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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 18, 2012 21:21:51 GMT
Ok! So I'm a vet tech at a vet hospital in Toronto. My Exotic vet is on holidays for a week and can't get a hold of him.
4 kids dropped this little boy off at my clinic. They said they found him at a park (they thought he was a chinchilla). Apparently there was another degu there as well, but another kid picked it up and took it. I told them if they knew who to bring that one as well as I know they need cage mates.
Anyway this little one is a male, skinny, dehydrated and has a broken right hind leg. It looks like a clean break on the rads. He's drinking water nicely for me, and I bought the only pellets from the pet store that said anything to do with degu's (some Guinea Pig food that said was "great" for degu's as well). I put some timothy hay in with him that he's sleeping in.
I've given him pain meds, and some fluids, but I really never had a degu before and know nothing at all about them. So any advice, websites or anything you can give me would be much appreciated!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 19, 2012 0:02:36 GMT
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 19, 2012 1:37:04 GMT
Thanks so much, I left him at work tonight as its cold and I was there late tonight. I made him a hide box out of a shoe box that he seems to like. I'm going to check out the sites you gave me and update tomorrow on how he is. I own ferrets as well, and even with being a vet tech, I know that owners of theses little ones usually know more than the vets about most things. It's why I came to a forum as apose to finding another vet to look at him. I can give him drugs and fluids no problem, it's the "little" things like proper food and what not that only owners no best  |
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Post by Lrak on Sept 19, 2012 8:02:02 GMT
It makes me sick when people do stuff like this, so glad there are people like you out there. Please keep us updated on this, and ask away  |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 19, 2012 9:45:03 GMT
Good luck with him, poor little guy. Is he handling eating OK? He's probably only got one hand spare for eating if he is using the other for balance, so he might appreciate small pieces of food, just something to watch out for. Medication info here: www.degutopia.co.uk/deguvetlist.htm |
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 19, 2012 17:08:42 GMT
He seems to be eating ok. I gave him some bird seed that we had in the clinic yesterday and he loves it. We also have peas for our turtle, so I gave him a few of those which he ate up like he was starving. He doesn't seem to like the pellets, but I have a coworker that is going to a pet store pick me up some wood as well as a seed mix for him (shes buying new fish). He only weighs 103 grams. Is fresh veggies ok for him to eat? Everything I've seen so far is dried veggies/plants. Can he drink water out of a bowl? I haven't seen him drink out of the bowl I made him, so I've been giving him water out of a syringe which he seems to like. He's super sweet and doesn't mind being handled at all, seems to enjoy it quite a bit. I'm assuming that's because he misses his cage mate. He doesn't seem in as much pain, and is trying to use is hind leg more. I'm bringing him home tonight. I have a 10 gal tank that my snake used to live in, that I'm going to set up for him until he's leg heals. I've named him Finn |
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Post by ntg on Sept 19, 2012 20:00:20 GMT
They can drink out of bowls you just need to change the water more regularly than from a bottle as it can get dirty pretty quickly. Then again if he's used to getting water from a bottle it might take him some time to get used to it.
From what I've read, too much fresh veg can cause bloating from the high water content. You may be able to get bags of dried dandelion from a pet store which will go down well.
Glad he's doing better and I hope you find his friend!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 20, 2012 3:23:02 GMT
I'm glad to hear that he is doing well, but he certainly needs to put on some weight, as he is very light. Of course, he may also be very young. What is his length from nose to tail tip would you estimate? An adult will be between 10-12 inches give or take. Have you tried the food items I recommended earlier? Dried veg I think would be better for him at this time, since you don't want to cause diarreaha, which I think would be catastrophic for him at this time.
It is helpful that he loves to be held and touched, as that will make it so much easier to examine and treat him as he progresses. I suspect you are going to fall in love with him, if you haven't already. They can steal your heart, these little guys.
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Post by dusty on Sept 20, 2012 7:57:30 GMT
I hate that people can be so irresponsible when it comes to pets. The fact they were found in a park I find rather worrying. I really think the best thing for him would be to try and get his friend back. Maybe put up some posters or something around the park where they were found to get the other boys attention, just a little info on the care they need etc. It might also help educate people a little, plus the fact there may have been more than 2 and other people using the park might be finding them.
They usually like to cuddle up together for sleeps ect. it makes them feel safe and warm. If he's on his own he could get quite stressed particuarly at night time - mine cry if they don't all snooze together. There is a trick with stuffing a sock with dry rice and putting in the microwave (I haven't tried this) it would give him something to rest on if he gets cold and maybe just give him a bit of comfort
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 21, 2012 15:18:36 GMT
I'm sorry I haven't replied yet. I've been super busy and stressed, one of my ferrets is sick as well as one of my cats. He is doing very well. I have tried the food you recommended and even with some veggies his poops are normal. He's doing a great job in keeping me up at night. I do think he will need a friend soon, he whimpers every once in a while. The girl with the other degu won't bring him/her to us. I'm thinking of setting up my 20 Gal tank for him, the 10 seems way to small, even for him to heal. He is an adult, I just don't know how to tell his age, if there even is a way. His front teeth are very yellow, but I doubt that helps with determining his age. He's made a bed in the hay that he uses as well as the hide box I've made him. So far so good |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 22, 2012 5:11:11 GMT
The ten gallon tank will definitely be too small, and you will still find the 20 gallon tank too small, but it is better than then ten! Very yellow to orange teeth is an excellent indication that he is getting the right nutrients for his body, albeit too few while he was out in the world, and that is a comforting bit to know. It's really too bad that the girl with the other degu won't bring him in. Not even just to be checked over?? Do you have a 12 inch wheel he can run in? Branches for him to chew on maybe? Dust bath? Is his cage in your bedroom? Have you tried ear plugs? I'm sorry to hear that you have a sick ferret and cat, I hope they will both recover soon for you. |
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 26, 2012 23:45:57 GMT
He doesn't have a wheel right now because of his leg. He's on strict rest for his leg to heal properly, which is doing verry well! He loves to be handled and I take him out everyday to run and cuddle on my bed, he loves it.
His leg is healing though so I really need to get him a proper cage and I really don't know where to get one that isn't plastic or metal. I'm not very handy and the thought of making a cage scares me. Does anyone know where I could get a cage in Toronto, or of a plan on how to make a cage? With measurements and sizing and everything needed? I've looked on the international degu page on how to make a cage, but its very overwhelming.
He's also gaining weight! Yay!
I also need to get him a cage mate, any suggestions? Should I get a young degu, or adopt an older one as he's older?
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 27, 2012 12:26:28 GMT
Fantastic news that his leg is healing well Metal cages are fine, you just need solid shelves, and sometimes extra shelves, so they need a little modification sometimes. We usually recommend the Critter Nation, which actually is good for introductions because you can divide it easily, here's a great thread on what you can do with these cages deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=15977Home made wooden cages have the advantage that you can make them any size you like and they are really easy to keep tidy. Sheet wood comes in sheets 8' by 4', so I always think it makes sense to consider this and make the cage 4' tall by 4' wide and 2' deep, unless you have a particular space you want it to fit into. You can either fix the sheets directly together with glue and screws and then strengthen it with some brackets, or you can use thick battens to attach everything to. If you have a look in the blog section, there are links to detailed pics on how people have made their wooden cages. You could also consider using a metal garage shelving unit as a frame, so all the strength and setting out is done for you and you just have to clad it. I think a good choice for the intro would be another single degu who is desperate for a friend, if they are both a bit lonely it can help them make friends. Otherwise it's best to introduce two youngsters, and then if it doesn't work out the new ones have each other. You can also consider neutering and introducing two females. |
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Sept 27, 2012 22:35:44 GMT
Lol, the critter nation looks just like my ferret nation for my ferrets . I would love to build him a cage rather than buy a metal one, just because I can make it how I want, and I've seen a few that I like from pictures but I'm really getting anxious just thinking about building it. I'm a perfectionist and it seems really hard to me lol. I'm going to go to an exotic pet store tomorrow to look at cages I can get that are temporary, until I can build up the courage to build my own cage. But then I want to wait till I have a proper cage before I get another degu. Ohhh I'm so stressed thinking about it. So your recommendation is to get two younger degu's and try them with him? Or an older lonely one? |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 28, 2012 9:47:19 GMT
Critter Nation is very similar to Ferret Nation, but the bar spacing is smaller and it's a bit wider I'm sure you will be able to manage building a cage if you want to, just think of it as a large box! Have a look in the blogs section for some more detailed info and pics Do you know somebody who could help you? You might like to start another thread to get some more opinions on the introduction. It depends on your priorities really, any of the 3 options I mentioned could work for you. It's nice to give another lonely degu a better life, but there are never guarantees it will work out, an adult degu will usually accept babies very quickly, but you can have fighting as the youngsters go through puberty, neutering and females obviously involves the risk of the operation, but this makes quite a natural grouping and can be easier than male to male. |
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Oct 3, 2012 1:36:34 GMT
I don't have anyone to help me build a cage. Is there anyone on here from Toronto, Canada that you (or anyone else knows of)? I need some help finding things in the city. I call pet stores and no one seems to know anything at all about Degu's is super frustrating since I'm trying to find foods and possibly a cage. He is gaining weight nicely (125grams!), and I moved him into the 20 gal tank last night as his leg is healing nicely. I can't even catch up with him now, he's using his leg so well! I'm going to another pet store tomorrow to get degu/chinchilla sand and a wheel since he's healing so well now. He's also getting more out of cage time as I'm not so worried about his leg. I am still taking it easy by only keeping him on paper towel and ripped up paper towel in his hide box, and I have hay in the tank at all times. He also doesn't seem lonely any more, but I'm still looking for a male degu I can adopt. It does look like I may have to neuter him and get a female or two. He seems to love having me hold him and talk to him and playing with me. I've completely fallen in love with him. And he has a new permanent name, Oats How much weight does a healthy male degu usually weigh? What fresh veggies are safe for daily eating? He loves fresh veggies, doesn't eat the dehydrated veggies. His poops are all normal, no loose ones, and urine looks good from my understanding. I've been giving him field greens daily and he seems to like grape tomato's and celery. |
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Post by Lrak on Oct 3, 2012 11:04:22 GMT
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 3, 2012 11:31:52 GMT
There's loads of info on the food board, these charts are a good reference for veg deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=15602 If he prefers fresh veg and is digesting it well then that is fantastic, nothing to worry about. Normal adult weight varies a lot, 200g to 300g, but even higher and lower than that can be OK too. Deguconvert, Karma and Yasmin are all from Canada, although I'm not sure if anyone is from near Toronto, but they might still be able to help. Deguconvert will hopefully see this and she might know if either of the others are from nr Toronto. |
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Post by Karma on Oct 3, 2012 14:08:30 GMT
deguconvert and me are both from calgary so not too much help there but my cage I actually got shipped from ontario because it was the only place i could find. I bought the critter nation (the most amazing cage ever!! from flower town chinchillas online. Great customer service and I got the cage within 5 business days of order.
I also down the road bought the metal trays from them (no handy women here at all!) after my two babies decided 8 months later that the plastic trays "just had to go" and eat 4 inch holes in them overnight.
It's a big cage (I have the double level) but think long term after you find a friend for yours.
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Post by silverphoenix69 on Oct 5, 2012 2:01:23 GMT
So I went out and bought Oats a cage today. Its the only one I could find at Petsmart that seemed good enough. Its not long enough, bu he has way more room than the 20 Gal tank. He really seems to like it! To was running around for a good 2 hours gnawing on the different woods and running on the wheel . So fun to watch him! He was making a lot of guinea pig noises when he was checking everything out, so I was just wondering, what are the different sounds degu's make, and what do they mean? Also I was cleaning his tank out every 2 days because he only had paper towel. How often do you have to clean the cage? When I had guinea pigs I would spot clean every day but his poops/urine is to small to do that in the bedding. And I would clean their cage every week or two completely. Oh, I got the Ware Natural wood cage for rats. I know the bottom is plastic, but it is the best I could find at this time. The Critter cage looks nice, but I have the Ferret Nation for my ferrets and I really can't see how I can set it up for a degu :S I really do hope I'm doing everything right for my little guy. Oats  Cage  |
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so glad he is doing wll now.