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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 2:17:03 GMT
Hi, I am a new member, however I have browsed though this forum several times over the years.
I have a degu with some kind of eye problem and after searching the internet frantically for the past half hour or so I thought I would see if I could get any help here since I could not find anything that seemed to fit exactly. My degu has a reddish layer of something over one eye. It almost looks like a thin layer of hot-glue or something, I can see his eye through it, though it looks big and a little exaggerated. He is also drooling a little and his is eye is also runny. He is eating and drinking normally, a little quieter than usual, though he is pretty quiet to begin with. he has no problem moving around or anything either. Any thoughts or suggestions? I have had degus since I was about 10 and brought a few through health issues before, but never anything like this, and it does not help that he is not overly friendly, so it is hard to get a really god look.
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Post by yasmin on Mar 2, 2016 3:20:21 GMT
Welcome to the forum MissChuzzlewit.
Sorry to hear that your degu is having a problem with his eye.
I have no experience with the specific symptoms he is experiencing – especially the reddish layer. (Maybe someone else on this forum has knowledge of this and will come around to reply soon.) That said, my first thought is that it is either infected (reddish, big, runny) or that one of his molar roots is growing into his eye socket (drooling). Might also be swelling of the eyeball like glaucoma. Cataracts appear as a distinct whitish area over the eye, but your description does not seem to match this (there would be a distinct white area on the eye).
It is good that he is eating and drinking normally. A trip to the vet would be a good idea. He/she can look at the eye with a scope to see if the eye has an injury or not, or if the eyeball is swollen from some issue within. If it is an infection due to a laceration, then a topical antibiotic like polysporin gel for eyes (must be the one specifically designed for eye use) or a systemic antibiotic like Baytril would likely be the treatment. An anti-inflammatory/painkiller like Metacam may also be prescribed. To definitively diagnose whether there is a molar root issue, an X-ray will need to be taken.
How old is he? How long has his eye had an issue?
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 3:46:42 GMT
Thank you for your thoughts, He is about 1 1/2 - 2 years old. A family who knows how much I love animals gave him and his brother to me about 4 months ago. He was not healthy when I got him, had days that he was drooling and had a runny eye. Then all of a sudden this happened. Knowing he was not healthy I have been careful to give them both a good diet and keep their cage clean, make sure they get exercise and so on. I have them separated at the moment, just to be safe.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 2, 2016 6:52:56 GMT
Hello, MissChuzzlewit (as in the story by Charles Dickens?) I can't help but wonder if there might be a tooth growing up into his eye socket, putting pressure on the eyeball. It could cause a rupture. Or perhaps there could be a tumor in or near the eye, or in the sinus cavity. I really think you need to have him looked at by a Vet ASAP.
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 8:07:03 GMT
Ya, Charles Dickens is my favorite author and Martin Chuzzlewit is one of my favorite books by him!
I have been wondering that as well. Unfortunately a vet is not an option right now, there is just no way I can afford it. I feel miserable about it. I get extremely attached to my animals and it is sooooo hard to see them with any kind of problem, especially when I feel so helpless about it. If that is the case though would he really be acting so normal? like I said in my first post, he is eating, drinking, active... today I gave him a dust bath and he had a great time rolling around in it snd then sat cleaning himself afterwards. I know they have a fairly high pain tolerance, but I guess I am grasping at what I can.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 2, 2016 15:50:49 GMT
I recently bought that very book and have just begun reading . . . only on page three of yet. I am looking forward to thoroughly enjoying it!
I totally understand how you are feeling, and I am so sorry that you have the added pain of not being able to afford treatment. That is a very difficult place to be, and I have been there as well. Keep and eye on him, and maybe make some calls to the vets in your area to find out if there are any who know of assistance options or help for owners and their animals that are financially challenged.
Let us know how he, and you, are doing?
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 16:33:22 GMT
I loved that book, though I think Little Dorrit is my favorite. I tried naming one of my degus Dorrit, but it did not suit! Chuzzlewit, the one who is sick, is about the same. He is not the cozy cuddly type, so I can't comfort him (or me) by holding him or anything. His brother, Dombey (his name coming from 'Dombey and Son' by Charles Dickens as well) is his usual self, he is the clown Every other time I have had a pair of animals and one got deathly sick the other got really quiet, so I am taking that as a good sign. They seem to know. I once had a chinchilla and degu together, and the degu died (of old age) and my chinchilla pretty much went into depression normally active, she just sat in a corner day after day, hardly ate or drank anything. My Mom got two degus to see if that would help and it brought her back, though they never really got along! I am ok I guess. My Mom is very supportive, that helps. I tend to bury myself in a book to forget my troubles, so I will probably be doing a lot of reading today! I also have a meeting tonight I have to write some notes and ideas for, so I guess I try to keep busy, and look at the bright side. Like that Dombey is good and healthy!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 2, 2016 17:02:09 GMT
I would encourage you to try to arrange a vet visit one way or another as soon as you can, particularly as this could be something that could be treated much more easily if treatment starts soon, I'm thinking if it's an infection some antibiotics would be best started sooner otherwise much more invasive treatment might be needed.
The drooling strongly suggests teeth issues, which can lead to eye issues, a skillful vet can sometimes get a good look in the mouth without anaesthetic, but sometimes a little gas is needed and this can help to get good xrays to diagnose root issues.
The red film on the eye is more unusual and could be caused by severe root overgrowth into the eye socket, but could also be infection, injury, glaucoma etc. A vet can examine the eye quite easily with a 'scope'.
Good luck getting the money together, it might be worth speaking to the vet and explaining the situation and see if they can be a bit flexible, if you have had pets for a while then vets are usually quite helpful in any way they can be.
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 18:07:21 GMT
Here is a picture if that helps. I hope it is not breaking any rules to add it, if so let me know and I will remove it.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 2, 2016 20:07:19 GMT
Is that the eyeball?? How long has it been like that? It looks really awful to me. Please, do whatever you have to do to get him to the vet.
Have you got any metacam you could start giving right away?
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 21:40:14 GMT
I don't have metacam, and like I said, I just can't afford a vet. My parents are in the middle of a divorce, and he is not paying the support he is supposed to, so it is not easy to get what we need for ourselves, never mind an expensive visit to the vet. I am looking for a job, but have not had any luck.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 2, 2016 21:40:37 GMT
That is really awful looking. I suspect it will have to be removed even. If so it is not the first time an owner here has had a degu that had to have an eye removed. It does look like it is swollen around the eye as well. The way he is puffed, he doesn't look like he is feeling very good.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 2, 2016 21:42:23 GMT
Would your Dad help you, if you talked to him? Or is he become shut off from the family?
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 21:46:02 GMT
Not an option, he was emotionally abusive for 20 odd years, and is now causing a lot of problems/complications.
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Post by bouncy on Mar 2, 2016 21:47:25 GMT
MissChuzzlewit, is there a PDSA that you can get to? As you took them in and gave them a home, I'm sure they would be supportive.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 2, 2016 21:49:52 GMT
UGH!! NOT happy times. I am very sorry, Love!
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 21:56:25 GMT
what is PDSA? Is that like our SPCA, like an animal rescue?
Ya, it is pretty rough, but I know people who have been through worse, so in a way that makes it seem a little... easier.
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Post by savvy on Mar 2, 2016 22:09:11 GMT
what is PDSA? Is that like our SPCA, like an animal rescue? Ya, it is pretty rough, but I know people who have been through worse, so in a way that makes it seem a little... easier. Are you based in the UK? The PDSA is the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals. If you are on certain benefits you can get free vetinerary care for your pets.
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Post by MissChuzzlewit on Mar 2, 2016 22:13:03 GMT
I live in Alberta, I have spent all afternoon looking up financial aid stuff, but could not find much.
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Post by yasmin on Mar 3, 2016 2:56:25 GMT
My goodness – that eye looks bad. I know that here in Ottawa there is no support from the humane society after you adopt a pocket pet/bird. What they will do is put him/her down for free.
In Ottawa, Metacam costs about $25. Antibiotic baytril costs about $25. Both require a visit to a vet (which costs about $75 here in Ottawa).
A tube of polysporin for eyes (regular polysporin should not be put on eyes) costs about $10 from the pharmacy.
It is good that he is acting normal – eating, drinking, enjoying a sand bath; at least you know he has some quality of life at the moment.
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