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Post by chloegreen on Oct 14, 2016 20:37:40 GMT
My remaining degu Jerry has been living alone for a while since his friend sadly passed. Today I have noticed a sudden weight loss (over span of 2 days max) and he was so lethargic, I was able to pick him up and he just wanted to cuddle and sleep which is unusual for him. I'm so worried as this happened to one of my original goos who was considerably older than Jerry is now. I will take him to the vets tomorrow if he makes it through the night, does anyone have any idea of what could've possibly caused this?
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Post by winic1 on Oct 14, 2016 21:48:56 GMT
I would guess that sudden, rapid weight loss like that would be dehydration, which would account for him feeling and acting so poorly.
If you check his cage, do you see signs of diarrhea or vomiting?
Check his water bottle, is it working properly, water flows freely when the tip is triggered? Is the water clean and fresh, and the inside of the bottle and tube clean and fresh? Sometimes algae or mildew manages to grow inside unseen even tho you rinse and change the bottle daily.
I would try giving him some little drops of water from an eye dropper or syringe--see if he wants it. If he willingly drinks it, that's a place to start. Then, do you have something to get some nutrition into him, others can advise on what type (I'm in the USA, so I don't know what you might have over there)or some babyfood (vegetable, not fruit, don't want to overdo the sugar), to try and get some calories into him.
Hopefully he will hang on, perk up, and make it to the vets tomorrow to find out what is wrong.
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 15, 2016 0:39:06 GMT
That is really scary, and it doesn't sound good. So glad you have an appointment for him!! Keep him warm. Maybe get just a couple grains of salt on the tip of a finger and see if he would be interested in that. Dehydration can result in wonky electrolytes, and a tiny bit of salt might help him.
Brilliant thought, Winic, that he could be suffering some kind of dehydration! That has never occurred to me. A real possibility.
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Post by yasmin on Oct 15, 2016 1:08:22 GMT
Good you have an appointment with the vet. It could be any number of things – it could be a heart issue, a stomach issue, teeth issue, a tumor, or some other ailment/condition. The vet can feel for lumps or a distended stomach, X-rays can show a twisted stomach or gas in the intestine or molar root invasion, the vet can hear if his heart and lungs are clear, and a look into his mouth might reveal a hidden spur. Pain medications can help if he is not eating due to pain and discomfort, antibiotics could work to cure an infection, etc.
Is he eating anything?
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 7:44:13 GMT
Good you have an appointment with the vet. It could be any number of things – it could be a heart issue, a stomach issue, teeth issue, a tumor, or some other ailment/condition. The vet can feel for lumps or a distended stomach, X-rays can show a twisted stomach or gas in the intestine or molar root invasion, the vet can hear if his heart and lungs are clear, and a look into his mouth might reveal a hidden spur. Pain medications can help if he is not eating due to pain and discomfort, antibiotics could work to cure an infection, etc. Is he eating anything? He hasn't eaten at all for the past day, I've been busy will college so haven't noticed a change in eating habits even though I've fed and gave him water. He survived the night, I found him sat awkwardly by his food bowl. |
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 8:30:50 GMT
I would guess that sudden, rapid weight loss like that would be dehydration, which would account for him feeling and acting so poorly. If you check his cage, do you see signs of diarrhea or vomiting? Check his water bottle, is it working properly, water flows freely when the tip is triggered? Is the water clean and fresh, and the inside of the bottle and tube clean and fresh? Sometimes algae or mildew manages to grow inside unseen even tho you rinse and change the bottle daily. I would try giving him some little drops of water from an eye dropper or syringe--see if he wants it. If he willingly drinks it, that's a place to start. Then, do you have something to get some nutrition into him, others can advise on what type (I'm in the USA, so I don't know what you might have over there)or some babyfood (vegetable, not fruit, don't want to overdo the sugar), to try and get some calories into him. Hopefully he will hang on, perk up, and make it to the vets tomorrow to find out what is wrong. He won't eat or drink anything, I know he wants to eat because he nibbled some broccoli. I think he's got some stomach problems, when I went to touch his stomach he went to bite me which is so odd for him. I've got a vet appointment in a few hours, I hope they will figure out what is wrong. The last time I've taken a goo to the vet it was put to sleep  |
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 15, 2016 10:14:42 GMT
Good luck at with the vet today. Make sure they look in his mouth and examine his abdomen thoroughly if that is where you feel the problem is. There are medications to help with gut issues, such as simethicone for gas and metaclopramide to get the gut moving again, also some Critical Care or Supreme Recovery would be good to syringe feed him with.
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 10:36:08 GMT
Good luck at with the vet today. Make sure they look in his mouth and examine his abdomen thoroughly if that is where you feel the problem is. There are medications to help with gut issues, such as simethicone for gas and metaclopramide to get the gut moving again, also some Critical Care or Supreme Recovery would be good to syringe feed him with. I'm at the vets now and agreed to have him euthanised . )3 thought there could be something obstructing his gut and offered to put him in intensive care but it would've cost hundreds of pounds which I don't have. Plus he could've not taken to syringe feeding because he wouldn't even take a drink from a syringe. |
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Post by winic1 on Oct 15, 2016 17:24:49 GMT
Oh, I am so very sorry!
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 18:42:18 GMT
Thank you. I'm in such a state today, it was such a tough decision to make but the vet told me he was in such a bad way so I hope I made the right choice. |
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 15, 2016 19:33:46 GMT
I am too very sorry!! How devastating for you!! I am truly sorry, Chloe, and my thoughts are with you. Sending you hugs.
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 21:06:58 GMT
I am too very sorry!! How devastating for you!! I am truly sorry, Chloe, and my thoughts are with you. Sending you hugs. Thank you so much, it's the hardest thing to go through . |
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Post by yasmin on Oct 15, 2016 21:13:56 GMT
My heart goes out to you.  Sincerest condolences. |
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Post by chloegreen on Oct 15, 2016 21:52:24 GMT
My heart goes out to you. Sincerest condolences. Thank you, I miss him so much already. It's horrible having an empty cage |
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 15, 2016 22:11:19 GMT
The empty cage really is the worst. Just like the empty dog collar, or dishes, or the leash lying ready by the front door.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 16, 2016 10:43:33 GMT
I'm very sorry.
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Sincerest condolences.