degu in the toilet...

[Eamon]

It's not as bad as it might seem.
I was cleaning his cage, and had closed Gucci out on the bathroom. Suddenly I hear a squeak, and run out onto the bathroom and found that I had forgotten to close down the lit of the toilet and Gucci had somehow fallen into the toilet - don't ask me how!!!!!!!!!!!

luckily I had just flushed the toilet, so the water was clean. But the little fellow was shaking cold and as I was drying and reheating him, he went into full body cramps, which I helped him through the best I could. He's really quiet now, scared, tired and cold, sitting in my hands enjoying the heat from my palms.

we were both really scared at one point, but might have come out of it one lesson wiser and a lot closer.

bet he'll get a cold now, though...

i'll try reheating and drying him with my hair
dryer - should have thought of it sooner

[Eamon]

*UPDATE*

He's fine now. Tired, but fine. Gave him a peanut which he munched at happily, so he's feeling better.

[ra]

Oh Cornelia! What a close call. I do hope Gucci doesn't have any complications from his unexpected swim. All you can do is keep an eye on him.

[rupe]

oh i do hope he is ok. it is really important you keep his body tempeture up for the next couple days though as if he goes cold again he may go into shock. if he was munching away he should be fine...appitite is a very good sign

[flibble]

I had a hamster escape and find her way into the toilet! after lots of careful drying with the hair dryer and TLC she came through it fine, so hopefully gucci should be fine! ;D

[ra]

I've been thinking about the hair dryer. I don't think that's a good idea. I know my hair dryer is almost too much for my tiny Yorkshire Terrier. I have to becareful, it seems the blow dryer takes his breath away.

I would recommend putting a small hand-towel in your cloths dryer - heat it up a bit and then wrap your Degu in the warm towel. Becareful though you don't want to overheat your Degu. Perhaps just offer the warm towel as a nest and allow the Degu to decide whether or not it needs the heat.

[diet otaku]

if you put something nice and fluffy in his cage, that will help keep him warm so he doesn't go into shock.

[Eamon]

thank you all for the great advises. He's been spending a great amount of time in my hands and and basically every part of me he could get to that was warm and cozy. I just hope he's gotten over the shock when his two new roommates arrive next week...