Could he have fleas?

[momof2]

Just last week one of my degus (Jelly) passed away very quickly and for no reason that I was able to come up with.

Peanut butter was acting very ill as well. Thankfully I now have feeling much better and he is back to acting like his old self once again.

Today I noticed as I was cleaning his cage that he has what looks like flea eggs on him. I gave him his bath and change and washed everything down. As well as lightly brushed his fir.

I went on to check my cats to see if they has fleas. And low and behold they do. Could this be the reason jelly passed on? Can they get fleas? If so what do I do? I am taking care of the cats as soon as my husband gets back from picking up flea bath and spray for the house. But I am worried that Peanut butter has become the new home to a flea or two.

Thank you all so much for your help

Suzanne

[diet otaku]

yes, degus can catch fleas. once you have treated the cats, continue treating your degu with flea powder and baths. i don't know if fleas can actually kill a degu, i suppose it's possible, but with treatment i'm sure PB will be fine.

[ra]

But would you want to bathe a Degu? I would be concerned with that. Perhaps putting a bit of the flea powder in with their sand bath would take care of the fleas. I'm concerned about concentrations of pesticides though. Do you have a veterinarian that specializes in exotic pets near by you could ask?

[northernstar40]

I have never seen a degu with fleas. I don’t think Otaku actually meant to bath the poor boy in a flea dip. But rather bath in his sand bath. We have had problem with fleas awful in Michigan this year all my other pets have had a awful time with them, But none of my degu's contacted fleas from the other animals in my home. But I’m sure it is possible if they can get mites I’m sure they could get fleas. ( Pb is actually one of Fratalina's pups. He now belongs to my Grand Daughter and Grand son.
Peg

[Anna]

Hummm... I've never seen fleas on my boys before but I know my puppy has them.. Now this has me concerned. What kind of flea powder would you use.. Maybe I should just call my vet..

[ra]

OOOoooops! That's what I get for being so literal. I should have known diet otaku would not suggest a bath with water or flea dip. Have to slow down and not speed read posts. Sorry diet otaku.

[Eamon]

I think Gucci has got fleas... he's scratching himself and rubbing aginst the sand bedding.

[diet otaku]

he could have fleas, or he could have dry skin. try adding some evening primrose oil to his food, and if the scratching doesn't stop, check him for fleas.

[Eamon]

I've cheked him for fleas this morning, couldn't see any, but then again he didn't like sitting still at all, so I couldn't check too thoroughly. I'll try the evening primrose oil. thanks.

[ra]

The evening primrose oil helped my two Degus with their itchy skin. I wanted to make sure they each got some so I put a couple of drops on two small pieces of Rye Crisp crackers and fed one to each. They love the Rye Crisps so I know they got the oil.

[Eamon]

I've finally translated evening primrose oil into danish, so if any danes comes across this thread and wonders what it is, it is called Kæmpenatlys olie.

[annelise]

Degus can get fleas, though it is very rare, but you would not find eggs in his hair: they fall to the ground and hatch in the bedding. He may have lice, though, as lice eggs are glued to the base of the hair. Rodent lice do not look like the ones we get: they are smaller and white (not black); they actually look a lot like moving dandruff. In any case, before treating him with flea powder, make quite sure your powder can be used on rodents: many cat-and-dog products are highly toxic for our little friends. Mixing the powder in with his sand bath works quite well. He may just have dry skin and dandruff: primrose oil sounds like a good idea in that case, and cannot harm him.