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Post by clappyclaps on Jul 14, 2017 10:22:47 GMT
Have you any more advice on getting them to eat baby food?
I've just been out and bought some; peas,carrots and sweet potato flavoured. I've tried to feed both of them some of each flavour (couldn't leave Jaq out so have him a none laced version) and neither of them will eat it!
It's not just Gus being fussy cause he's unwell, Jaq is being just as bad. I appear to have 2 very fussy goos!
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Post by bouncy on Jul 14, 2017 17:39:15 GMT
Tbh, although everyone else seems to manage to get their goos to eat soft food, I fail miserable. I warned a veterinary nurse once, who wouldn't believe me. The critical care she managed to get into Scaredygoo was immediately spat out again all over the table, and he looked rather hacked off. Members try different things. One guy made a porridge with water, I swear by ground nuts (almonds and hazelnuts from homebaking). Have a little experiment. He's already got you wrapped around his little finger
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Post by yasmin on Jul 15, 2017 3:23:01 GMT
Not all of them will eat it at first but one try and they're usually hooked. Perhaps leave a dollop on a small plate and check back in half an hour and see if they've tried it. I also mix it with a bit of the apple/banana-flavoured Critical Care.
I have also tried oatmeal (I grind up the oats, add hot water, let it cool down then feed it to them), and the ground up nuts (sunflower seeds, almonds, etc.) mixed with water with success. And I have sprinkled the baby food/CriticalCare/Medication concoction with ground almonds to entice them to eat it. Each degu has his own preference so it's unfortunately a matter of trying something over and over again or trying different things until something catches their fancy.
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Post by clappyclaps on Jul 15, 2017 7:21:04 GMT
Thank you. I'll give a few different things a try and see if anything works.
He doesn't seem to be interested in anything I give him at the moment. I'm not sure if this is because he's still ill or because he's being stubborn and has fallen out with me as I keep grabbing him to give him his meds.... :/ I know i shouldn't keep handling him, but I'm worried that if I don't I'll never be able to give him his meds.
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 15, 2017 10:18:21 GMT
If you do need to restrain him to feed meds or Critical Care then lots of us find the 'burrito' method the easiest - grab them with a towel or big cloth and then wrap around the body and then you mainly need to just hold them around the shoulders to stop them getting out of it forwards. They seem to struggle less when the whole body is wrapped and the legs are held in, just be careful the legs are in the right place as you wrap. I know it's really stressful but he will forgive you for the forced handling.
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Post by clappyclaps on Jul 15, 2017 12:16:34 GMT
Thanks molette. I've decided to book him back into the vets on Monday. He doesn't seem to be improving at all now, he's showing no interest whatsoever in any food (went out today and bought a load of treats that he won't touch) and although he's moving around the cage and going in the wheel, he's looking very miserable and isn't being hugely active. I can't tell if this is due to the stress of everything including being handled, or if he is still having teeth problems. I'm hoping if I continue to get his meds and critical care down him then he might show some improvement before Monday, but I'm not very optimistic
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 15, 2017 17:02:25 GMT
I'm sorry he's not looking good Keep on with the meds and Critical Care, it should keep him going. Keep experimenting with different recipes of mashed or crushed food too and anything you think might take his fancy. If he won't eat for himself then his only chance is for you to syringe feed him, even if it stresses him out, he should feel better for it. It should get a little less stressful as you and he get used to it. Have you had them long?
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Post by clappyclaps on Jul 17, 2017 16:27:52 GMT
I've had them for just under 2 years molette, and this is the first problem I've had!
Just a bit of an update, I took Gus back to the vets this morning and it was indeed an issue with his back teeth that needed filing down. Poor little dear is now back home and having to recuperate in the cat carrier for tonight until I can let him back in with his brother. So happy to have him sorted, although I'm really hoping he starts eating now!
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 17, 2017 20:58:46 GMT
SO glad this is decisively known, dealt with, and now he can mend. Well done, love!! He will begin to feel better.
Do you have already, or did the vet give you some metacam? Having teeth done can be painful to the jaw joints, so to help him with pain will sooner help him to feel interested in eating. Having the molars tamed will also help the soft tissues in his mouth to heal all the better, and the antibiotics will better be able to do their job.
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Post by yasmin on Jul 18, 2017 3:47:41 GMT
Good that you took him in. It may take a few days before he starts to eat normally again. Please keep us posted on his progress.
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 18, 2017 10:11:00 GMT
Feel better soon, Gus. It's worth having a review of his diet and a read of our feeding guide because he may benefit from attention to the calcium content of the diet and adding as much fresh and dried forage as you can as these can improve dental health and possibly slow down recurrence of spurs. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/16425/degu-feeding-guide
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Post by bouncy on Jul 21, 2017 13:49:06 GMT
Hooray for Gus! I have one that has periodic dental work, and root issues. He feels a little sorry for himself, but will start eating again spontaneously about 12hrs later.
How is he doing now? Chomping away and back to normal?
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