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Post by ra on May 31, 2005 1:14:53 GMT
I'd read that about half of the Degus in domestication chew the hair off their front paws. Some think it's just a bad habit like nail biting. Even so, I think it's a sign of stress or distress of some kind.(So is nail biting for that matter!)
I wondered if anyone on this board has a Degus who has chewed the hair off their front feet?
Mocha has the long silvery hair on just her toes now. She chewed the hair off the tops of her feet and now up her wrists. At first it was just the top silver colored hair leaving her feet and arms black. Now she has chewed the hair off to pink skin. No bleeding or any signs of damage just bald tops of feet and wrists. Only her front paws.
I am concerned and don't know who to ask.
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northernstar40
Foraging Degu
May you always have an angel by your side
Posts: 102
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Post by northernstar40 on May 31, 2005 11:18:08 GMT
hummmm ra that is a strange one.  could you try putting something like the bitter apple on his feet? Is there any signs of a parasite? poss. mites? maybe he just has a itching problem and that is why he is chewing. Put a drop of primrose oil on his feet. I can tell you they dont care for the tase and it helps so much with dry skin issues. It may at least keep him from chewing. Do you know if there hair will grow back? I have one of the new guys who tail is bare from fighting I m sure. was wondering if it would grow back. Good Luck Peg |
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Post by ra on May 31, 2005 13:09:49 GMT
Northerstar40 Mocha doesn't mind the taste of Bitter Apple, Bitter Lime etc!! I've used both on my wooden window frames and she actually licks it off!
She's still not real receptive to me holding and touching her. (Sam said sure last time she let you scratch her she had babies!) Don't know if I could put any treatment on her.
I hope she doesn't have mites.
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Post by Aimeelou on May 31, 2005 14:03:07 GMT
Hi Ra
So shes still chewing the fur then from last few weeks? I f its getting worse id take her to the vets to be on the safe side.
Maby it is some sort of ichyness that she cant stop agrevating? Or like you said a nasty habit?!?
Hope she gets better
Aimee
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Post by worthym on May 31, 2005 14:11:50 GMT
I'd have to agree with Aimeelou - I would be tempted to take Mocha to the vets, and get a skin scraping for any parasites. Demodex mites are fairly common in lots of animals and also humans - and are microscopic - so you wouldn't know if she had them. Be worth getting it checked out as they can be cleared up fairly easily, but they would probably cause some discomfort and could be the reason for the hair chewing. Personally, I'm thinking it could well be the stress of the changes recently. From what I am finding out on this forum and also other websites, it seems degus do get easily stressed. I suppose if you combine that with hormonal changes after raising her litter, then she might just need time to settle. I'm sure she'll come around in time  Keep us updated with her progress !! EDIT - poor spelling and typos galore! |
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Post by Aimeelou on May 31, 2005 14:19:36 GMT
Cheers Worthym
are you taking the mick out of my spelling!?!
My girl had babys 8weeks ago and since splitting them up from mum and dad, mum seems fine. It might be that she is a bit stressed after it all, Being a single parent and all, she might just be needing some time to get back to normal.But still id take her to the vets just in case.
Aimee
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Post by ra on May 31, 2005 15:00:10 GMT
Hmmmmmmmm now for finding a vet who takes exotics and actually knows anything about Degus. I will start with my current small animal vet and see who he might recommend.
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Post by Aimeelou on May 31, 2005 15:11:22 GMT
When i was looking into hving Taco neutered, it was hard.
My vet that i take my dog to said theyed be in touch if any of their staff had any dealings with Degus-
and the next day a nice man rung me AND he had heard of them AND has treated them before! I was so releived that somone had acctualy dealt with them.
BUT he had dealings with them but not neutering, the only thing close to Degu was a chinchilla, so after a long debate about the pros and cons we went ahead an got him done. Alls well now and that vet now has "Degu neutering" as a succesful service!
I supose with them not being well nown,you just have to have a little trust and trust your instincs.
Hope you have some luck finding a vet with some knowledge
Aimee
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Willow
Warbling Degu
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Post by Willow on May 31, 2005 16:46:34 GMT
Hey Ra Here's a link to a worldwide list of vets recommended by other degus owners - haven't checked it for a while hope it still works. www.degus.org/english/faq/faq27_.htmThere might be some in your area. Let me know how you get on, one of my girls is losing the hair on her tail but we think its related to the mite treatment she's been having. Fortunately my vet is rodent specialist and is used to degus so I'm think we're okay. Willow |
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Post by ra on May 31, 2005 19:41:20 GMT
Willow Thanks for the link. I checked it before and was surprised to learn there are no Degus knowledgable vets near Pittsburgh, PA.
I did call my small animal vet. They conferred and said though they were not familiar with Degus it would not surprise them if the hair chewing was stress related. Also thought it might be hormonal changes from giving birth. They said they would be happy to take a look at her for me.
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Post by worthym on May 31, 2005 22:51:15 GMT
Yeah - I know the problem with vets all too well. Its a problem that I have because I have a total of 20 ( make that 23 I think - my pallid gerbils have just given birth!! ) small rodents of one sort or another. The main thing is finding a vet willing to try, and also willing to listen to advice. My vet understands that she is not perhaps an expert in small animals, but is willing to treat them, and also willing to listen to the information I pick up from other experts within the field. Oh - and the spelling comment was only taking the mickey out of my own spelling - which I had to correct about 4 times, even after previewing the post. And also my edit comment I had to edit after spelling the word "and" wrong... Hope I didn't offend anyone - just if i edit my posts I tend to put the reason so that noone thinks i am editing for any other nefarious reasons. |
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Post by ra on Jun 1, 2005 0:52:56 GMT
I closely inspected and watched the girls tonight. I noticed the baby Tanzania Peaberry has some hair missing from the outside edges of her forepaws. My sister (a human doctor) said to watch Mocha grooming Tanzania. Mocha does groom her with great vigor and detail.
However I am now a bit suspicious the hair loss may have come from them digging in the bedding hiding things under the rocks I've place in the cage. That would rub the hair off their forepaws and explain why that's the only hairless place on them.
They are both eating and drinking fine. They are very active. Appear to be happy now. I had Tanzania out sitting on my shoulders this evening. I was making my best Degus sounds (pathetic really!) and she ran up and put her little face up to my nose wiggling her whiskers and tickling my face. I tried to remain still. I was a little worried she might bite my nose.
I'll keep watching to see if I can discern what is happening here.
Thank you all for your input.
Oh Worthym/b] do you mind me asking what the treatment for the microscopic mites entails?
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Willow
Warbling Degu
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Post by Willow on Jun 1, 2005 11:44:22 GMT
Microscopic mite treatment. My two had a course of 3 treatments which could be injected or drops on the back of the neck. I was a bit concerned about the injections being very intrusive but mine didn't seem that fussed the sunflower seeds after it helped! Drops on the back of the neck were a bit messy particularly after they'd rolled in stuff, I don't think my two liked having a dirty coat.
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Post by Aimeelou on Jun 1, 2005 11:50:20 GMT
Sorry worthym!!  Only a joke! I normaly realise ive spelt somthing wrong till ive allready posted it! |
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Post by diet otaku on Jun 29, 2005 13:29:02 GMT
hmm, i just noticed last night that both my degus' front paws look darker than their feet... their feet are covered in the long silvery hair but that stops at their wrists in front and they just have short darker fur on their paws. the only change lately has been that they've started using the wheel... that wouldn't stress them out, would it? otherwise why would they use it? on the other hand, now i don't even remember if they ever had the silvery hair on their front paws. :/
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Post by ra on Jun 29, 2005 13:35:31 GMT
Mocha did have silvery long hair on her front paws when I first brought her home.
She now looks like she has long black gloves with the fingers cut out! Her individual fingers still have the silver fur. She trims her own nails by chewing - so I'm surprised she hasn't chewed the hair off her fingers.
She is very healthy and appears happy otherwise. Tanzania Peaberry still has silver hair on her front paws, though running in her wheel does rub a little hair off the sides.
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Post by diet otaku on Jun 29, 2005 15:18:09 GMT
on second glance, they appear to still have some silver hair on their feet, it just looks like their paws are black when they're at weird angles. frenzy's hair seems a little patchy, though, so i wonder if he's starting to chew?
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could you try putting something like the bitter apple on his feet? Is there any signs of a parasite? poss. mites? maybe he just has a itching problem and that is why he is chewing. Put a drop of primrose oil on his feet. I can tell you they dont care for the tase and it helps so much with dry skin issues. It may at least keep him from chewing. Do you know if there hair will grow back? I have one of the new guys who tail is bare from fighting I m sure. was wondering if it would grow back.
