quad pellets or the very similar JR Farm grainless Guinea to the Science Selective. The Ratrations seed mix is good for making sure they get plenty of calcium, and also alfalfa is good for calcium. Then you can buy in a few herb mixes or pick some for yourself (dandelions, grasses, tree leaves, plantain, clover, shepherd's purse, daisies, marigolds, nettles, hogweed, etc etc). Adding in the forage to the diet is likely to be the most beneficial. At their age they may be a bit reluctant to try new things but it's always worth a try. |
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 26, 2016 16:59:23 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Aug 26, 2016 19:38:47 GMT
So glad to hear that she is doing so well and eating normally! I hope you have an extended time with her now!
|
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Aug 26, 2016 22:09:37 GMT
Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier. My sincerest condolences – I am going/have been going through a similar situation as you are. My heart goes out to you.
You did for Myrtle exactly what I would have (and have) done.
My degu Lilac lived a year with molars growing into her nasal cavity and also downward below the jaw line. She lived with Metacam given to her as needed – which was most of the time – to reduce any inflammation and pain, and Baytril which was given also as needed to deal with the recurring infections caused by internal and external injury caused by the overgrowing molars. She seemed happy most of the time and lived on a diet of fresh dandelion leaves, dried pea flakes, thawed peas, small bits of hard pellets, sesame seeds – anything that she could eat. These would have to be handfed by me because, if I left this in the cage, her cagemates would eat it before she got to it. Another thing to try, if/when she is in the later stages of the disease, is organic baby food (pea, sweet potato, spinach, squash) or grinding up sunflower seeds with pellets (I use a mortar and pestle) and then wetting the mixture so that it can be shaped into soft shapes that the deg is able to eat.
It is wonderful that she eating normally after the dental surgery. Keep an eye on her – when the roots have invaded the nasal sinuses you may start to see that she makes noises when she breathes and/or has difficulty breathing. That is when it might be time to get her started on a regimen of Metacam and Baytril. However, hopefully these roots may grow very slowly and she may be fine for months to come. The Supreme Science Degu food is well balanced. The fact that she is as old as she is and that this is the first time she is having dental issues is amazing. Whatever you have been doing, you've been doing it right.
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Aug 27, 2016 1:01:25 GMT
yasmin, I knew you'd be a great person to respond
|
|
