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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 0:23:36 GMT
Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 0:23:36 GMT
Don't know where to put this thread, please move it if I've put it in the wrong place.
Am freaking out massively here, is anyone around?
Just been to play with the chins, & have found BB the degu dead. Totally baffled as he seemed fine, no ill health, was ok this morning. That's not even the worst of it.....
PLEASE DON'T READ THE NEXT BIT IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH
He has somehow wedged himself in a corner & was biting the bars when he died. His front teeth are locked around a bar & I can't move him. Can't find any way of getting him off the bars. Am I going to have to break the jaw or teeth or something? Don't know if i can, even though he's gone. Even if he "softens up" he's still wedged into the corner, so can't push the top set up to open his mouth. My neighbour says he'll come & help in 20mins, what shall I tell him to do? Am in bits. My big lad's gone. What the hell happened.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 0:35:28 GMT
Post by winic1 on Nov 17, 2016 0:35:28 GMT
Oh no! I am so sorry!!! What an awful thing! I found my Chitter unexpectedly dead one morning, such a shock when you have no warning. So very sorry for you and for BB.
I don't know what to suggest for getting him loose. perhaps your neighbor will have an idea when he sees the situation. Maybe rather than trying to open his mouth to get both top and bottom teeth clear of the bar at the same time, try shifting his lower jaw to create a space between the faces of top and bottom teeth, and maneuver him off the bar by moving bottom jaw free first, then top?
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 0:57:16 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Nov 17, 2016 0:57:16 GMT
NO! Oh, I feel so sick, I'm heart broken for you!! What a terrible shock!! I'm flabbergasted! I am so, so sorry, Randomname. I'm so, so sorry. Wish I were there with you!!
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 2:04:36 GMT
Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 2:04:36 GMT
that was the worst, had to pry his mouth open with a couple of butter knives, ended up breaking a tooth. Never found a critter in that position before, was worse than anything I've ever had to do. Checked him over, no sign of anything wrong. Have no idea how old he was either. Poor BB, not much of a life. I really thought we'd have more time together. The babies have been really quiet, watching me trying to get him off the bars. Do you think they know? Will this scare them? I needed to move BB before they could smell him, hopefully they aren't as freaked out as I am. Thank goodness for my neighbour, he's not squeamish, I couldn't bring myself to "hurt" BB but we had to do it. Will take him to be cremated in the morning. What do I do with his cage? Is it safe for the babies if I thoroughly disinfect it?
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Post by yasmin on Nov 17, 2016 4:35:41 GMT
I feel so sad about poor BB. My heart goes out to you, randomname. May he rest in peace, poor baby. About the cage – it will need to be throughly disinfected and then will probably be okay to use for the babies unless there is a problem with the cage itself. (What kind of a cage is it?) However, with the way you found him, it looks more like he died of a sudden heart attack or massive stroke or perhaps a tumor that pressed on his heart. How are the babies behaving? If they are eating, running their wheels, going on with their regular business, then it is likely they are not nearly as freaked out about it as you are.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 17, 2016 10:54:56 GMT
Oh, I'm so sorry, what a horrible shock and terrible circumstances. I'm so relieved your neighbour was able to help. At least he must have gone in an instant and can't have felt any pain. Poor BB though, it does feel like he's been robbed of his future happiness with the babies. We don't know about his former life but I am certain you gave him a great few months so he did know love and care, RIP BB xx
The babies should be OK with BB not being part of their gang yet, even if they did figure out some of what was happening, they should get over it within a few days I should think. The cage should be fine with a thorough cleaning, I agree with Yasmin that it was highly unlikely to be something that could be transferred through the cage.
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Post by Emziedee on Nov 17, 2016 12:32:28 GMT
I'm so sorry! You did so much for that boy. I am shocked reading this as I get to know certain goos on here and BB was one of them. I hope you're ok x
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Post by winic1 on Nov 17, 2016 13:04:23 GMT
His time with you may have been short, but he was finally well-cared for and well-loved, and he knew it. The best time of his life. You did good.
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Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 13:08:29 GMT
Hi guys, thanks for the replies. Was in total shock last night, once we'd managed to get him free I just cried myself to sleep. Poor BB. What a way to go. The cage is a Liberta type one yasmin, I hate empty cages, so it's either give it to the babies (who are in a lazybones cage, so they'll love the extra room) or dismantle it. The babies seem fine today, behaving as usual, but are pretty quiet. I agree that it was probably a stroke or heart attack, something internal. Can't help blaming myself though. Will have nightmares about getting him free, was awful. So glad my neighbour & you guys were there to talk to, was in a total tizzy.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 15:54:00 GMT
via mobile
Post by spottydegu on Nov 17, 2016 15:54:00 GMT
Oh my godbI am so sorry! Even though I never posted anything I always read the posts when BB got ill. At least he had a good home with you.
He was a rescue wasn't he? Ifbso remember you could have saved his life. I am so sorry
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 16:54:49 GMT
Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 16:54:49 GMT
He was the one dumped in the park, or possibly just at the vets. I didn't want any more degus after the last colony died out. I didn't want to get attached to him, but i did. He was definitely the soppiest, friendliest & funniest degu I've ever had the privilege to know. Just wish we could have had more time together, or that my last memory of him wasn't trying to get him free. Hands down the worst death i've had to deal with in terms of that. Just hope he didn't suffer. Hope he knew he was loved & wanted after a bad start. Poor begger didn't even get chance to live in a group, or even get all his tail hair back. He fought so hard when he was ill, I wish I could've given him a better ending. He deserved more.
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Post by Emziedee on Nov 17, 2016 17:49:47 GMT
😔
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Post by Emziedee on Nov 17, 2016 17:52:03 GMT
When you say he was wedged, was he trapped and couldn't get free?
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 17:54:21 GMT
via mobile
Post by ntg on Nov 17, 2016 17:54:21 GMT
I'm so sorry for your loss, I can only imagine how awful it must have been for you.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 19:14:39 GMT
Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 19:14:39 GMT
no, Garfunkel&Tibbs85. He was in the corner, biting the second to last bar right in the corner. He wasn't stuck, just died like that. His teeth were wrapped round, closed on the bar. Rigor mortis had set in, so it was impossible to open his mouth. I couldn't push his head upwards to open his mouth because he was wedged tight in the corner. His nose was wedged in between the bars, & his head was right in the corner, no room to move it upwards. Just a freak set of things that led to that, couldn't have imagined that would be possible. Thought I'd seen pretty much everything 'til now.
Took him to the vet's this morning. The nurse was sad, as she was the one who bought him to me. She said he looked really well before he passed, totally different to how he came to us. Couldn't see anything wrong either.
Have totally emptied his cage. Really sad. Couldn't find anything suspect at all. Have ordered new steps & stuff for the babies, should be here soon. Have used vet's disinfectant, washed & rinsed twice. Is there anything else I should do? Do you think I should move the cage when i put the babies in, maybe it'll feel less weird for them?
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Post by goolover on Nov 17, 2016 19:38:31 GMT
OH GOD hun, I saw your post and clicked on it not believing what I was reading, i've literally went cold. Had the privilege to briefly see BB and he was a gorgeous looking boy. I'm devastated for you. He was SO LUCKY to live out the rest of his life with you, even though it was short, he knew he was loved, especially after his sickness, he came on leaps and bounds and that is because of you. You never let him down and always there to comfort him and make it all better........I just don't know what else to say, nothing will make it better but we are all here for you. RIP gorgeous BB xxx
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 20:58:14 GMT
Post by winic1 on Nov 17, 2016 20:58:14 GMT
If you like where the cage is sitting, I think it will be fine right there. The babies will be so interested in exploring their new home (once they get over the initial AH! WHERE ARE WE???) that it won't matter to them where they are. They probably are well aware that BB has gone. But since you are setting the cage up essentially new, it will just be their new home to explore, whether you move it or not.
I have lived in our current house 18 years now. Have buried 2 degus, 3 cats, 7 hamsters, two guinea pigs, 9 budgies, 12 finches, too many fish to count, and a hedgehog out on my back hill. Some of the deaths were expected, some surprises, some peaceful, some terrible. Some seemed terrible at the time, and now, with time and distance, we can laugh at the unreal circumstances that occurred. Right now you are hurting and it is all just awful, and I am so sorry for that. Just keep reminding yourself of the good times, and how much he loved finding his new home with you. He was a very lucky degu to have come to you.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 21:24:12 GMT
Post by bouncy on Nov 17, 2016 21:24:12 GMT
Oh I am so very sorry to read this! I'm absolutely devastated for you! It sounds like whatever happened was very sudden, unpredictable, and quick. I'm sure he didn't suffer. He passed away doing something he really enjoyed, and his coming to you meant he finished his time as one of the happiest goos around. Hugs to you x
When my sister was a teenager, one of her rabbits was found the next morning in full rigor mortis with his ears up. Her most distraught moment was when she tried to find a box to bury him in. His ears meant we had nothing in the house that he would fit inside. My dad was in hysterics, but I spoilt his fun by unpacking my ski boots.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 21:44:34 GMT
Post by winic1 on Nov 17, 2016 21:44:34 GMT
(my cat passed away in her bed, but with her tail straight out and hanging slightly over the edge, giving it a bit of a crooked bend. And yes, rigor mortis had set in, so my husband goes to wrap her in the white cloth to bury her out back, and there's this tail.....)
Time doesn't heal all wounds, not at all, but it does give you a chance to take a different perspective on them. Truly sorry you are hurting so much right now.
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HELP!
Nov 17, 2016 23:45:30 GMT
Post by randomname on Nov 17, 2016 23:45:30 GMT
Thanks goolover, am glad you met him. Such a shame the babies won't get to live with him, but I know they'll love having the cage, all that room & a big metal wheel - they'll be much happier. I can't believe he's gone, still reeling from how we found him. Is really quiet now, no one demanding attention when I walk past. Hopefully the babies will interact a bit more when they're out of the Lazybones cage. It's going to be a lot easier to bond with the big doors instead of the useless flaps on the Lazybones. You guys are so lovely, you kept me sane when he was ill & I'm really grateful for the advice on how to get him eating. When I get all panicky, you guys always help me keep calm & get it sorted. You understand the bond I have with the degus, how special they are, what individual characters they are, how funny & bossy they can be. Unless you've had degus you just don't get it, I guess.
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