How to pamper a degu with a cold

[Inge]

Hi everyone,

My goo boy Socrates has got a minor cold, I think. I opened the door while cleaning and forgot to get the cage out of the draft, beginner´s fault. He seems okay, happy as a clam running around as ever, he just sneezes every now and then and feels a little warmer.
I know a cold can't really be fixed and he'll just have to sit it out, but I would like to pamper him through it . I make hot water bottles with socks for them, which they seem to like as they sleep against them, and I've made some oatmeal with warm water as something warm to eat. I tried making sort of a thyme-tea as I hear this works against colds, but they dispised that.

So: does anyone have tips to spoil a goo with manflu ?


[Also, as shown in the picture, his best bud Plato has taken to keeping him warm(I think) by sleeping on top of him ;D. Literaly, this is not the best picture to show it but they really look like two pancakes, flat on their stomachs .]

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[deguconvert]

I think the warm water bottle is an excellent idea! Giving him a few extra calories through the oatmeal is probably also a good thing. Perhaps put some toilet tissue into the cage so that they can build a fluffy nest to luxuriate in?

[Inge]

Well, I gave them a small towel and they have had toilet paper several times, but they just don't seem to build nests . I tried putting loads of hay on the top floor for them to dig around in, but they would just stomp around on it. They don't even use their houses to sleep in. So I got them some soft bedding in a small bowl to lie on, which they seem to enjoy.

[deguconvert]

Sounds like you have a knack for pampering!! I'm glad they like the bowl bed. ;D

[harpic01]

Typical males - a cold turns into goo flu - doesnt make bed - oh the similarities to other halves i cant say
Nice and warm with the hot water bottle and he will be in heaven. When one of mine was a bit rough i gave him peanut butter on my finger loads of calories but good for adding the pounds if he doesnt feel like eating much - you could always get a female goo to mop his brow, tuck him in and feed him grapes i suppose

[Inge]

Hahahaha I guess that's true, i like to care for people/animals, social worker for a reason, I guess.

Hahahaha a girl goo to tuck them in, don't think that's a good idea, it's bad enough that us human girls fall for it every time, wouldn't want to do that to other species:p

I also warmed up an old towel in the microwave, they loved that!