Post by smlmamlgirl on Aug 28, 2005 21:50:50 GMT
Ahhh- forever on the same topic- but no longer.....
Anyone who has read any of my bits here on the forum have heard in large or small quantity about the health of one particular degu- Mom- who has been ill since before her huge brood of 6 in June.
For those that don't know (and for those that do- most- I am being redundant) a degu's tooth colour is directly related to his or her health. Cheesy yellow, mustard yellow, yellow yellow glo-in-the-dark yellow should be the colour of their teeth. Same with chins and guniea pigs. But for degus you can tell something's up if they start getting white patches. At this point you have to move fast because it is frequently a sign of the point of no return, whether it be from a missing vitamine or nutrient, or a disease. So check their teeth regularly.
Well, it's been obvious for days now, that Mom has been very unwell, although not unhappy, and we decided this time to let nature take its course and not intercede unless she was in pain. I've been checking her teeth regularly and they have been getting whiter and whiter. I've left her be lately (last 3 days), she's been snarly about being checked- but today I insisted because she was trembling- and found no top teeth. Good God! How long had she been that way. It can't have been long (she bit me 72 hours ago), and she has been eating, but still. Upon realizing this she was put down immediately.
My guess is that her immune system having been compromised for so long, that she was succeptible to ill health's favourite target in degus- mouth sores.
And so the saga ends, and Mom has been laid to rest. I imagine her now springing about in degu heaven eating chocolate dipped hay with no consequences. Good job Lady- you lasted when you were sure you couldn't, and stubborn to the end about having me peer into your mouth. In true Irish wake fashion, let me raise a glass degu vitamined water to you- you were a great Mom and at times a great handful! And in both ways, you were the best.
In Memoriam with glasses raised,
Smlmamlgirl & the rest of your family
Anyone who has read any of my bits here on the forum have heard in large or small quantity about the health of one particular degu- Mom- who has been ill since before her huge brood of 6 in June.
For those that don't know (and for those that do- most- I am being redundant) a degu's tooth colour is directly related to his or her health. Cheesy yellow, mustard yellow, yellow yellow glo-in-the-dark yellow should be the colour of their teeth. Same with chins and guniea pigs. But for degus you can tell something's up if they start getting white patches. At this point you have to move fast because it is frequently a sign of the point of no return, whether it be from a missing vitamine or nutrient, or a disease. So check their teeth regularly.
Well, it's been obvious for days now, that Mom has been very unwell, although not unhappy, and we decided this time to let nature take its course and not intercede unless she was in pain. I've been checking her teeth regularly and they have been getting whiter and whiter. I've left her be lately (last 3 days), she's been snarly about being checked- but today I insisted because she was trembling- and found no top teeth. Good God! How long had she been that way. It can't have been long (she bit me 72 hours ago), and she has been eating, but still. Upon realizing this she was put down immediately.
My guess is that her immune system having been compromised for so long, that she was succeptible to ill health's favourite target in degus- mouth sores.
And so the saga ends, and Mom has been laid to rest. I imagine her now springing about in degu heaven eating chocolate dipped hay with no consequences. Good job Lady- you lasted when you were sure you couldn't, and stubborn to the end about having me peer into your mouth. In true Irish wake fashion, let me raise a glass degu vitamined water to you- you were a great Mom and at times a great handful! And in both ways, you were the best.
In Memoriam with glasses raised,
Smlmamlgirl & the rest of your family
