strange things a foot on the boys bottoms

[shigatsu]

I'm not sure how to explain exactly, but today I noticed that there's this sort of weird bubbly-ness on the bottom of our two boy's bottoms, one on each side of their poohole. We're not sure if we should be concerned! I don't recall them having this before, however they are acting like they usually do, nothing different and look perfectly healthy otherwise... They appear almost like small testicles, but I never heard or read anything about this kind of thing, (I've read that they are internal on degus) so are not sure if maybe they're going into puberty or something or if it's something to be worried about Other than looking like two skin coloured bubbles they look alright (no redness or marks or anything). We're not sure how old they were when we got them but guessed they were about 6-7 weeks (by their size), we've now had them for two monthes, so they could be anywhere between 3 and 4 monthes old. We have a book that doesn't say anything about this kinda thing, but wondering if it could be something to do with maturing or what not and read that they can mature anywhere between 6 to 20 monthes (with a mininum of 63 days!) (they're are so many crazy gaps, and sort of conflicting information in this book it's crazy...!). When they move they change in size a bit too. We hope it's nothing too worry about (although if it is some puberty thing I feel a little embarrased for some reason! )

Thanks for any help! ^_^

[ra]

Don't be embarrassed to ask. I've never read anything about this particular problem either. Almost sounds like one of two things either a contact dermatitis from something they are sitting in - any changes in their bedding? or perhaps hemorrhoids. If for some reason they are straining to poop, they could have hemorrhoids.

Any one have a good Degus vet they could ask?

[shigatsu]

Thanks Ra!
Hmmm... Well, with their bedding they have they same old pine wood chips, however we pulled out their hay ball to clean about two or so weeks ago and never put it back in. With the hay ball they kept their hay neat, but now that it isn't in there we put a big handful near their food dish and they've basically have been making it a part of their bedding, that could be a possibility.... Another thing that could possibly be irritating them is their bumblefoot levels as they are still in their cage we bought them that was supposed to be temporary as we were going to make their cage. The base is smooth painted metal, but there is two small wire mesh levels that they tend to spend a lot of time on. They are really hard to clean as well since they aren't removable and we can't fit our hands in good enough to clean them, so they may not be the most clean. Although we've said this many times amongst ourselves, their new cage... or rather mansion should be ready by the end of the week (we broke down and bought a large ferret cage and are lining the bottom with a metal trey we are taking forever to make because we keep running into problems with it, argh! but it's coming now.. phew) no more bumblefoot levels (phew, yay).

They don't seem to be having troubles pooing, but I'm going to continue to monitor them just in case. However I'm not extremely worried about this possibility as when I cleaned out their cage the other day I put them in their runabout balls (of which they just love), and upon returning them to the cage they felt quite welcome to leaving me with two balls full of poo!

I still hope that it's nothing or something only minor

thanks for the info ^_^

[shigatsu]

Update - I'm not sure how to explain or that I'll explain very well because my head is spinning in circles about this... I wanna cry... . I've been searching and searching for information that could lead me to at least a certain idea, and it's been so difficult! Their problem has not gotten worse, nor has it gotten better. They are as active as normal. They do not seem to scratch more then normal. They're eating and drinking normal. Today they were humping more then normal (they're cage was cleaned today and we handled them a lot today, that may have threw them off in that case ). One thing I noticed today though is that they're hair seems to be running rather thin on the insides of their hindlegs (not sure if this may be related to their problem though). Tommorow we're going to pick up some primrose oil and go to the petshop and get vitamin C suppliments. At first I thought there was hairloss with the bubblyness, but noticed that when they are smaller (as they fluxuate in size depending on their leg position and what they're doing) that the hair 'comes back'. I looked up hemmorhoids and read that animals do not get these (although I'm not sure I'd believe this entirely), but the symptoms don't fit, so I'm pretty sure it's ruled out. I was reading about fungal ringworms and mites which could be a possibility although they do not seem to be scratching more then usual and their is no redness or anything of that sort, they are not losing hair really except the area under their hindlegs as I mentioned earlier (although Taisuke has a tiny bald spot right on the perfect center of his back - this appeared after a foodfight, so I'm thinking he somehow got it from that) - The only place I could think that they would have gotten these from is their hay (as they haven't been around anything/one else to get it from), However I use Timothy hay which is supposed to be pretty clean! so I just don't know .... I tried to find stuff on their anatomy, as Lee (my bf) thinks it could be their testicles as they seem bigger when they are trying to get on each other. All I could find is that they are in the abdomen, so that would be just too low to be a problem with their privates... it could be something to do with their intestines maybe.... I'm becoming really worried as it doesn't seem to be going away... we can't really afford to take them to a vet

[shigatsu]

Also, we're thinking of changing their bedding from the pine chips to the paper stuff we see in the pet shop. I'm not sure what it's called but it says on the back that it's made from the wood that is unsuitable for making paper and it looks more cottony/soft - if they are being irritated by their bedding maybe this will help.... ?

thank you

[northernstar40]

I found this information on another web site, thought it may be of intrest. hope it helps. I'll keep searching for you. Tumours: Are found mostly next to the rectum. These tumours are benign (not cancer). They are only visible if they are on the surface of the body. It doesn't seem to cause any pain to the animals. You can help prevent this by occasionally add Soya products to degu food. If you can find a vet who is experienced in the care of small animals, it is possible to get surgery, which will save your pets life.
best of luck!
peg

[shigatsu]

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!
I've read about tumours, but never read that they often occur around the rectum. When I read about them I often read that they feel hard. One time I got Lee to feel them (they're so hard to examine! ) as I held one of them and he said it felt soft and normal, so I somewhat ruled the possibility out. Today I looked at them again and I didn't see them on Taisuke (but I'm pretty sure they just didn't go away... but it was weird because they usually appear when they move, but it wasn't this time). I looked at Mario, and he actually relaxed and sat still - his were also "gone", but as he relaxed they kinda went "plop" and the one appeared on the one side (though small) - so he let me me get away with poking him and I poked him all around the area, but he felt very soft, like poking a fluffy pillow. I'm not completely ruling it out though... We decided that we're gonna wait till the end of the week to watch for any changes then hunt down a vet (hopefully we'll be able to afford it! ).

Thanks again! Your help is very much appreciated!!!!!!