ellaa
Newborn Degu
Posts: 1
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Post by ellaa on Jan 19, 2019 22:18:12 GMT
Hi, I’ll try and not blab on too much here but really need some guidance! so I had 2 female degus and unfortunately this week one passed away very suddenly, vet thinks she could feel a mass in her stomach so we think it was cancer. It was absolutely heartbreaking and I’m still in shock over it but I’m trying to focus on my remaining degu (named Boo). Boo has always been the MUCH quieter and more skittish degu, I’ve never been able to hand train her properly unlike her sister who was hand trained very quickly. Boo would only ever come out of the cage if Dory came out first and so now we don’t have dory I’m really struggling to get her out. In general so far she seems to be coping with be8ng alone quite well, however I’m not sure what signs to look out for if she was lonely? I feel so bad for her that she doesn’t have any degus to degu pile with and cuddle up at night, she and dory always did this. Im very reluctant to get another degu for a number of reasons, such as the fact she’s so submissive and shy I don’t think she would cope well with a new degu in her cage, and then if it was to back fire I would have 2 lonely degus! I’m also heavily pregnant and so I don’t feel like it is fair to add new pets to the family at this point. I would be willing to split the cage so she has a neighbor but as I said I’m worried this would just create another lonely degu! Me me and my partner are very reluctant to re home her as I feel she’s not the easiest of degus and would require a lot of patience and I would honestly spend years worrying and wondering about her. i suppose I’m just look8ng for some advice on what to do really, I have been trying to give her lots of attention but she has never been a people person so I don’t even think it helps! Sorry fir for the long winded post I just feel so sad and worried all the time  thanks in advance, Ella x |
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Post by savvy on Jan 19, 2019 22:33:18 GMT
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry for your loss. Boo will be grieving so it's natural she'll be quieter than normal, and she will be feeling lonely. I would consider getting her a degu friend. Please have a read through our introduction section deguworld.proboards.com/thread/17618/introductions-fighting-quick-guide as intros are not as simple as just putting another degu in her cage. Any intros take time so they would have to be separate to start with as they got used to each others presence, and even side by side is better than no degu company at all. You don't say how old Boo is, this could influence what age companion(s) you get for her. Please ask any questions you need to and we'll try to help you. |
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Post by bouncy on Jan 19, 2019 22:45:54 GMT
Congratulations on your soon-to-be arrival!
I'm sorry Dory (just keep swimming, just keep swimming) didn't make it, and that you're in this position. It's great, though, that you're thinking about Boo's future.
First of all, don't worry, there's always one dominant and one submissive in a pair. Sometimes they're fairly evenly matched, but they can also each be at the extreme opposite. You'd be surprised how much this can change, too. I introduced two pups to my pair, and it's the pups who now rule!
Boo will be mourning Dory right now. If she didn't get to say goodbye to her (didn't see her after she passed), she'll also be wary of the gooman hands who have already made her sister disappear. Give her time. Let her mourn, but also don't be afraid to sit and talk to her quietly through the bars, offer her treats, and make her feel safe. She will gradually come to you because she'll need contact. You don't say how old Boo is, so this may be an additional consideration.
You're right that she shouldn't be alone, and it's really bad timing! Here are some options:
1) find another girl and start the introduction process. Yes, you may end up with two single degus, but they will at least have like company through the bars
2) consider a neutered male. There are some that neuter their males. You may find a lovey dovey introduction easier
3) find a young pup or two. Goos make great aunties, and often look after each others pups in a colony. Up to twelve weeks.
Like I said, there are no guarantees. A couple of rescues will also help with the bonding of your goo to another, so let us know a little more about Boo, her habitat, and whereabouts you are!
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 19, 2019 22:53:45 GMT
Hello Ella, and welcome to the forum! First off, let me just say that I am so very sorry for your recent loss. That is never an easy thing to navigate, not the grief and not the issues that arise as a result, that need to be considered and dealt with. There are some things that are helpful to know, so if you don't mind, I will ask you some questions. 1. What is Boo's age? 2. Are you certain that Boo is female? Or that both your degus were female? Degus are notoriously difficult to correctly sex and are frequently miss sexed by pet store personnel and even by vets. Once you know the trick and are familiar with the basics, it gets much easier. I ask because part of me wonders if the degu that has recently died might have been pregnant. At the same time, tumors happen, and she could well have had a tumorous mass. 3. What cage do you use? 4. How long have you had Boo? Age, sex, and housing are all crucial things for any degu, and this information can help us to help you. Just know that even though Boo has never shown an interest in you, being alone can sometimes change that. As well, if you are putting in time to get to know her better, she might become interested in knowing you better. Not always . . . but it does happen. If it does, it is usually a slow process of winning her over. It can take months. Despite the length of time, it is an investment of time, patience, and love that is well worth the effort. Not all reluctance to interact with humans is due to the personality of the degu, but is the result of painful experiences at the hands of humans. Degus are supreme holders of grudges, and it takes a lot of persuasion to erase a grudge. For now . . . if you see that Boo is not eating or drinking, that is a bad thing and must be remedied as quickly as possible. Grieving that is deep because of a particularly strong bond with a departed cage mate can result in refusal to eat or drink. Not always, but it does happen. If you find that she is not moving around the cage, not doing activities that are common in her personal behavior, that can also be an indication of depression. If you see her all fluffed up and sitting in a ball . . . that can be depression or ill health. I'm going to give you a link to a good thread on here that will highlight some things that are often associated with injury or illness, but can also appear with loneliness, depression, or grief. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/22352/degu-first-caring-sick-injured Have a read, and if you see things in there that you are seeing, please post about them here in your thread. Well, I'll leave things at this point for now and will look for your replies. I'm glad you've come! |
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 20, 2019 14:22:23 GMT
Whereabouts are you Ella? You never know, there might be a good rescue near you that neuters their males or a forum member looking for a submissive girl. As Bouncy says, a submissive degu doesn't necessarily always stay submissive in a new group but having a tendency towards submission might actually help her to pair up more easily, the more difficult ones usually involve degu megalomaniacs.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 20, 2019 14:33:15 GMT
the more difficult ones usually involve degu megalomaniacs. Spidergoo! Lol |
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Post by chipshuman on Sept 25, 2019 21:42:25 GMT
Hi, I’ll try and not blab on too much here but really need some guidance! so I had 2 female degus and unfortunately this week one passed away very suddenly, vet thinks she could feel a mass in her stomach so we think it was cancer. It was absolutely heartbreaking and I’m still in shock over it but I’m trying to focus on my remaining degu (named Boo). Boo has always been the MUCH quieter and more skittish degu, I’ve never been able to hand train her properly unlike her sister who was hand trained very quickly. Boo would only ever come out of the cage if Dory came out first and so now we don’t have dory I’m really struggling to get her out. In general so far she seems to be coping with be8ng alone quite well, however I’m not sure what signs to look out for if she was lonely? I feel so bad for her that she doesn’t have any degus to degu pile with and cuddle up at night, she and dory always did this. Im very reluctant to get another degu for a number of reasons, such as the fact she’s so submissive and shy I don’t think she would cope well with a new degu in her cage, and then if it was to back fire I would have 2 lonely degus! I’m also heavily pregnant and so I don’t feel like it is fair to add new pets to the family at this point. I would be willing to split the cage so she has a neighbor but as I said I’m worried this would just create another lonely degu! Me me and my partner are very reluctant to re home her as I feel she’s not the easiest of degus and would require a lot of patience and I would honestly spend years worrying and wondering about her. i suppose I’m just look8ng for some advice on what to do really, I have been trying to give her lots of attention but she has never been a people person so I don’t even think it helps! Sorry fir for the long winded post I just feel so sad and worried all the time thanks in advance, Ella x I had 2 boys a year ago Chip and Dale.Well Dale passed away and everyone had me freaked out thinking because Chip can't be handled that he would die without a mate. That is untrue in my case he actually seems happy. I am sure your little girl will be fine just talk to her a lot you have to do things different when you have a skittish degu that doesn't like to be touched. |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 26, 2019 16:26:39 GMT
Hi, Chipshuman!
Degus can die as a result of grief . . . I had three and when the dominant one died suddenly, the other two went into a decline that got worse and worse, until two months after the death of their leader, I went out and got two more pups to introduce and see if it would inspire a will to live. It did. NOT every degu responds like that (as in a steep decline), thankfully! But, because degus are a colony animal, highly social, having a companion at the least, and several companions if space, finances, and interest allow, are much better for their over all health and well being. I think that yes, your little guy is probably doing OK, but you might be surprised by how much livelier and happier he would be with another degu to live with. There is no one grooming him, no one for him to groom in return, no other body to cuddle up to and share warmth, to chat with, help with sentinel duties, etc. He is missing much of what would be his normal life.
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Post by chipshuman on Sept 28, 2019 2:20:46 GMT
I wasn't saying don't get another I was saying people had me worried that if I couldn't find one within a week or 2 that Chip would die I am still looking for a cagemate or mates for my little boy but so far have had no luck and he is still surviving I don't want him to just survive I want him to have degus to cuddle and play with but I am no longer freaking out over it
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2019 23:12:54 GMT
I completely understood you, and was not trying to offend, or refute what you are saying. I did want to say that it is not common for a degu to die because it is alone after the death of it's cage mate, but it can happen. I was totally shocked when BOTH of my boys declined and continued to decline. I had assumed that being in a pair yet, they would find comfort in each other . . . but they didn't. In their case, the bond they both shared with the one that died was so strong and so deep, their grief at his death was nearly fatal to them. This is not the case with most. But there are owners that will see that their lone degu is seeming to be content or happy and take it as a reason to not give them a companion. Whenever we are asked about single degus, or what to do when a degu passes, we urge the owner to watch for certain things. Lethargy, declining interest in food, favorite treats, favorite activities, sitting in a corner alone, fur fluffed up . . . things that will indicate depression or lack of interest in life. Which can snowball into illness if the grief is great. I am very glad to hear that you have your sights on getting a companion, but are being careful to find one.
Because we strongly support having degus in pairs at the least, I wanted simply to state that companionship is important for many important reasons. At the same time, there are instances where a lone degu is the right choice, but they are circumstantial and not general.
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Post by chipshuman on Sept 30, 2019 8:03:05 GMT
I completely understood you, and was not trying to offend, or refute what you are saying. I did want to say that it is not common for a degu to die because it is alone after the death of it's cage mate, but it can happen. I was totally shocked when BOTH of my boys declined and continued to decline. I had assumed that being in a pair yet, they would find comfort in each other . . . but they didn't. In their case, the bond they both shared with the one that died was so strong and so deep, their grief at his death was nearly fatal to them. This is not the case with most. But there are owners that will see that their lone degu is seeming to be content or happy and take it as a reason to not give them a companion. Whenever we are asked about single degus, or what to do when a degu passes, we urge the owner to watch for certain things. Lethargy, declining interest in food, favorite treats, favorite activities, sitting in a corner alone, fur fluffed up . . . things that will indicate depression or lack of interest in life. Which can snowball into illness if the grief is great. I am very glad to hear that you have your sights on getting a companion, but are being careful to find one. Because we strongly support having degus in pairs at the least, I wanted simply to state that companionship is important for many important reasons. At the same time, there are instances where a lone degu is the right choice, but they are circumstantial and not general. I am still learning about them I had just learned they existed shortly before I was asked to take them in and half of the stuff Dale loved Chip hates and while Dale would eat until there was no more if you didn't stop him a bowl of food last chip a week dale loved carrots and nuts and hay chip only likes hay and if he smells my crackers he throws a fit because I won't give him any dale loved daytime while chip will throw a tantrum until I put blankets up to the windows I'm still not sure I'm feeding Chip properly because the old owners said a mix of degu and guinea pig food but no one ever has that around here and the pet stores say chinchilla food but there is more vitamins in the Timothy hay mix guinea pig food so I give that to him they also told me to add 3 drops of bleach to his water but I refuse to that it doesn't feel right |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 30, 2019 15:54:08 GMT
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