allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 11:35:44 GMT
Every time I come on here lately is seems to be sad news. three of my degu have now died leaving the youngest alone. He is two and loved being with the others, is it right to keep him alone or should I try and find him a good home? He will come to me for a treat but that’s about it not aggressive just prefers other degu.
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Post by misscatafer on Apr 2, 2019 12:52:53 GMT
Hi Allan, so sorry for your losses, it doesn't seem that long ago you were posting here preparing to become a degu owner, I had a quick check back and it was almost a year ago now. It is so sad that you have gone through this in such a small time frame, May I ask what the other two degus passed away of?
How is your lone goo, is he healthy? Is there a chance he may encounter the same health problems as his cage mates did?
In my opinion, no degu should be subjected to a life of solitude, and as you have experienced, we as humans cannot provide the needed interactions that other degus can. So yes, he does need either new cage mates or neighbours. I notice you ask whether to rehome him, are you not wanting degus anymore yourself (which is fine, just so we are clear of how best to advise and support you).
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 14:23:44 GMT
Hi Allan, so sorry for your losses, it doesn't seem that long ago you were posting here preparing to become a degu owner, I had a quick check back and it was almost a year ago now. It is so sad that you have gone through this in such a small time frame, May I ask what the other two degus passed away of? How is your lone goo, is he healthy? Is there a chance he may encounter the same health problems as his cage mates did? In my opinion, no degu should be subjected to a life of solitude, and as you have experienced, we as humans cannot provide the needed interactions that other degus can. So yes, he does need either new cage mates or neighbours. I notice you ask whether to rehome him, are you not wanting degus anymore yourself (which is fine, just so we are clear of how best to advise and support you). Yes it hasn’t been very long at all one just wouldn’t settle he kept attacking the other all the time but he found a lovely home with a couple who raised degu and knew what to do.One had a tumour and then the third just seemed to get I’ll very, dry quickly. i don’t understand though I clean them out every day, a deep clean once a week. i did everything I was supposed to do and yet I still like I failed them. onky the one I have left is young he hasn’t even got his fluffy coat filled out yet. i don’t want anymore just because of all the heartache.
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Post by misscatafer on Apr 2, 2019 14:59:00 GMT
You haven't failed them. You gave them a lovely set up, sometimes degus do die young without explanation and when this happens they go downhill very quickly, a lot of the time it is too quickly to even get the degu to the vets. This forum sees that happen all the time and it has nothing to do with how they are kept. I can understand that you would want to avoid further heartache, losing a pet is very upsetting. Have you had any ideas for how you will find your remaining goo a home?
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 15:05:58 GMT
You haven't failed them. You gave them a lovely set up, sometimes degus do die young without explanation and when this happens they go downhill very quickly, a lot of the time it is too quickly to even get the degu to the vets. This forum sees that happen all the time and it has nothing to do with how they are kept. I can understand that you would want to avoid further heartache, losing a pet is very upsetting. Have you had any ideas for how you will find your remaining goo a home? there is a pet store that finds them new homes near where I think that is the best option, thank you for your kind words
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Post by bouncy on Apr 2, 2019 16:49:49 GMT
I'm sorry, Allan, life can be cruel sometimes.
Would you consider putting a divider in your cage and getting another couple? That way, you could try keeping him AND find him friends with a view to introduce them.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 2, 2019 17:14:39 GMT
Hey Allan . . . very sorry for your loss, and for the really difficult emotions you are struggling with as a result. We have been there, and we totally understand the grief and the self doubt that crashes in, especially when there have been repeat events of loss or illness in quick succession.
I expect that you are hoping to have him quickly placed in a new home and that is why you wish to use the pet store. If I may comment on the general practice of pet stores, they don't have a vested interest in ensuring that your degu is going into an experienced home, that he will have companions, or that the cages are the right sizing for his needs, whether he is joining others or will be left a lone degu. It is not unusual that if an animal has been in the store for "too long" and there has been no interest in the animal, that it will be disposed of. In my area, pet stores are not famous for good animal care practices, which I believe is not unique to us by any stretch. I am friends with a young adult that worked in a pet store until recently . . . she resigned because the abuses and neglect she witnessed over the months she was there had made her so sick at heart she could not stay. Despite her best efforts, even spending her own income to try to improve conditions, she was the only one on staff that genuinely cared for the animals, and her efforts were snowed under by the bad practices of the rest of the staff/store standards.
If this is the route you have chosen to follow, maybe you could just keep an eye on how he is doing so you can be sure he is getting as good care as he had with you while he is waiting to be adopted?
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 17:20:26 GMT
I could try and believe I thought they made great pets my dog followed them everywhere (always supervised ) I just don’t know if I could deal with the deaths again. i want to help as many animals as I can but to go through all this? I honestly don’t think I could.
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 17:24:27 GMT
Hey Allan . . . very sorry for your loss, and for the really difficult emotions you are struggling with as a result. We have been there, and we totally understand the grief and the self doubt that crashes in, especially when there have been repeat events of loss or illness in quick succession. I expect that you are hoping to have him quickly placed in a new home and that is why you wish to use the pet store. If I may comment on the general practice of pet stores, they don't have a vested interest in ensuring that your degu is going into an experienced home, that he will have companions, or that the cages are the right sizing for his needs, whether he is joining others or will be left a lone degu. It is not unusual that if an animal has been in the store for "too long" and there has been no interest in the animal, that it will be disposed of. In my area, pet stores are not famous for good animal care practices, which I believe is not unique to us by any stretch. I am friends with a young adult that worked in a pet store until recently . . . she resigned because the abuses and neglect she witnessed over the months she was there had made her so sick at heart she could not stay. Despite her best efforts, even spending her own income to try to improve conditions, she was the only one on staff that genuinely cared for the animals, and her efforts were snowed under by the bad practices of the rest of the staff/store standards. If this is the route you have chosen to follow, maybe you could just keep an eye on how he is doing so you can be sure he is getting as good care as he had with you while he is waiting to be adopted? thank you for your kind words. i have been to this place before and they never put a animal down and I can visit him anytime I want. This of course would be horrible in its own way but the chance he can get a new home and family seems better than him being alone. i just don’t think I could Get new Degu and go through all this again never mind how great they are. it is such a hard choice especially watching him right now looking for his brothers so they can all go to bed
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 2, 2019 17:25:26 GMT
I'm not asking you to get more . . . I understand this has hit you hard, and I empathize with you! I really do. I just was meaning, if you do send him to the pet store to be re-homed from there, maybe you could check on him regularly. Although, once you have signed him over to their care, he is theirs and they may just turn a deaf ear.
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Post by savvy on Apr 2, 2019 17:35:14 GMT
The Blue Cross have a rehoming centre in Sheffield and have been known to foster them out to homes while they wait to be adopted. It may be a better option than a noisy pet shop and they could try bonding him with others while there.
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 19:08:57 GMT
The Blue Cross have a rehoming centre in Sheffield and have been known to foster them out to homes while they wait to be adopted. It may be a better option than a noisy pet shop and they could try bonding him with others while there. Thank you I will have a look
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Apr 2, 2019 19:10:06 GMT
I'm not asking you to get more . . . I understand this has hit you hard, and I empathize with you! I really do. I just was meaning, if you do send him to the pet store to be re-homed from there, maybe you could check on him regularly. Although, once you have signed him over to their care, he is theirs and they may just turn a deaf ear. I no I wasn’t trying to sound rude, yes I would definitely check every day.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 2, 2019 20:46:29 GMT
You weren't rude. Not at all. I just kind of panicked in my misunderstanding that you might think I was telling you to get more.
I like the suggestion of the Blue Cross rehoming centre. If they could take him, it sounds like it could really be good for both of you.
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