Life Expectancy?

[Jus]

I've read a variety of estimates for degu life expectancy ranging from 6 to 10, but I was wondering if anyone knew more specific information regarding this. I ask because Spook is knocking on a bit now but I was hoping for a good few years from her yet!
Her chronic on-and-off eye infection seems to have returned and she gradually over time seems to be getting a bit slower etc. I don't think she has any specific illness as she weighs fine, is eating, drinking, defecating and interacting with the others normally and seems herself. She just seems to be slower and more fragile and more docile than she used to be. Nor is this a sudden change but has been developing gradually over time. For these reasons, I haven't been acutely concerned for her health as it does seem to be what I would expect from ageing. But she's only nearly 5... Surely she should have a bit of life yet before she reaches the rainbow bridge?!

I have wondered if it is due to her breeding, as through having degus over time we have come to the conclusion that she is probably from a fairly inbred line of degus. Does anyone know if the degree of inbreeding in a particular degu is known to shorten life expectancy? I really hope that she soldiers on for a bit. I'll be so gutted when she passes, she was our first!

[Maravilla]

Apr 12, 2013 17:50:16 GMT Jus said:

I've read a variety of estimates for degu life expectancy ranging from 6 to 10

Life expectancy is said to be 5-8 years. The problem is that often the life expantancy is confused with the maximum life span. Some degus die at 1-3 years of age, others become 8 years and older. You never know as there are so many things influencing life expectancy of a degu. Even if the genes are great a degu could die as consequence of an infectious disease or other health problems (just to give you an example).

[Jus]

Ah I understand. What I mean is, is it common for life expectancy to tend to be lower in degus with worse breeding?

[moletteuk]

It seems logical to expect poorer life expectancy with worse breeding, but I'm not sure I can back the theory up. Also, I think most degus will have some inbreeding in their line, it's just a case of degrees and perhaps if the last generation or two are a direct result of line breeding that might make a difference.

In my time on the forum, deaths are still too few and far between for me to have picked up much of a pattern, the only thing that springs to mind which shortens lives that is likely to be strongly linked to poor breeding is teeth problems, in particular elodontoma (ingrown roots).

It's normal for animals in captivity to live longer than in the wild when you eliminate predators and optimise diet, but I don't know how wild degu lifespan compares to captive. An interesting snippet is that pet hamsters have significantly shorter lifespans than wild hamsters, and I presume this is due to the very selective breeding that goes on to get the varieties of coat colour and pattern (even though hamster breeders swear they breed for health and temperament first, they clearly don't).