Poorly lethargic degu

[lilladylu86]

Hi to all,

Once again, in a bit of a pickle with my degu Oni.  He was fine last night, running around on his wheel and eating.  

But today I found him lethargic in a corner.  He has been drinking a little more water than normal but the water bottle has developed a leak so more water gone may be also contributed to that (New bottle on the way in the post!)


I have taken him to the vet and he checked him over.  He couldn't see into his mouth properly as Oni isn't one for sitting still, but I don't think it's a teeth problem..., he isn't pawing at his mouth and doesn't have excess saliva.  He had a feel of his tummy and he was tender are sore.  He has prescribed Baytril to see if it will help in case its a urine infection.  (They didn't have any Septrin - banana medicine in stock - 4 days to arrive)


He isn't eating or drinking now.  Well not since I got him home.  I am not sure whether it was the shock, or whether he has got worse, but he certainly doesn't want me near him now after the vet trip!!!  I have left him alone for now, and made sure he is a warm room.  


Any ideas?  I have got a feeling the vet didn't know what to think.   I have another vet I can try in the morning if he isn't well still.  How long can they go without eating and drinking properly?  They didn't give me any recovery food.

In any case, I shall be checking in on him in the night.  He isn't very old, around 4 years old. 

Thanks in advance for any replies. 

Lucy. 

[yasmin]

Oh dear, poor Oni.

It could be many things – a tumour, bloating, gastric torsion. From my recent experience, it seems to me that it's around 4 years when issues due to genetics show up and take their toll.

I've had degus go for days, even weeks without eating and drinking properly; however, if they aren't drinking or eating at all, then just a few days is about as long as they last. Often it is not evident to us that they haven't been eating – you'll see them pick up food and bring it to their mouths but nothing is actually swallowed. My degu Yuu (4 years old) died recently – I noticed one evening that he would not take his treats and he refused all food, though would still drink water; made an appointment with the vet the next morning for the day after. He refused all food and even water that day, and then passed away that night. I have no idea what happened to him.

How much does Oni weigh?
Is he lying around stretched out on his side? (This would indicate bloating which can be treated with over-the-counter baby meds.)
Is he all puffed up or is he skinny looking?
Does he have diarrhea? Dark urine?

Key now is to get him to eat something – anything. Will he take water from a syringe?

[lilladylu86]

HI Yasmin,

Many thanks for your response. Yes, I have had degus around 4 years before that have shown their illnesses and ailments around that age too.

Oni weighs 200g. He has always been small (I think he was the runt) He is a sprinter and loves to run on his wheel so I think he always runs off the calories. The vet said from when he was weighed last year he was lost about 10 grams. which isn't too much.

I noticed he got bloated a few weeks back, but that went away on its own pretty quickly. He isn't lying on his side. He is sitting hunched up in a corner. He was stretched out for a short period of time this morning, but he isn't now.

He is a little puffy, but nothing like I have seen them before and well he always looks slim, but skinny no. No diarrhoea. Clear Urine.


I will try and get him to eat something in a bit. But he wont even take things off me after today!! I am sure he hates me after having to scruff him earlier for the vet to have a look in his mouth. He isn't a cuddly degu. He HATES being held, and only comes out and sits on your shoulder when he wants to! Very independent and very vocal! The positive sign is he is still being quite vocal when I talk to him.

Ahhh *sighs* Just wish I could help him to feel more comfortable!

[lilladylu86]

I forgot to mention that his litter mate (brother) Barty had an obstruction in his gut That is what he died of. The vet thought it was a tumour. This nearly 1.5 years ago now.

However, the vet today said that Oni didn't seem to have an obstruction, he could only feel normal droppings in the tummy. That was one of the things I was worried about.

[yasmin]

Poor Barty. Good to know that Oni doesn't seem to have an obstruction. It's a good sign that he hasn't lost much weight so far. Have you tried tempting him with sunflower seeds, puffed rice, and/or rolled oats? My degus go gaga over these.

BTW:
My degu Chuugi passed away in May at age 3.5. An x-ray showed that he had gastric torsion.
I lost another goo, Go, (4 yrs old) a few weeks ago – she had a tumour in lower abdomen.
A year or so ago, another of my goos, Makoto, had a bout of bloating and that was remedied by giving him a drop of Ovol – an anti-gas medication for babies. My vet said that Ovol is harmless so that if I suspect any gastric issue to just give the goo a drop just in case. I tried that on Yuu but it didn't help him.
My guys don't like being held either so, if I am certain there's a teeth issue, I let the vet sedate them a bit so that he can have a good look.

[moletteuk]

It doesn't seem like you have many symptoms to go on. I think recovery food might be useful if you could get him to eat any. Do you have a heatpad you can keep him warm with? The only other thing I can think of is that a vet could do a urine dip stick test, they have ones with lots of test squares that will test for all sorts of things which might throw some light or at least rule a few things out.

[lilladylu86]

That's what I thought? It appears to be an underlying issue and he just seems to be off colour. I have a hot water bottle with a pillow case round it in the cage, but he refusing to go near it.

I will have to see how he is in the morning I think and take it from there. He isn't eating still. I even tried him with a sunflower seed and he wouldn't even take the treat! so it shows that he isn't right. he would relish that normally as it is such a treat for him.

Keep you all posted.

Any advice, gratefully received.

Lucy.

[lilladylu86]

BTW thanks for the post Yasmin. I didn't see it earlier.

He is pretty miserable still. I am sorry to hear that you lost so many goo's in such a short space of time. My lst group were similar. Denzil selective ate, and went anorexic. Gordon wouldn't eat hay and had teeth issues and Andre...well he had a stroke.

They seem to suffer a lot these little animals!

keep you posted

[lilladylu86]

Update

SO I was up in the night with Oni. I have tried everything to get him to drink and eat, but he is too far gone he isn't in pain. He has gone all floppy and listless.

It has been a very long night. He has been very affectionate. He knows I am there to help and keep him warm.

Heartbroken isn't the word. He's a special little guy.

[moletteuk]

I'm so sorry. I'm sure he appreciates you staying with him.

[lilladylu86]

devastated I have just made the call to the vets. I am worried that he will cling on like this for a good while longer. It's not fair to keep him like this. He isn't Oni anymore.

Always so painful His uncle Ben is going to be lonely

[deguconvert]

I am so very sorry, Lilladylu! How awfully painful! I'll be thinking of you through the day. Sending hugs!

[yasmin]

My heart goes out to you and to Ben. So, so sad.

[bouncy]

Poor little thing, and how sad for you and Ben, too. *hugs*

[Bexi87]

I'm so sorry poor Oni and poor Ben

[animalmadchloe]

I'm.sorry to hear about your little one :'-( xx