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Post by randomname on Nov 29, 2016 12:02:51 GMT
I can only speak from what happened to BB, but I use the same hay/straw/forage for the goos, chins & buns. If there was a problem, am sure someone else would be showing signs of something? (I am, however, now totally paranoid & am checking them every hour or so) None of them get treats, unless you count a new type of forage. Their diets are 90% hay & forage, 10% food & the goos get half a teaspoon of seeds twice a week, the rabbits a little fresh veg three times a week. BB had exactly the same seeds & food as the babies, who are all in great shape, so probably not that. (I have thrown out all the seeds just in case they went rancid) & they have the same toys/cage accessories, so no clues there. I can only assume either BB was predisposed to a heart attack or stroke, or that his previous illness & the condition he came to me in played a part. Or maybe something to do with the drop in temperature, but if that was so, the babies would also probably show signs of stress or illness. I have no idea what the answer is, & maybe BB's death wasn't connected with any of the others. I suspect we'll not get the answer, but I do hope so for everyone's peace of mind. Totally get where you're coming from emdallience, the worry & near-panic is driving me crazy too!
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Post by savvy on Nov 29, 2016 12:11:27 GMT
Me too. I think mine are getting fed up with me peering into the cage to check if everything's OK.
I keep waking them up to check they're alive.
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Post by randomname on Nov 29, 2016 12:54:44 GMT
I have to do that with my teenage kids occasionally too savvycat! Better to be over cautious than not care I guess, especially with herbivores as they go downhill so fast. Edt : for clarity, my teens don't sleep in a cage. Their room may smell like a dirty hamster cage, but I haven't got around to putting them in lock down yet!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 13:38:50 GMT
lol that edit made me laugh randomname π! I like to think I'm a non-smelling like a dirty hamster cage "teenager" (although I'm TWENTY Sunday π) but I definitely used to be haha! My room would be neat for all of a day when I'd tidied it. Then I'd need to find clothes and it would be a fabric explosion across the room.
But yeah, there's no harm in checking other than them being like "um this is the 749482928th time you've peered in today, can I help you?" π I really wish we had more information on all these mysteries though, it really baffles me.. π
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Post by randomname on Nov 29, 2016 16:53:22 GMT
Ha! I see emdallience found the thread where I got away with naming Zak with his official title. Am not sure what my neighbours think I'm doing when i'm in the yard at night calling to him... Can't believe how young some forum members are on here, how dare you make me feel so old. Happy Birthday for Sunday hun, hope you have a good day. My eldest is 19 on Thursday, so am feeling like a ancient old lady at the mo. You've not helped by flaunting your youth, someone should ban you!! lolol P.S am very much in "one of those moods" today, so forgive my "banter" - sometimes I forget how to act my age (perk of being old)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 17:21:28 GMT
Haha! I love the mix of ages on here honestly, it makes for a very pleasant forum and a lot of different experiences! Renting at 18 was scary lol, all is good now and we kind of know what we are doing? Just breaking our tenancy agreement by having pets *tut*. Thank you for the birthday wish!! βΊοΈ
Also just a thought, how old are all the degus that have passed on recently?
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Post by ntg on Nov 29, 2016 17:24:18 GMT
Although they are herbivores and it's better off avoiding animal products I doubt that a small amount of egg as part of a treat would have caused the death unless there was an allergy involved. You are wise to be vigilant with their diets though, and don't always trust something if it says safe for degus as they sometimes have huge quantities of certain things that should only be used as a once in a while treat. There were times right at the beginning of owning degus where I would stand on my phone in the store looking up whether or not the ingredients were safe. Must have looked like a madwoman but at least I knew I was getting something I could use! Edit: didn't realise there was a second page. Ignore me while I talk to myself in the corner as I try to catch-up. Something, something, young whippersnappers and I'm too old for this technology malarky
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Post by winic1 on Nov 29, 2016 17:47:33 GMT
I still wonder if it isn't something like the hay or forage mix is contaminated with a small amount of a toxic weed, so that one goo eats it, but not the others because they didn't find the one or two pieces of it among the other hay. You know, like tansy ragwort is toxic to horses and other animals, but one horse in a meadow might eat it and get sick, the others are all fine because they didn't. You probably wouldn't even notice the stray dried weed in among the other hay or leaves.
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Post by goolover on Nov 29, 2016 18:10:55 GMT
randomname - hehe the way I go on, on this site, you wouldn't think I was the age I am........lets just say 30 was afew years ago...eeek but I got i.d in the iceland shop for a bottle of wine the other day so......still got it *slides fingers across brow and gives a cheesy grin* rofl. Yes happy birthday to you for sunday emdalliance.......enjoy.......its all down hill for then on in...........only joking xx
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 18:29:21 GMT
I'm crying lmao! You guys π so funny. P.s Thank you goolover lol x
Yeah, it could be something as simple as what winic has suggested.. but surely they'd have to be more careful when packing the hay? :s how often could something toxic slip in? We can't be expected to examine every strand lol.. but it does make you think and therefore worry as these things aren't probably checked properly, if at all..
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 29, 2016 20:56:34 GMT
I agree with ntg that although egg is not suitable for feeding to degus, it's unlikely to lead to a death unless there is something like salmonella or an allergy. Contamination with harmful plants or at least plants that aren't supposed to be there could easily happen. Nobody examines the fields before they harvest. It's not unusual to find a bit of thistle in hay, although thistle is perfectly harmless. The thing with this theory that makes it less likely is how few plants there are that could kill a degu from one small piece. Degus are generally very good at digesting plants that can be harmful to other animals, even something like ragwort I suspect they could manage a small amount without much harm, and also in my experience degus are quite good at testing suspicious plants for themselves. We did have a case of rat poisin contamination in some forage reported on the forum once. Hardly bears thinking about but I can see it happening depending on harvesting, drying, storage procedures in a farm type environment. I love how age doesn't really matter on the forum. You're as mature as your sense of humour on here!
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Post by savvy on Nov 29, 2016 21:30:52 GMT
That makes me about 3 then (50 in reality) lol.
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 29, 2016 23:42:55 GMT
I've been "24" and holding for a time now. Never liked the 29 and holding that you hear, at least this side of the pond. I like 24. Even on those quizzes that guess your age after all the questions are asked, usually put me between 19 and 25. At least so far. I DON'T look 24, that's for sure!! I'm no ageless beauty, LOL!
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