|
Post by emmalb on Sept 27, 2016 18:38:06 GMT
I adopted my female degu over a month ago. She keeps getting reoccurring "urine infections" the vets don't excatly know what is wrong with her or what is causing this infection she has had this all the live. She is currently around 1 and by herself. The vets have suggested that I get her spayed but because she is so little and it is a big operation for her I wanted to know if there are any other degu owners that have had their female neutered and if I should go ahead and go the surgery. I really don't want her to die during or after surgery. If anyone has anything helpful ideas I would really appreciate it.
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Sept 27, 2016 18:44:20 GMT
why do they say that spaying her will help with the urinary infections? Never heard of that before.
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 27, 2016 18:59:15 GMT
Yeah. They are not to sure what it is but she keeps getting yellow/orange coloured stains around her bits and also gets some discharge. They think neutering might help stop this.
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Sept 28, 2016 0:20:30 GMT
Welcome to the forum, emmalb. Spaying a female degu is very risky. I have never had it done, but would not because, even if she does survive the procedure, she will have to endure a great deal of discomfort/pain and the risk of infection is high. Can only imagine the level of aftercare that you would be required to provide. Instead, I would first try and treat the infection with an appropriate antibiotic for several weeks.
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Sept 28, 2016 1:31:02 GMT
Does this problem seem to happen regularly? Have they actually looked and verified that it is an infection, like checked a urine sample or culture for bacteria? Or could it be that when she goes through estrus, which is every 3 weeks if I remember correctly, she just has a prominent cycle with readily noticeable discharge? Maybe she just doesn't keep herself clean?
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2016 1:42:43 GMT
It sounds a little like vaginitis which MIGHT be fixed with being spayed, but that would have nothing whatsoever to do with the urinary tract. In fact, spaying actually can result in many issues with the bladder and urethra as a direct result of the surgery. To suggest that spaying will help with bladder/kidney infections is just ludicrous!! That is a long standing issue across MANY species following the removal of the uterus etc., from humans on down. So, no, I don't think it will help her at all! Is there another veterinary clinic near you that you can take her to for a second opinion, or an exotics specialist maybe?
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 28, 2016 5:14:28 GMT
It has been a reoccurring issue even before I got her. It's not her cycle. I think it might be attention seeking as lately I haven't been given her enough attention due to looking after a sick rabbit. She is currently on antibiotics and ant inflationary medication which she has been on and off for since last year. The vets couldn't get a urine sample from her as there wasn't enough wee to take and when they did a bacterial culture it came back as inconclusive.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Sept 28, 2016 11:10:04 GMT
Are they unsure whether the discharge is coming from her urethra or her vagina, and therefore aren't sure whether it's a urinary infection or vaginal/ womb infection?
Can you see it coming out and exactly where it is coming from? If so could you get a photo?
What antibiotics has she been on and for how long?
Do you have a good history with the vet?
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 28, 2016 13:49:30 GMT
I have a good history with the vets. She has been on and off baytril and metacam for over a year. At one point she as on the same medication for almost 3 mouths. In unsure where the discharge is coming from when ever I bathe the area everything looks weepy.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2016 14:49:05 GMT
Well, that definitely looks unusual and crusty all over. One of the things that influences everything is diet, so would you tell us what you feed her, please? Perhaps there are some clues in there? What colour are her teeth?
Just to clarify, you have only had her for a month . . . but you know her vet history for the past year? Did you adopt her from the vets? From her previous owner?
Is she your only degu? Has she been with other degus prior to you bringing her into your home?
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 28, 2016 14:54:26 GMT
She gets pets at home degu nuggets, hay and the occasional monkey nuts and some small animal treats and some coriander. She does eat the wood from her wooden toys. I adopted her from a pet shop where I work and the vets are connected. She was with another degu but they had to be separated due to them both fighting. Her teeth are yellow/ orange and are not over grown
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2016 15:15:59 GMT
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 28, 2016 15:22:14 GMT
Thanks I'll read up. She is on back to nature bedding the same as when she was in the store and she has the "little friends large chewproof tall metal chinchilla cage. I say she is roughly a year old. Thanks for the help
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Sept 28, 2016 19:28:59 GMT
Can you make it come out if you squeeze gently and see where it is coming from? The top hole is the urethra, the bottom hole is the anus, and the vulva is actually a tiny horizontal line between the urethra and anus going crossways, it is normally sealed shut.
Has she responded at all to the baytril? What dose of baytril has she been on? Does she get worse if she comes off all the meds? Have you discussed with the vet trying a different antibiotic like marbocyl or septrin? Have you had an xray done? It's a shame the culture came back inconclusive, they can normally test quite small amounts. You could easily do a dip stick urine test if the vet gave you a couple of sticks to take away, I think this is worth doing, if any of the test squares show a reaction then take her to the vet in a clean, bare carrier and wait for her to do a proper wee.
Does she have any other symptoms? Is there any swelling? Does it seem to cause pain or lethargy and affect her quality of life? (Is she perkier when she is on painkillers?) Do you notice any variation in line with her 3 weekly cycle?
I think any kind of surgery would be a last resort and I would need the vet giving me a clear explanation of how it might help (rather than let's just try it in case it helps). All the kinds of things I'm asking are the types of things I would be discussing with the vet.
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 28, 2016 21:20:57 GMT
Her vulva looks red and swollen. She is on 0.05ml of baytril 2.5%. She has been on septrin but that made no difference. The baytril seems to work but then she will get worse after coming off it. She hasn't had any X-rays or scans. We have tried on numerous occasions to get a urine sample but she doesn't produce enough urine. She hasn't been on marbocyl. I do notice that some days she seems really restless and constantly chatting and me does have the odd sleepy day. I don't really notice anything with her cycle. She has the vets booked again for a check up next week.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2016 23:26:22 GMT
OK, I have an idea . . . I'm going to recommend that you make a mild saline bath for her . . . perhaps even use Epsom Salts . . . boil the water, dissolve the Epsom Salts in the water, let it cool to just warmer than room temperature, place in a steep sided container that will allow the depth of water to be just deep enough to have her bottom in, and have her walk around and through it for 10 minutes. Have a dry towel ready to take her out and dry her off. Do this twice daily for five days, always use a clean towel, and see if she will improve. If you see her getting worse, lethargic, or anything questionable, stop doing it. I suppose you could also just hold her and sponge her with the water/saline solution and a cotton pad. I was only wondering if the movement in the water might help.
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 29, 2016 12:37:01 GMT
I've already been bathing the area with warm water and diluted hibi scrub. She's not to keen on that. She makes little grumpy noises. I'll try it with the Epsom salt. I read that i was giving her way to many monkey nuts so I've swapped the monkey nuts to sunflower seeds and I'll see if that helps. I was definitely giving her to many treats. It's hard not to. She is so cute and full of character. I'm not in her good books by cutting the treats way down.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Sept 29, 2016 16:32:45 GMT
From reporting on the forum, 0.05ml of baytril is an average to low dose (assuming an average weight of 250g), for longer term bacterial issues people quite often are prescribed up to 0.1ml twice a day. Marbocyl is another broad spectrum antibiotic that at least one member has been given for a long term antibiotic, I think that was a similar dose. I think a higher dose and/or a change of antibiotic is something you could discuss with the vet. I would also ask if something might show up on an xray. It sounds strange to me that she isn't producing enough urine for a dip stick test, how much does she drink? This could be quite a big problem that could be related to a cause OR an effect of a urinary problem. It also seems a bit odd that she has urinary and genital symptoms, I have no idea what could explain that. My vet occasionally asks for consultation advice from Edinburgh University via email, I think they just explain the situation, send any test results, and ask for advice, it takes a couple of weeks, but sometimes they come back with a good idea. Diet improvements are always worth making, she could really benefit from a variety of forage in the diet, and also some high nutrient oil seeds, they will provide a good range of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. The Ratrations seed mix or something similar put together using our nutrition charts will be much better for her than sunflower seeds alone deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15602/vegetable-seed-nut-nutrition-charts You can use dried veg and tiny pieces of nut and also plant roots like dandelion and nettle as treats that are fairly healthy, so you don't need to limit the quantity or frequency of treats so much (with reason!).
|
|
|
Post by emmalb on Sept 29, 2016 16:42:40 GMT
I will talk to the vet next week about changing her medication. I've been looking for a specialist near me but I cannot seem to find any. She drinks a good amount and she has little accidents now and again when she is on my bed and the amount looks like enough for a degu to produce. It's just fustrating when she doesn't do it for the vet. She is an ultraviolet degu with brown fur and a white undercoat. I also might ask the vet to do an ultrasound as well as an X-ray. But other than her symptoms she's still her little cheeky self. I think I'm more worried about her than she is
|
|
|
Post by saggy on Sept 29, 2016 21:24:31 GMT
Mine love the rat rations seed mix and dandelion roots even more than traditional treats and they're healthy ones so you will still be in her good books :-)
|
|