Post by winic1 on Apr 22, 2017 23:29:52 GMT
So, $287 later (that's 224 pounds), Phil has had his teeth trimmed down, and is on Metacam and Tribrissen (antibiotic-Trimethoprim/Sulfa).
Both upper molars had grown out to the sides and were roughing up his cheeks. He hadn't stopped eating yet, but he had really slowed down. Had dropped from his usual 240-250 grams to 150 grams. I feel so bad that I hadn't noticed sooner, but he was still acting normal, coming up for treats & eating them, everything like usual until he started pawing the sides of his mouth while waiting for his treats.
But now I know what to watch for, and we will be weighing him regularly.
Turns out there are 2-3 other degu owners right in this area!!! One does small animal rescue, even! The vet was very informed on degus and experienced in handling them and in fixing their teeth. She scooped Phil right up in a little towel, examined him, poked her little light-viewer thing into his mouth. He was a champ, a little squirmy but not upset or fighting or biting.
We had put dirty substrate out of their cage into the little carrier cage, I made him a tiny hut out of a little snack box, gave him a little hay pile, a little pellet bowl, a little water bottle, he was quite pleased with his little adventure, didn't mind being taken away at all.
Before we put him back in the big cage, we grabbed a big pinch of used dustbath sand and sprinkled it all over him, then, sort of by accident, dumped some of the used substrate on him, too, so he smelled more normal, and put him back in. The we dumped all the rest of the substrate back all over the cage, too, so whatever strange smell he might have picked up would be all over the cage as well.
They are all back together, he's eating, all is well.
Both upper molars had grown out to the sides and were roughing up his cheeks. He hadn't stopped eating yet, but he had really slowed down. Had dropped from his usual 240-250 grams to 150 grams. I feel so bad that I hadn't noticed sooner, but he was still acting normal, coming up for treats & eating them, everything like usual until he started pawing the sides of his mouth while waiting for his treats.
But now I know what to watch for, and we will be weighing him regularly.
Turns out there are 2-3 other degu owners right in this area!!! One does small animal rescue, even! The vet was very informed on degus and experienced in handling them and in fixing their teeth. She scooped Phil right up in a little towel, examined him, poked her little light-viewer thing into his mouth. He was a champ, a little squirmy but not upset or fighting or biting.
We had put dirty substrate out of their cage into the little carrier cage, I made him a tiny hut out of a little snack box, gave him a little hay pile, a little pellet bowl, a little water bottle, he was quite pleased with his little adventure, didn't mind being taken away at all.
Before we put him back in the big cage, we grabbed a big pinch of used dustbath sand and sprinkled it all over him, then, sort of by accident, dumped some of the used substrate on him, too, so he smelled more normal, and put him back in. The we dumped all the rest of the substrate back all over the cage, too, so whatever strange smell he might have picked up would be all over the cage as well.
They are all back together, he's eating, all is well.
