rach
Newborn Degu
Posts: 2
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Post by rach on May 9, 2017 22:49:04 GMT
One of my degus has suffered from an infection in his front paw pretty much since I adopted him. We have been through countless courses of antibiotics which did suppress it for a while but never cured it. The antibiotics no longer work and the infection is taking over the paw completely so the vet has offered amputation as the only option left. Does anyone have any experience of a degu with only one front paw? The vet thinks that he will cope but I'm not so sure. Would euthanasia be kinder?
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Post by deguconvert on May 9, 2017 23:28:45 GMT
Hmmm . . .I think he would cope . . . but they use their front paws for eating and that practice would have to evolve somehow with only one paw to stand on, balance with etc.. I don't think it would be hard or impossible for your goo to adjust, but you might have to help out at first. I do think that having it removed will dramatically improve his health as his body will no longer be fighting to overcome the poison of the infection. I would go ahead and take the chance and do the surgery. I think you will have a very happy degu once he again feels so much better.
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Post by randomname on May 10, 2017 0:03:40 GMT
YES!! I had a degu with a similar problem, we went ahead & amputated & he lived a long happy life with his cage mates. Never had any problems with him. Definitely worth doing. My Stumpy was back to normal after around 3 days. He was kept alone until his stitches dissolved, around 4 weeks. By that time patches of hair had grown back. Within 6 weeks he was back with his brothers & most of his hair had grown back. It's amazing how well they recover, is totally worth doing.
Edit: just to add, they will probably take the arm at the shoulder as it's apparently easier & will be better for balance. It can be a little shocking to see them all Frankenstein after wards, but it heals over really really quickly & honestly, my little guy was on his feet eating fine the next day. He never had any problems adjusting to his loss, & the other goos didn't treat him any differently. Do you have any idea how much it will cost? Ours cost £250 but it was ages ago, around 8 years I think.
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Post by moletteuk on May 10, 2017 9:53:49 GMT
Have you had the infection tested to see what specific antibiotic ought to kill it, and/or tried several different antibiotics?
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rach
Newborn Degu
Posts: 2
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Post by rach on May 10, 2017 17:27:35 GMT
Thank you, I feel much better knowing it has been successful in other degus.
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Post by bouncy on May 10, 2017 18:15:04 GMT
I have a hypochondriac goo, who regularly runs around with one or other front paw tucked up underneath him for attention. Unless you hear the associated squeak beforehand, you can't tell. From an eating perspective, one of my others avoids using his front paws as far as possible. To that end, I would be conscious of putting food on the floor, rather than hanging it from bars etc.
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