Energy-Drained Degu

[mkish]

Hello! My degu, Cinnamon, just turned 6 at the end of February and I have been noticing the past week that she is sleeping a lot more than I feel is normal! Her sister is turning one in a month and has loads of energy!! But, Cinnamon seems to sleep a lot now. She takes about 5-6 long naps a day and sleeps through the night. She doesn’t go on her wheel as much and has been walking slower than usually unless she’s out of the cage and on my floor. She doesn’t even touch her toys which used to be her favorite thing to do, she would drag them around everywhere!! I’m really worried about her and hope there is something I can do!! I don’t want this to be her getting ready to pass, she still seems too young. Any idea on what this is?

[savvy]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're experiencing.

It could be an underlying issue or it could be completely normal, it's hard to say for sure without further information. Are there any other indications of ill health? Are her eyes nice and bright? Is she fluffed up at all? Is she eating, drinking, peeing and pooing normally?

Are there any signs of injury?

The answers to these questions will help us to advise you further.

It is possible that she's just naturally slowing down a bit, it's also possible that she has a touch of arthritis somewhere.

[bouncy]

Hi, and welcome!

Degus do become less energetic as they get older. Having said that, all degus can change their behaviour, based on anything, including weather, environment, or just because! My 1.5 year olds are certainly more energetic than my four and six year olds, but it doesn't stop them from having duvet days too. The storms we've been having are enough to make anyone hide away.

Do you regularly weigh your goos? Fluctuations are a good indication, as is their eating and drinking behaviour. If it's just the more relaxed behaviour, I wouldn't worry too much

[deguconvert]

I've seen and read, and would ask the same things as the above ladies. Just waiting to read replies.

Welcome to the forum, Mkish!

[mkish]

She is eating and drinking fine and weighs 7.9 ounces when in december she was 8.9 but I got a bigger cage and think that could be why there’s weight loss. I tried taking out her favorite sleeping place, the hammock, and she is moving around more but is still slow. Her eyes are bright and there isn’t any injuries as far as I can see. I wish this wasn’t her getting older and if it is, is there any way I can predict how much time she has left?

[bouncy]

You could have years left, so don't dispair, old age comes to us all

[mkish]

Okay thanks so much!! It just worries me, I have had her since she was a week old. And another question but about Coco (Almost 1 year old). She has these weird “burst of energy” where she kinda shakes her head quickly like when a fly lands on you and you try to get it off and she becomes a little aggressive and pushes Cinnamon and tries to start fights. They only last for about 10 seconds and I’m thinking maybe she is showing dominance? Cinnamon lost her sister on christmas day so I got coco at the end of january. Just in case could it be something worrying?

[savvy]

At one year old she is slap bang in the middle of the adolescent phase so erratic, dominance behaviour is expected. As long as it doesn't escalate into a serious fight I'd let them sort it out themselves to a certain extent.

[moletteuk]

If you have a decent vet I think it might be worth getting them both checked over. They might be able to tell if Cinammon has an enlarged heart or has lung sounds or feel any lumps or other things that get more likely with age, you never know they might find something which would respond to treatment.

I'm not totally sure about what you are describing with Coco, does she shake her head and then moves into a little aggression, or is it just a dominance behaviour? I'm just wondering if she might be shaking her head due to discomfort, in which case it would be worth getting a dental check and her ears looked at.

Do they have a heatpad? Older degus really appreciate the comfort of a heatpad.

[mkish]

With the virus going around our vet closed sadly. And they don’t have a heating pad but I’m out of school for three weeks so I let them out of the cage most of the day and Cinnamon sits on top of the heating vents or lays in the sun. It’s hard to explain about Coco. Right after the head thing she tries to start a fight with Cinnamon every time and it’s been happening less and less so I think it’s just her showing dominance. Will Coco ever become depressed with Cinnamon getting older and not doing so much? I know degus become depressed alone and I was just wondering if the lack of energy from Cinnamon will affect Coco?

[bouncy]

Their difference in ages is quite large, in terms of where they are. You've got one in middle aged, and one hormonal teenager! It's like a parent trying to keep up with someone in their first year at uni on a perpetual fresher's week. You may even find your little one winding your older up.

[mkish]

Cinnamon used to have a sister named Sugar but sadly she had to be put down on Christmas day due to a parasite she was born with and a number of illnesses that hit her at once. Coco was the oldest degu for sale in my state so that is the reasoning for the big age difference. But, you don’t think the situation calls for getting another degu(s)? And Coco doesn’t seem to trust me too much, her old owner was rough with her so I don’t think she trust humans in general, any way I can help her be more comfortable? Cinnamon loves pets and when I open the cage she is always trying to get me to pick her up but Coco runs away into one of the huts.

[bouncy]

If Coco has a rough background, it's going to take time for her to trust a hooman slave. You have many years together, and the gains will be very rewarding. Don't worry about the age difference, just bear in mind that Coco is that much younger than Cinnamon, who has reached the "staying in on Saturday night" age. They can compliment each other well - you may find Coco running around as a slave lol

[mkish]

Haha!! That makes me feel much better about the situation, thanks so much for all the advice!!