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Post by bouncy on Jan 24, 2019 8:54:54 GMT
Oooooooh! Toilet roll! Got some Tom? Right, let's go! Where are we going Q? Who cares!?
(Ollie) Wait for me!
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 24, 2019 10:53:25 GMT
That looks sooo much fun
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 24, 2019 13:57:29 GMT
They had such a great time! And apparently Ollie was feeling very good last night, as he was particularly randy. Which makes me feel a bit better about today's vet appt!
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 24, 2019 16:13:11 GMT
Is it too early for news from the vets?
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 24, 2019 16:51:39 GMT
Is it too early for news from the vets? Yep, sorry! I leave for the vet in just a bit. It's an hour away, and there's a ton of rain. I'll keep you all posted!
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 24, 2019 21:47:50 GMT
Ok, back from the vet! This is going to be an essay, so sorry about that!
First off, saw new vet, who was absolutely wonderful. Loves degus, talked a lot with me, seemed to really care.
Vet said Ollie's cataracts are very mature, which is unlikely for a congenital issue. So she checked his blood glucose level. It's high, apparently 244. No idea what units. She said that counts as diabetic.
He was an absolute gem the entire time. She barely had to hold on to him, even when looking in his mouth with the scope. She weighed him in at 213g, said he felt a perfectly healthy weight.
His back molars were developing spurs that were touching his tongue, so she ground those. This may explain the watery eyes.
I asked them to do an xray while he was under to check for root growth. Apparently everything looks great!
I was given metacam, an eye drop antibiotic (just in case it was an infection), another antibiotic, and critical care.
He didn't handle anesthesia well though, so I'm keeping a careful eye on him. He let me put eye drops in his eyes just a bit ago, but hes moving around and grooming with his brothers.
He seems to want to eat, but is in pain. Hopefully I'll be able to get some metacam into him soon.
Question! They gave me "apple and banana" critical care. Is this ok to use? I'm particularly worried about sugar now that I know hes diabetic.
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 24, 2019 21:48:44 GMT
Forgot to mention! All three were the stars of the vet clinic All the vet techs wanted to say hi and Tom was just basking in the admiration!
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 24, 2019 23:17:45 GMT
Well. First med time didn't go super well. I managed to burrito him (since he wouldn't take food with medicine on it. Poor babe is traumatized and hates me. Hopefully this doesnt destroy his trust in me. But I'd rather have him healthy.
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Post by savvy on Jan 24, 2019 23:50:21 GMT
He may be reluctant to eat as his mouth will be a little sore from being held open for the burring.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 25, 2019 0:05:06 GMT
Have you tried just offering the syringe through the bars? The extra security for him, as well as the yumminess, may make him less reluctant to take it?
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 25, 2019 0:38:41 GMT
Good point, Savvy. Hes started to eat some. He took some seeds, as well as dried forage. So even though he hasn't taken the metacam, at least hes eating now.
Ohhhh, I'll have to try that, Bouncy. I'll have to put his brothers in the play area first. Ollie seems to be a picky eater.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 25, 2019 9:05:46 GMT
Scaredy and Spidey absolutely trample over each other to take their metacam that way. Hope it works!
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 25, 2019 13:53:03 GMT
Tried through the cage bars, that was a no go. But he did take it after it had been soaked up by an oat!
Still had to grab him to get the eye drops in though. Tried to be very very quick about it though. He got seeds before and after though, so he seems ok! Honestly, hes been the easiest goo to burrito so far *knock on wood*
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Post by winic1 on Jan 25, 2019 13:55:24 GMT
I ground up Phil's favorite seeds, then mixed his medicine in with that, just a tiny amount to make a little paste-ball of seed and medicine. I'd mix it right in a tiny spoon, toy or baby-sized, stirring it together with a toothpick. Because it was his most-favorite seeds, I could just stick it right through the bars and he'd eat it right off the spoon for me.
At this point, don't worry about the diabetes, it's much more important that he get his medicine and gets something to eat, so that he feels better and will then start eating his regular food on his own.
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 25, 2019 15:29:47 GMT
Great, I'll definitely try that Winic! Hopefully that'll help him out. He didn't seem interested in the critical care, so hopefully the seeds will intice him. Hes supposed to get .2mL of suspension (an antibiotic I believe) twice daily, so this should help.
Good point on the diabetes. I'll deal with that later. He was starting to eat hay last night, so that was progress.
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 25, 2019 17:00:25 GMT
Wonderful that you are finding the way that works with him, Hpdegus! You're doing awesome!
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 25, 2019 18:53:27 GMT
Good to hear it went well at the vets.
All Critical Care has dextrose in so the flavour doesn't really matter that much, you'd have to compare the nutrition info to see the difference and they don't always list carb content. Just keep it to a minimum, and only feed small amounts at any one time unless he's in desperate need. It might be worth offering a little bit once he finishes the oral antibiotics to help get his gut back into shape, but with any luck he might be able to nab some nice poos from his brothers that will help his gut flora.
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 25, 2019 23:44:08 GMT
Thanks guys!
Ah, that makes sense, Molette. I'll keep it on hand then, see if he is interested at all. Haha, I'm sure he'll be eating poo in no time!
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Post by hpdegus on Jan 27, 2019 23:23:51 GMT
Being on meds doesn't seem to have slowed Ollie down at all Hes very much loving playtime with his brothers. It's great to see them explore! Ollie continues to semi-cooperate when it comes to meds. This is day 4, so he hopefully won't have to put up with them too much longer. Hes also been spotted chowing down like normal.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 28, 2019 2:26:33 GMT
Ollie is such a cutie!
I wonder if he's realised that meds are helping. When Spidey was having eye drops, it got to the point where he'd make a token protest at being picked up, he tolerated the treatment without a tight burrito, snatch his dandelion root with a defiant glare, then stomp off. He understood there was a reason for it, he felt better, so might as well endure it.
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