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Post by lilladylu on Dec 4, 2011 18:14:57 GMT
Hi to all, I have got back from work today and my degu Gordon has gone downhill very very fast. He has always had a problem with his lungs, due to him being a rehome degu from a pretty bad home. He has always had a rattle on his chest. He was fine yesterday, taking food and everything but now he is limp and lifeless  He even ate a tiny piece of apple and some oats this monring but he has gone downhill rapidly. I have made sure he is warm and has plenty of bedding. I have tried to offer him syringe feed (mushed up degu selective) and given him some water but his breathing is very laboured. Only trouble is his brother Andre will be on his own if Gordy doesn't make it. Feeling pretty awful right now. I will obviously post with how it goes. Any other ideas about trying to perk him up? I know there probably is very little I can do, other than what I am already doing. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Lucy. |
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Post by Ady on Dec 4, 2011 18:29:54 GMT
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Post by lilladylu on Dec 4, 2011 18:54:38 GMT
thank you very much for your post on the RI topic.
I have used to olbas oil steaming before when his brother had a very similar thing. It didn't really help Denzil. But I will try it anyway. I fear that he may be so weak though it will also have little affect. He is really having to fight. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Considering he was in such poor condition when we had then 3 years ago, he has done remarkably up until now. I will go and see if any of the RI advice will help.
Thanks once again.
Lucy.
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Post by lilladylu on Dec 4, 2011 20:44:02 GMT
Gordon has passed away |
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 4, 2011 23:21:46 GMT
Oh honey!! I am so very sorry!! This is sad news indeed. Very sorry for your loss, lilladaylu.
You know, it sounds like you gave him three years more than he would have had continuing in his previous conditions. Obviously you gave him excellent care, that brought him back from the brink and boosted his health well beyond just hanging on. You've done so well!! You will continue to do just as well with Andre and any future degus you get. My thoughts are with you.
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Post by lilladylu on Dec 6, 2011 22:16:10 GMT
hello there deguconvert
Thank you so much for your post. It definitely cheered me up the night that I lost Gordon. I am devastated. It it so very hard to loose them. They are such intelligent and fascinating creatures.
I think you are right, they wouldn't have lived as long as they have without us taking them out of their previous environment. Their cage was on top of a cage of staffordshire bull terriors?! It was an awful situtation :S I couldn't wait to get them out of there.
If you can offer any advice to me about helping his lone brother cope with his loss??
I am also worried about introductions if he is too lonely. Andre fell in their cage when they were in a tower cage. We found that he had an ulcer in his eye and it gave him a head tilt. It was treated with drops and he is better now but still has the head tilt. SO he now lives in a smaller cage with less height as he falls over all the time. I wouldn't want to introduce another degu if it would create more problems.
Would be grateful of any advice.
Lucy x
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Post by lilladylu on Dec 6, 2011 22:18:36 GMT
hello there deguconvert
Thank you so much for your post. It definitely cheered me up the night that I lost Gordon. I am devastated. It it so very hard to loose them. They are such intelligent and fascinating creatures.
I think you are right, they wouldn't have lived as long as they have without us taking them out of their previous environment. Their cage was on top of a cage of staffordshire bull terriors?! It was an awful situtation :S I couldn't wait to get them out of there.
If you can offer any advice to me about helping his lone brother cope with his loss??
I am also worried about introductions if he is too lonely. Andre fell in their cage when they were in a tower cage. We found that he had an ulcer in his eye and it gave him a head tilt. It was treated with drops and he is better now but still has the head tilt. SO he now lives in a smaller cage with less height as he falls over all the time. I wouldn't want to introduce another degu if it would create more problems.
Would be grateful of any advice.
Lucy x
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 7, 2011 3:40:30 GMT
Lilladylu, I'm glad that my words could offer you comfort. It is so hard to lose the living to death. No matter the situation or what we know before hand, it is always untimely and we are always more unprepaired then prepaired for the emotional cost it brings. And yet, we are not without the love that was part of that relationship, it is still with us and we can still treasure it.
Andre does need some time to grieve. Degus have very strong emotional bonds with their cage mates, and the grief they feel is real. He will greatly miss Gordon, and he will greatly anticipate time with you. You will become his companion, source of "grooming," source of warmth, etc. So, carry him around with you on and off while you are home. He may prefer his cage . . . but he may prefer you, to take your cues from him. If he is leaning off your shoulder like he's looking to jump on to something, show him is cage and see if he wants back in. I would suggest wearing something with snuggly pockets, or a hood, or that he can climb inside of, and if he is feeling relaxed and happy to be with you, he will fall asleep on you. Spending what time you can with him will help him until such time as you are able to bring him a new friend.
Loneliness can aid in introducing your degu to others, he will be most interested, even desparate, to form a bond with another degu. However, we can't guarantee that the other degu will feel the other way. Getting a very young male pup (s) can help with this, but introducing another degu of similar age as Andre can go just as well. What really helps is knowing the character of your degu, and getting as much of an idea of the character of any degu you may bring home. If you bring home an Alpha male, he is going to work hard to make sure that he dominates Andre. If Andre is also an Alpha, there will be fighting. However, a more subdued and submissive degu will be better a blending.
Take a few days to firm up what you know about Andre, and then move forward from there. If you have more questions, and I'm sure you will . . . ask away, love!!
I'll be thinking of you!
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Post by kalistaa on Feb 15, 2014 3:33:53 GMT
I'm having this problem right now. She was fine this morning before I left. Came home around five and she was laying in her cage, lifeless, and still breathing. Ive been reading on possible things of why this is happening. No answers really. I'm laying with her. She is very cold, I'm trying to keep her warm the best I can. She is so lifeless, she isn't even blinking. And she looks so skinny.
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 15, 2014 5:40:17 GMT
Hello, Kalistaa . . . how are things going? I have to admit, things don't sound good. Is she still alive?
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Post by animalmadchloe on Feb 15, 2014 13:34:37 GMT
I'm so sorry for the loss of you goo xxx |
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Post by animalmadchloe on Feb 15, 2014 13:36:05 GMT
I'm having this problem right now. She was fine this morning before I left. Came home around five and she was laying in her cage, lifeless, and still breathing. Ive been reading on possible things of why this is happening. No answers really. I'm laying with her. She is very cold, I'm trying to keep her warm the best I can. She is so lifeless, she isn't even blinking. And she looks so skinny. Do you have a hot water bottle or fleecy blankets to keep her warm? If you have a bottle wrap it in a tea towel and wrap goo up in one too and snuggle her ontop to keep warm xxx |
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Post by kalistaa on Feb 15, 2014 13:46:40 GMT
She sadly died during the night.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Feb 15, 2014 14:13:50 GMT
She sadly died during the night. Oh no I'm so sorry xxxx |
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Post by klbishop on Feb 15, 2014 19:28:50 GMT
Iam so sorry for your loss. X
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Post by anita on Feb 15, 2014 19:40:59 GMT
Sorry to hear that Gordon passed away x
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Post by rygars1 on Feb 8, 2016 23:37:10 GMT
This happened to my degu squeak tonight I come home from work and he was lifeless in the cage cold but still breathing, he was taking waster through a syringe and moving his legs whilst we kept him warm . Half hour later he starting chirping and then suddenly died im so gutted . Rip my baby
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Post by animalmadchloe on Feb 9, 2016 8:22:10 GMT
Sorry for your loss xxx |
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Post by saddlers on Feb 9, 2016 14:39:48 GMT
Sorry to hear about your loss
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 9, 2016 16:06:03 GMT
I am so sorry for your loss, Rygars1! My thoughts are with you! Hugs
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He even ate a tiny piece of apple and some oats this monring but he has gone downhill rapidly. I have made sure he is warm and has plenty of bedding. I have tried to offer him syringe feed (mushed up degu selective) and given him some water but his breathing is very laboured. 
