jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 10:41:28 GMT
Not sure because she was obviously pretty miserable after the procedure so mainly slept in her spot since - she has tried putting things in her mouth but it's always super swollen 12 hours or so after having her teeth done and so her mouth is actually bigger than her shortened incisors if you know what I mean and she can't manipulate. She's had plenty of porridge though... that's all I can say for absolute definite... she's like a cat now as she can hear me making it downstairs and dances on her rear feet when I come in with the plate. But it's not good for variety now she's "over the hump". It's tough because she's so skinny I'm loathe to withdraw the calories.
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 10:45:02 GMT
I think to keep giving her porridge for cals and syringe feeding CC for nutrients is the only realistic way forward for the next couple of days, because I'm supposed to give her bayril anyway and there's no way she'll be tricked into eating that foul stuff no matter what it's mixed with.
Will keep trying other splats anyway of course.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2017 10:51:22 GMT
You've got to give it time for the swelling to go down, which will probably be towards the end of the week. For now, she's getting calories, and she can drink
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 24, 2017 11:37:14 GMT
I think I would go ahead with the syringe feeding for a few days, I think you are right that you can't afford to drop the calories by letting her go it alone, and also I think she will feel better and it will be better for her gut to get the soluble fibre of C.Care into her. I can never work out the different packets of C.Care but I think you will find the find grind will flow better in the syringe. If you can do it twice a day with the baytril dose then that should work quite well, get as much as you can into her, the most I could get into Molly in one sitting was 10ml, she would refuse after that. Try and ignore the whimpering, it's a given that she is going to hate it, and they do make noises at the slightest thing, so it's not telling you anything you don't know, the whimpering is only pulling on your heartstrings, I think the hardest part of pet care is making your head override your heart.
I think the main mistake the previous vet made was not to refer you to the exotic vet. I don't think it's that unreasonable that a vet would run out of skill to deal with a difficult dental job, but the fact that they didn't give you a choice between PTS and referral is plain wrong. There are even specific vet dentists out there, our vet has one that they refer to. A young vet at our practice went miles out of his way consulting with the other vets in the practice (something they seem to do quite regularly), consulting the only exotics qualified vet in the county, and referring the case to Edinburgh university - there should be no pride issue involved in a vet asking other vets for help. Reffering on is standard.
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 12:03:57 GMT
Here is the photo of her mouth showing how bad the left hand side was (right hand side just out of view) Poor degu Attachments:
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Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2017 12:23:16 GMT
Poor little thing! At least they didn't grow through her tongue!
BTW, your photos might start to disappear, which would be a shame. We have limited server capacity for the forum, so it can't be avoided. Can I suggest that you upload them onto a free hosting site, like photo bucket? You just need to then copy and paste the IMG link into your post. ☺️
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 17:30:55 GMT
Now her teeth are fixed she clasps her jaw shut, absolutely tight, when I try and syringe feed her. Why is nothing easy. She hasn't had baytril today yet as a result arghghg. Mixed some in with porridge just now but it's not looking good. She even did that thing where they look revolted with their whiskers held back on first sniff and it was mixed into a LOT of porridge.
She has had some CC at least, took that voluntarily when confronted with baytril porridge.
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 17:31:21 GMT
Poor little thing! At least they didn't grow through her tongue! BTW, your photos might start to disappear, which would be a shame. We have limited server capacity for the forum, so it can't be avoided. Can I suggest that you upload them onto a free hosting site, like photo bucket? You just need to then copy and paste the IMG link into your post. ☺️ Ah ok woops, will try and archive her pics that way at the weekend.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2017 17:34:56 GMT
Coolio, would hate for such sweet pictures to disappear! P.s. Also means you can post more than one photo per post
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 24, 2017 17:51:34 GMT
The photo is truly shocking!!
Even with the mouth clamped shut, if you poke with the syringe right behind the incisors, there is a gap that you should be able to fit the syringe into. I found it easier going directly in from the front and squirting while degu was busy biting the syringe, but the behind the incisors is the proper way because the angle you then get makes the risk of inhaling the stuff much less because you are squirting to the side.
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Jan 24, 2017 18:43:46 GMT
It always surprises me when people say their degus don't like Baytril. Mine don't like anything that's been diluted, but will happily take Baytril and Metacam neat; Ronaxan tablets have proven more interesting and I have to guiltily admit I've mixed the tablets with 50% fruit juice to get Zoe to take it - but now he'll beg for the syringe rather than forcing it in via burrito.
I'm going to recommend a gardening glove, and for you to use it now to get used to it so that by the time she feels better and wriggles out of the burrito more, you're more adept at keeping hold of her while gloved. Zoe end through a biting phase, despite being the most laid back critter ever, because he associated the burrito with having his abscesses cleaned (and I have no doubt it hurt). If she decides burritos are bad, she may nip you in a bid for freedom, so maybe get the hang of holding her in burrito in a glove now?
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 18:54:14 GMT
The photo is truly shocking!! Even with the mouth clamped shut, if you poke with the syringe right behind the incisors, there is a gap that you should be able to fit the syringe into. I found it easier going directly in from the front and squirting while degu was busy biting the syringe, but the behind the incisors is the proper way because the angle you then get makes the risk of inhaling the stuff much less because you are squirting to the side. Thanks for your advice - having had them treated twice her incisors are so short and she's just incredibly mischievous at avoiding the syringe even with just her head mobile. Now she's a bit fatter and less pathetic it's actually quite comical watching her follow and avoid the syringe rather than depressing at least. She's also much physically stronger than Wednesday! Wriggly little potato. Next time I'll just get the bayril and try and do it very fast since she squawks at first, might be able to whack it in while she's moaning and she should be able to handle 0.2ml in one go!!
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 24, 2017 18:58:41 GMT
It always surprises me when people say their degus don't like Baytril. Mine don't like anything that's been diluted, but will happily take Baytril and Metacam neat; Ronaxan tablets have proven more interesting and I have to guiltily admit I've mixed the tablets with 50% fruit juice to get Zoe to take it - but now he'll beg for the syringe rather than forcing it in via burrito. I'm going to recommend a gardening glove, and for you to use it now to get used to it so that by the time she feels better and wriggles out of the burrito more, you're more adept at keeping hold of her while gloved. Zoe end through a biting phase, despite being the most laid back critter ever, because he associated the burrito with having his abscesses cleaned (and I have no doubt it hurt). If she decides burritos are bad, she may nip you in a bid for freedom, so maybe get the hang of holding her in burrito in a glove now? Thanks but she's literally never bitten me, anyone else, a vet or even another degu (though she has been bitten many times, mainly on the rump). I had her burritoed for a long while today and she just tries to outfox me and escape with her hands every few minutes. Kept stuffing her back into the burrito but her jaw was just perfectly closed. I smeared some on her lips as a best attempt and I guess she did take some down when escaped during clean up. I think getting it over with quickly is my best approach because her whining could be her downfall in terms of opening her mouth.
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Post by winic1 on Jan 24, 2017 19:08:46 GMT
What if you have the Baytril ready in the syringe, and then dip the end of the syringe into some thick porridge, covering it with a glop of porridge, so maybe she'll start to open for that, and Boom! in goes the Baytril. Maybe?
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Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2017 20:39:29 GMT
All these fab ideas! I'm so pleased Scaredy loves his metacam straight from the syringe! When giving him something he doesn't want, you could get him anything - even a prized hazelnut - in an attempt to sneak the syringe behind. He's learned. He keeps his mouth firmly shut. Won't open t for anyone or anything. For the burrito, think that scene in Alien when the zenomorph first bursts through Kane's chest! Scaredy doesn't bite either, but it was enough for him that it's the only time he has bitten!
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 24, 2017 21:33:25 GMT
Her poor, poor mouth!! What a relief it must be to have all that out!
I'm pretty thrilled to hear how much she has improved in strength! You are obviously doing excellent work!!
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jr
Foraging Degu
Posts: 90
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Post by jr on Jan 25, 2017 22:34:04 GMT
She's taken a definite liking to critical care fine powder (it smells of pineapple this version) and has gobbled a lot of that today. Can't hurt I suppose and very happy she's eating stuff that's good for her digestion. Not very good at all with hard food still, hope it picks up soon so I can leave her alone for more than 6 hours or so (making constant pastes otherwise due to her weight). I think when she was slowly taking hard food before the new surgery she was using those weird teeth to grind what little she could. Now not sure she knows what to do, toothless little thing. I think she's 3 teeth down in total Eyes still weepy now and then though not excessively so, not gunked up or anything like that. Had some better success with Baytril while burritoed though not perfect, prob only took 2/3rds of the dose she was supposed to as the rest ended up on her chin. Sand rolls improved again, though not as vigorous as when at full health. Sorry for using the forum as something of a journal!!
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 25, 2017 22:42:02 GMT
You aren't the first to use the forum that way, you won't be the last, and we do not object.
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 26, 2017 11:07:10 GMT
I think it's useful for you and other people to keep a record in this journal type way Hopefully she will start trying to eat some dry food for herself soon. Does she have at least some matching (top & bottom) pairs of molar teeth? There is probably still some pain or discomfort holding her back at the moment that should really start to diminish over the next few days as the infection heals and any swelling goes down.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 26, 2017 15:00:18 GMT
The journal is definitely good - saves others asking or wondering!
She sounds like she's being a little princess! Any more photos?
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