Going to the vet tomorrow..

[mgina]

So, little Garak is going to the vet tomorrow. Again. He's been there about 6-7 times over a bit over a year to get his teeth trimmed, but after the last time we were there, two weeks ago, he didn't quite recover.

He weighs 230 normal, before vet 200, now 170...!! We feed him with a mix of food with water and blend it. He eats, but has problems with it. The vet did say his gums in the back were a bit red and sore, so we might have to put him under to get those sorted out.

And that's what we're doing tomorrow. I know it's dangerous to do this, and that's why I'm so stressed out! But my little degu is starving, and I can't let him have it like this. He's tiny, but energetic, running in the wheel thankfully. He looks good exhept being thin and scruffy.

Just had to get that off my chest... Argh, so stressed for tomorrow!!

[deguconvert]

Oh no!! Poor Garak! He has had some very tough times with his teeth. I do hope this will be a successful visit, with long lasting success to follow. I am hoping and praying good health for Garak! Sending you hugs, too, as I know you love him greatly. Please let us know how he and yourself are doing?

[mgina]

Thank you so much deguconvert, I really hope he gets through the anastecia (sorry for spelling!) and that he will recover fully this time with his constant teeth-problems! He is more happy and energized now than before, I suppose it is because of the food-mixture, so I hope he has good chances...

I will let you know tomorrow evening. His brother Sirius is in perfect shape, a bit close to overweight, and he bites happily on wood all day long If only Garak would learn!!

[moletteuk]

Oh dear, I hope he gets on well at the vet. Try not to worry too much, teeth are usually done under gas anaesthetic, which isn't so risky, if you are concerned you could ask the vet about this.

[mgina]

Thank you moletteuk, I will ask them about that I'm trying to get as much snuggle-time with him today as possible

[yasmin]

Maybe Garak won't have to have anesthesia. If his gums are inflamed then anti-inflammatory medication should work Or maybe it's a mild infection and he just needs a round of antibiotics? My Degu Azure had her back molars trimmed a few months ago. She seemed to be doing a bit better right afterwards but developed a puffy cheek about a week or so later. I gave her leftover antibiotics prescribed to her for a previous issue (Baytril) for about a week and suddenly she started to make major improvements like eating harder foods and chewing on hay. She's been doing great ever since.

If he does need anethesia of sorts, I'd expect that it would be only a mild anesthetic (see moletteuk's reply) which my vet assured me is not dangerous. It's more to calm them down so that you can look at their teeth – not to knock them right out like they do for surgery.

Best wishes to both you and Garak. Hope all goes well and that he's back to his ole self soon.

[mgina]

Thanks for you wishes everyone, he had full anatecia and it went well! But now he continues to go down in weight - from 170 g ti 145!! He's never weighed this low, he's superskinny, but still energetic. He doesn't want to eat, we use Critical Care that he almost doesn't eat, and we don't know what to do.

To top it all, we are both supposed to go away for the weekend for important school-stuff (interviews ending our university degrees), which means our friends only can give him regular food, not mix the critical care and actually sitting with him when he eats.

It almost seems like the best solution for little Garak is to end it, but I still have hope... But he's so little..

[moletteuk]

Poor little Garak.

Would it be possible to phone the vet and ask their advice? I'm afraid there must be a serious health issue for him to lose so much weight.

[mgina]

Well, I can call them, but they don't have extensive experience with degu. I don't know what they can tell me over the phone, they just told me to watch over him and that they hoped this worked.

I'm frustrated for probably having to leave tomorrow. If I do leave, I don't know if he'll eat the next days. If I don't leave, I'll be sad and not knowing what to do. And if he just gets worse, I will have to let him go I'll weigh him tonight and tomorrow, and just take it from there. Today he has tried to eat normal food at least!

The ONLY plus side - we spotted two supercute little boys, just 6-8 weeks old yesterday. So if everything goes bad, we will get those little two

[deguconvert]

Do you have a travel cage that you use to take him to the vet, one that might enable you to bring Garak with you?

[mgina]

Yes of course, but as I said, the vet can't do anything, they don't know degu very well. They just hoped the visit last friday went good..

[deguconvert]

Yes . . . I didn't mean to use the cage for the purpose of having the vet care for him. I was thinking more along the line of Garak traveling with you, so that you could care for him?

[mgina]

Hm, it's a four-five hour long drive. We should probably also have another cage set up there too, because the travel cage isn't that large (made for ferrets, I believe).

We are going to see today. If he's gained weight, we're leaving tonight, if he hasn't, we're feeding him lots tonight and tomorrow morning. We're going to make some "liquid" food for him, and be back late sunday so that it's only really saturday they are alone.

So complicated... Both me and my boyfriend don't think this will end good We're just hoping for a few more days so we can get back and care for Sirius when it happens, so he doesn't have to be alone. It doesn't look good.

[deguconvert]

The traveling could prove too much for him, as that is a long drive. Well, not a very good idea from me to you. The poor fellow! Garak is such a fighter, and he has fought his way through other difficult times, you helping and cheering him on each time, and I do hope he will win his way through this as well. For you to share that it doesn't look good . . . he must be struggling hard but growing weak. I am so, so sad. I'll be hoping still, though . . . and I'll be thinking of you and Garak in the days ahead. Do let us know how things go this weekend? With your interviews as well as with Garak?

[mgina]

I will, and thank you for caring

Today he has actually eaten normal food, and gained 6 grams... So they might still be a little hope. Fingers crossed!

[Deleted]

What vet are you using? I'm going to compile a list of vets that have some experience with degus for my infosite,
but so far the only one I have found in the area is Mostue+Lutro in Vestby. They've been very kind and answered my questions thoroughly so far.
I guess you could try giving them a call if it gets any worse?

I wish I could help you out, seeing as I live only half an hour away, but I'm afraid I'll be away this weekend as well..

Lykke til!

[deguconvert]

I am really happy that he has gained 6 grams! There is a long way to go, I know, but I do think that is promising!!

[mgina]

Terribly sorry for not updating here for now!

Stormsong - I can warmly recommend Volvat Dyreklinikk in Oslo, located at Skøyen/Hoff. Elisabeth, which is an expert with birds, really knows how to care for degus as well, at least in handling teeth. Hva kan de i Vestby gjøre, kan de mer enn tenner?

So, little Garak is still hanging on. He is NOT gaining weight, he's still around 150-160. He really tries eating normal food, but we give him Critical Care every other day at least, if not every day. He's pretty active, running in the wheel and all that, but he does sleep a bit more than when he's completely healthy.

We do suspect something else than his teeth is bothering him, maybe his digestion since he's not gaining. His teeth are starting to get long again. I want to take him to the vet one more time to try do his teeth (no anastesia), but my boyfriend wants the vet to see if there is any point, if we should just let him go. It does pain me, but none of us wants to see him hurt. So I really don't know, we have to do something, either do his teeth or let him go if that is what the vet reccomends.

As for the positive, he is active as I've said, and he's become VERY cuddly and friendly with us. Now, when we take him out to eat critical care, he eats like crazy (nothing wrong with his hunger..) and THEN he climbs up on my shoulder, leans towards my neck and rests there for a couple of minutes. So cute. Never did that before.

We're also contemplating getting three new little brothers, both in case he has to go so that Sirius will have friends, and because... they're so cute. But I'll make another thread for that.

Thank you for caring, don't know what I would have done without this forum!

[moletteuk]

Thanks for the update, I'm pleased to hear he is still fighting on, but sorry that he still faces an uncertain future.
Have you tried different types of normal degu food, can he manage anything? Will he eat any hay?

[mgina]

Thanks moletteuk. He doesn't eat hay, but he eats a bit of his regular food. it takes horribly long, but he does get a bit from that.