beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 15, 2018 20:53:07 GMT
I've been a member since May 2017. I have found more information on this site then any other, I kept putting off posting. Wanting to introduce myself and my 4 degus but being shy and not understanding the blog world.
April 2017 I bought my first 2. I asked for 4 females, our little pet store here in Kingwood Texas only had 2 but there was a new litter and was told to come back in 5 weeks. When my girls were caught the young man was wearing what looked like welding leather gloves. The whole event was horrible. Once home the girls hid and I barely saw them. I didn't know they had lost their tails until all was healed. My next two were younger at the time of purchasing and I was able to hold them. Bring them into our degu cage change my older ones and all was happy for 4 or 5 weeks. Then our happy home became one of fights and humping. With this site's help I was able to use a glass jar and sex them. My last 2 were males.
So we now have a degu room with two large Ferret Nation Double units.
This is us, I'm Becky, my babies are Delilah, Pippa and my boys I call the Twins, or Humper 1 and 2. So far, almost a year into ownership, I can not find the right name.
Today I'm on because of Delihia. She has been overweight and last week her eyes started with a dusty look. I was told today she has cataracts and diabetes. I'm going to do a lot of reading on your site, our new vet didn't think there was anything at this point I could do other then change her diet and bring down her weight. Make her comfortable and safe.
Thank you for this wonderful place to come and find answers (and laughs). I will be gathering information today, seeing what others have done
Sorry for the post length, had a lot to say.
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Post by Bexi87 on Feb 15, 2018 21:13:02 GMT
Welcome to the forum 😊 yay another Becky!!
Looking forward to getting to know you and your fur babies
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Post by ntg on Feb 15, 2018 21:15:42 GMT
Hey and welcome to officially being a non-lurker on the forum I'm glad to hear we've been of help to you in the past, hopefully we can help to give you some ideas now! First off - what do you feed your degus? If we know their entire diet then we might be able to think of changes that will help with weightloss, and help to point out areas that might improve the diet for a diabetic goo. Secondly, how was she diagnosed with diabetes? Did they do any tests or is it just assumed since "That's what degus are known for"? Diabetes is actually pretty rare compared to some of the other conditions, and cataracts can be caused by a couple of other things rather than being a symptom of diabetes. Don't sweat the cataracts though, the little ones cope with them brilliantly, you just need to approach them a bit more carefully (preferably from their good eye side) in case you shock them into biting.
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Hello
Feb 15, 2018 22:06:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by claire on Feb 15, 2018 22:06:15 GMT
Not all degus are friendly my little man is 2 and he still hates being touched some days. My middle boy climbs all over me I get no choice and my big boy hates being held but loves an ear scratch. Just be with them. If you have a secure play pen just sit and ignore them let them come to you. Feeling they can run if they need to gives them the confidence to come to you... a seed or 2 if they come over also helps
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 0:51:17 GMT
Lurker, lol, yep been doing that! But only in a good way, no peeping in windows, etc.
In the beginning I was sold Guinea pig food with Sunseed Vilakraft prim salad treat (also for guinea pigs).
I knew I was in over my head as I read more and more. I tried to order from Nature's Degu Pantry (North America) but could never get a reply from them. I then went to Exotic Nutrition degu food and beaphar Xtra Vital degu food. I would love to leave it there but I dried food for them and I wish it was all good but I dried cranberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples and then just about killed my med size apple tree snipping off leaves and branches to dry My dehydrator has been very busy.
They also had sunflower seeds with some peanuts.
With fall and Christmas the nuts in shells came to our stores. It's very entertaining to watched them run with pecan, walnuts and Brazilian nuts. My other three would bury them but as Delilah gained weight and I cleaned cages I could see some where being broke into.
My other 3 degus are slim and I'm ashamed to say Delilah weight is 305 grams
There was no test, but you are correct in theirs assumption. Her eyes do have a film over them.
She is doing fine. I've cleaned her cage tonight, made it safe with the thought of her bad eyesight. She played on the floor with her sister as I did what I had to, I'm sure she was searching for any food the boys dropped out of their cage.
When she came back in she ran up all her levels and looked at the new ramps and wider top sleeping floor, all the time doing her little happy noise that sounds like singing.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 1:32:56 GMT
Lurker, lol, yep been doing that! But only in a good way, no peeping in windows, etc. In the beginning I was sold Guinea pig food with Sunseed Vilakraft prim salad treat (also for guinea pigs). I knew I was in over my head as I read more and more. I tried to order from Nature's Degu Pantry (North America) but could never get a reply from them. I then went to Exotic Nutrition degu food and beaphar Xtra Vital degu food. I would love to leave it there but I dried food for them and I wish it was all good but I dried cranberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples and then just about killed my med size apple tree snipping off leaves and branches to dry My dehydrator has been very busy. They also had sunflower seeds with some peanuts. With fall and Christmas the nuts in shells came to our stores. It's very entertaining to watched them run with pecan, walnuts and Brazilian nuts. My other three would bury them but as Delilah gained weight and I cleaned cages I could see some where being broke into. My other 3 degus are slim and I'm ashamed to say Delilah weight is 305 grams There was no test, but you are correct in theirs assumption. Her eyes do have a film over them. She is doing fine. I've cleaned her cage tonight, made it safe with the thought of her bad eyesight. She played on the floor with her sister as I did what I had to, I'm sure she was searching for any food the boys dropped out of their cage. When she came back in she ran up all her levels and looked at the new ramps and wider top sleeping floor, all the time doing her little happy noise that sounds like singing. Cleaning Delilah's cage, removing all her hidden nuts and making it as safe as possible for her lack of sight.
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 2:15:27 GMT
Post by zenaida on Feb 16, 2018 2:15:27 GMT
Hi Becky, nice to meet you and your degu friends! Love the pictures!
I think you were responding to the other thread you made, but can you clarify what they eat now? The way I read that they are currently on the Exotic Nutrition and Xtra Vital with nuts as treats. Is that accurate? How is her water drinking?
Glad to hear that she is generally active and running about!
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Post by savvy on Feb 16, 2018 2:51:20 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Love the pictures. I wouldn't worry too much about her weight, my boys are 284g (Bumblebee) and 315g (Dixie). Their weights can vary, but should remain fairly stable. Agouties (brown fur) are generally bigger than other coloured degus so will naturally weigh more. Their diet should be approximately 95% forage and 5% pellets. Please take a look at the diet and nutrition section for ideas on different forages and seeds etc. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/8772/safe-plants-herbs-leaves-consumptionAnd feel free to ask any questions, as you know degus are weird, and there are no silly questions.
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wanda
Newborn Degu
Posts: 17
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 3:55:15 GMT
Post by wanda on Feb 16, 2018 3:55:15 GMT
Hello! Oh my! There has been a couple of communication issues with Nature's Degu Pantry. I am so sorry to have missed your communication. Try to email me at naturesdegupantry@gmail.com and we can talk! If there is still an issue, leave me a message here.....I look forward to hearing from you!
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 5:18:37 GMT
Hi Becky, nice to meet you and your degu friends! Love the pictures! I think you were responding to the other thread you made, but can you clarify what they eat now? The way I read that they are currently on the Exotic Nutrition and Xtra Vital with nuts as treats. Is that accurate? How is her water drinking? Glad to hear that she is generally active and running about! Yes those are her current food with all the Timothy hay they want (forgot to say that).
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 5:22:03 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Love the pictures. I wouldn't worry too much about her weight, my boys are 284g (Bumblebee) and 315g (Dixie). Their weights can vary, but should remain fairly stable. Agouties (brown fur) are generally bigger than other coloured degus so will naturally weigh more. Their diet should be approximately 95% forage and 5% pellets. Please take a look at the diet and nutrition section for ideas on different forages and seeds etc. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/8772/safe-plants-herbs-leaves-consumptionAnd feel free to ask any questions, as you know degus are weird, and there are no silly questions. Thank for your kind words on her weight. I've had a lot of guilt - everyone stress on the site to weigh our degus and I didn't follow your advise. Well we are all warn about fatty and sugery food too. I also had a hard time telling my 2 legged kids no to treats.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 5:22:50 GMT
Hello! Oh my! There has been a couple of communication issues with Nature's Degu Pantry. I am so sorry to have missed your communication. Try to email me at naturesdegupantry@gmail.com and we can talk! If there is still an issue, leave me a message here.....I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you, I will be emailing you again in the next few days.
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 5:55:36 GMT
via mobile
Post by ntg on Feb 16, 2018 5:55:36 GMT
In the beginning I was sold Guinea pig food with Sunseed Vilakraft prim salad treat (also for guinea pigs). Short term guinea pig food shouldn't be an issue! Some guinea pig feeds are still used here as things like fruit are very low on the list of ingredients! Neither of those feeds should have hidden sugars like molasses in them and are better than others on the market in the US. I don't think you have any grain-free food suppliers over there for foods like versele laga chinchilla and degu crispy or Rosewood Naturals Meadow Menu for Chinchillas and Degus do you? As grain free where possible is going to be best for your girls cataracts and possible diabetes. Don't beat yourself up about the fruit and veg! Depending on the quantities they may have coped with it short term, we see a lot of degus who've had a less than ideal diet coming through these parts in the past obviously, leave out the berries, fruit and sweet potatoes from now on and try dehydrating a few lower sugar veg like broccoli and courgette me only feed them a few small pieces a couple of times a week at most. The apple tree leaves and sticks are brilliant for them! You could also try drying a few other plants like dandelion and clover to feed to them. Try to limit nuts in shells to once a month if you think only one of them is getting into the nuts, that way, if Delilah spies her pals hidden cache the damage isn't too bad! My degus have all pushed the 275-300g mark and been a good weight for their size. Does Delilah look/feel fat or does she seem to have a low body fat percentage? Some degus are just big so their weights are a little bit heavier! If no tests have been done then you can get some urine sticks to test for diabetes from a pharmacy. They aren't hugely accurate but if you test her urine a few times during the day (particularly an hour or so after being fed) then it should give you a better idea of whether or not she might be diabetic. Does she drink a lot? I'd say 30-40ml has been the average amount of water drank per day per pair. She really will learn to cope with her eyes, I've had two degus with really bad eyesight from bad cataracts in both eyes which formed when they were only a few months old. Just move things as little as possible to help her to navigate the cage and learn how to approach her without shocking her and you'll be good to go. Always put food in the same places so it's easy for her to find it too
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 5:56:18 GMT
Hi Becky, nice to meet you and your degu friends! Love the pictures! I think you were responding to the other thread you made, but can you clarify what they eat now? The way I read that they are currently on the Exotic Nutrition and Xtra Vital with nuts as treats. Is that accurate? How is her water drinking? Glad to hear that she is generally active and running about! Yes those are her current food with all the Timothy hay they want (forgot to say that). Forgot to say yes she drinks - she and her sister have multiple water sources. I do not move the water bottles they stay in the same place.
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 12:51:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Feb 16, 2018 12:51:18 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Lovely to see you have a singing degu like me!
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 14:22:31 GMT
Post by randomname on Feb 16, 2018 14:22:31 GMT
Hi beckerd58, welcome to the forum
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 14:26:17 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Lovely to see you have a singing degu like me! I had wondered if that was normal. Spent time looking and listening on YouTube but never found another. So special, hmmm maybe why she was hard to say no to!
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 14:30:17 GMT
In the beginning I was sold Guinea pig food with Sunseed Vilakraft prim salad treat (also for guinea pigs). Short term guinea pig food shouldn't be an issue! Some guinea pig feeds are still used here as things like fruit are very low on the list of ingredients! Neither of those feeds should have hidden sugars like molasses in them and are better than others on the market in the US. I don't think you have any grain-free food suppliers over there for foods like versele laga chinchilla and degu crispy or Rosewood Naturals Meadow Menu for Chinchillas and Degus do you? As grain free where possible is going to be best for your girls cataracts and possible diabetes. Don't beat yourself up about the fruit and veg! Depending on the quantities they may have coped with it short term, we see a lot of degus who've had a less than ideal diet coming through these parts in the past obviously, leave out the berries, fruit and sweet potatoes from now on and try dehydrating a few lower sugar veg like broccoli and courgette me only feed them a few small pieces a couple of times a week at most. The apple tree leaves and sticks are brilliant for them! You could also try drying a few other plants like dandelion and clover to feed to them. Try to limit nuts in shells to once a month if you think only one of them is getting into the nuts, that way, if Delilah spies her pals hidden cache the damage isn't too bad! My degus have all pushed the 275-300g mark and been a good weight for their size. Does Delilah look/feel fat or does she seem to have a low body fat percentage? Some degus are just big so their weights are a little bit heavier! If no tests have been done then you can get some urine sticks to test for diabetes from a pharmacy. They aren't hugely accurate but if you test her urine a few times during the day (particularly an hour or so after being fed) then it should give you a better idea of whether or not she might be diabetic. Does she drink a lot? I'd say 30-40ml has been the average amount of water drank per day per pair. She really will learn to cope with her eyes, I've had two degus with really bad eyesight from bad cataracts in both eyes which formed when they were only a few months old. Just move things as little as possible to help her to navigate the cage and learn how to approach her without shocking her and you'll be good to go. Always put food in the same places so it's easy for her to find it too Thank for your answers and time. I'm will be using a lot of your suggestions (and re-reading once I head downstairs and wake up with a cup tea?). Again thank you.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 16, 2018 14:32:19 GMT
Hi beckerd58, welcome to the forum Thank you - wish I would have join in with talking and questions months ago!
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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 15:20:48 GMT
via mobile
Post by misscatafer on Feb 16, 2018 15:20:48 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Lovely to see you have a singing degu like me! I had wondered if that was normal. Spent time looking and listening on YouTube but never found another. So special, hmmm maybe why she was hard to say no to! Aww yeah my Toby loves running on his wheel singing away. He also does it generally when he is running about or in the play pen, it is absolutely adorable, my other three don't do it at all! It is lovely to know there is another one
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