shaking degu

[arro]

Hi there,

one of my boys sometimes sits and his whole body vibrates for a few seconds and you can clearly see his body expanding like he is streching his insides, he was sat on my hand last night relaxed but i could feel sparadic shakes, could it be him getting comfy?

he seems fine in his self apart from some sneezing.

He was out the cage the other day and sat still and did the same thing, like i say you can see his body moving as he does it.

Any clues?

thanks

[smux]

If he's grinding his teeth at the same time, it's anxiety...something worrying or scaring him. Are there other degus in the house or other scents that might put him into alert?

[arro]

He has a brother who lives in cage nextdoor, but they get on fine.
they both grind thier teeth whist they are sleeping and running slightly but they have always done that, he is not upset or over alerted,

it may be nothing they both seem fine and playfull.

[Whizz]

Look on this page and scrool to the bottom, it has two teeth grinds that you can listen to. Which one sounds like the one your boys make?

[smux]

If they grind their teeth while sleeping, it is actually them telling you to shut up as they're trying to sleep...not the original question, but thought I'd let you know as all mine do that when it's bedtime and they want to sleep :-)

If he doesn't do it while doing the shaking, I have no idea what it might be

[puzzle29]

my degu sort of vibrates when he grinds his teeth, might be that?

[whizzer27]

Our degu Raj (the one arro is referring to) doesn't seem to have a reason for doing it. He'll be happily sat, then seems to tense and release his muscles all over... i've checked for the usually runny eyes, sneezing and wheezing thinking it was something to do with that but he's absolutely fine! Strange little thing lol xx

[deguconvert]

All three of our boys do something either exactly like this, or similar to it. They seem to be shivering . . . and they will do it on and off for several minutes at a time. It doesn't seem to happen when they are in their cage or out on a run about, just when they are out with us. Usually it will calm down . . . so as has been suggested, it might have to do with anxiety. It started with only one boy, and he only did it when my daughter would take him out of the cage. Now all three do it . . . so I think it might be a learned thing. They don't seem edgy or freaked at all. There is no indication of illness, and this has been happening for probably close to a year. I think it is . . . more to do with their brains than their brawn. LOL!

[whizzer27]

Well at least I know someone elses goo does it! Hes done it once since then, your probably right about the anxiety because of the two he's the less confident goo, unless he's fighting with his brother when they're playing out and he thinks he's huge! xx

[arumanii]

I've seen my girlies do it too.

Always thought it was just them taking a really deep breath and shaking it off a bit... in the same way we do sometimes. With my girliegoos it usually ends shortly after in a quick nap or sudden burst of energy round the cage (as though suddenly shaking themselves out of it and racing off)

Just ponderings...

[whizzer27]

Hmm interesting! I havent caught him doing it again so will need to keep a look out and see when!