Degu vasectomy

[mands38]

MY beloved boys have turned out to be boy and girl! Jessie is due her babies anyday, so we have made the brave decision to have Scooby castrated. However, I have read many threads which note some fatalities after the procedure. I am now petrified as Scooby is a much loved little man, and our degus are a part of the family. Please, if you have had positive experiences please let me know. Also if you live in the Swindon area and want babies degus in a few months the newborns will be available to good homes.

[buzz]

I can't help with your request because I haven't had mine done but it all depends on circumstance. With a bonded pair the kindest thing to do would be to neuter, unless you have the time and money for two seperate cages and you think mum would be happy with her daughter/s and dad would be happy with his son/s.

I suspect that most fatalities occur with inexperienced vets, so if I were you I would search high and low for a vet who has had experience. I considered neutering for a short time and in one vets I was told that he had never done a neutering before but there was a step by step guide on the internet... it sounded highly dodgy and I quickly left. I know they have to start somewhere but I wasn't going to have my boys used as practise. My point is, if they say they can do it, check up on it.

[mands38]

The vet says he has done them before as he is a tropical animals specialist, our own vet refused! Thanks for advice, we have to do it I suppose as we don't want Jess to live for a shorter time than Scooby, we wanted them together as friends. It is just the thought of losing Scoob..........urghhh!!!

[buzz]

It is a sensible move as consantly breeding does take its toll on mum as I guess you know. Its fantastic that you found an experienced vet, you know he'll be in good hands now.

If you weren't aware, Scooby could still get Jess pregnant even after a few weeks after the vasectomy, so you may have to think about at least one more litter or temporary seperate cages, if he is still fertile after the babies are weaned.

Also, again if you weren't aware, it is advisable to remove dad from mum for 24 at least (48 hrs preferable) after a birth as she is at her most fertile, to prevent back breeding.


Best of luck with the new litter and a full recovery for Scooby. Keep us posted won't you?

[mands38]

We have 6 babies Scooby had op this morning very poorly but doing well! Hopefully we will pull through. Thanks for kind words.

[phe]

awww how lovely!
and i wish u the most luck ever in his safe revival! im sure he will pull through,degus are made of tough stuff- in other words they are extremely stubborn ;D
xxx xxx

[buzz]

Thats good news!!

I'm so glad the op is over and done with for you, I expect its a huge weight off your mind?

And well done to new mum too

[mands38]

Yes we are a happy family, although worried about Scoob, we had a cuddle and he perked up, but now he is dozing ontop of his box. The babies are lovely!!!!

[deguconvert]

Congratulations on the babies!! Best of luck with all of them!!! I hope Scooby makes an excellent recovery, and will be full of pep and vigor for a very, very long time. Enjoy those babies! Have you got the cage baby proofed? They can get through VERY small spaces. 2cm X 2cm is an open door for them.

[kerry]

aah, congratulations. love goo babies. hope daddy goo continues to do very well x x x

[mands38]

Scooby had check up today - all good. Brill!!!! Babies are soooo cute, like little gremlins!!! The cage is goo proof we think!!!!!!!! Just so happy that my boy is ok, we were very worried about him as he was very weak for 2 days. Quite interesting though was when we showed scooby his babies he took a turn for the better and ralied. There was a dramatic change, I think it was more than co-incidence. I will try and post picture of babies. Thanks for all your supporting messages.

[buzz]

Thats great!! Its fab to hear of an op where everything went well I'll be waiting for the baby pics then .

[silverfox7]

my male sqeaky had his op at end of november, every thing went well he was a bit dozy for few days he was fine after that.

just have to see if the op has worked. as he lives with 2 females

[gmablett]

I adopted 2 degus and was told they were both boys, until 1 had 8 babies. We didnt realise she had babies till later that nite is there any chance he could hav mated with her again? We dont want anymore babies so we would like him neutered. Is it safer to have him done or her? I dont want to lose either of them as they are just starting to get used to me and I love them dearly.

[silverfox7]

its best to get the male done as it is easy of the 2, squeaky got bubbles again when babies were 3 weeks old, 3 months later 6 more babies, he had his op now so no more babies

[emz]

Mar 12, 2009 9:31:34 GMT gmablett said:

is there any chance he could hav mated with her again?

Females are most fertile just after they give birth I remember reading, so yes there is a chance.

Your male needs to be neutered.

[andrea37]

Mar 12, 2009 12:26:42 GMT silverfox7 said:

its best to get the male done as it is easy of the 2, squeaky got bubbles again when babies were 3 weeks old, 3 months later 6 more babies, he had his op now so no more babies

can i ask how much did the vet charge just in case it happens to me , my little boy had half his tail removed and the vet charged 75.00 for that

[silverfox7]

it cost me £31 for squeaky to be neutered in november, i dont know if all vets have the same price list as my does