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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 16:57:57 GMT
So Sarah has been a bit off the past 3 days. She was a little less interested in treats at first, which is totally out of character as she normally cant get enough. But I didnt think anything of it. But the other thing she was doing was that she was really jumpy... like squeaking and going on alert more. She also started doing this thing where she does 1 loud squeak, waits about 3-5 seconds and does another one, and then it continues for ages. At first I stopped her with treats, annoyingly as she seems to choose the early hours of the morning. But that is becoming a little less easy. It doesnt happen often though, twice a day. She also started boxing and scuffling more with Mary again.
Now its day 3, today I noticed she really doesnt take a treat now. She rejects them all. To avoid giving them too many, I normally can even hand them a pellet as a "treat". But she wont even take those. But even though she seems to be eating less, she is more energetic than ever. She is moving a lot more, fighting with poor Mary, and much more vocal all the time; be it alarm calls, chatting to mary, even lying down resting for whatever she's saying. And those rhythmic squeaks for I dont know what reason. I have checked her teeth and they look fine. She has no injuries, her coat looks lovely.
So I dont think she's sick, but I am a little concerned about her reduction in appetite. Especially as she could take the treats and bury them even if she didnt want to eat them then and there.
Is this just heat? It's the only thing I could think of. Let me know thoughts.
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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 17:00:56 GMT
Also note, there are no male degus around, just the 2 girls. So not sure if that makes a difference to whether it could be heat or not.
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Post by teemu on May 22, 2021 17:30:08 GMT
Being in heat does make a degu girl really active and affect their behavior. One of my girls has acted pretty similarly in heat, being all whiny and fussy and hyperactive. Have you observed Sarah drinking or eating at all during this period? How old are they, approximately?
If it is heat, it should abate in a couple of days at the latest.
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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 18:00:56 GMT
I've seen her eat some leafy bits, and a little bit of hay, but no I havent seen her hardly eat at all. Not drink either, but the water is going down faster than normal, but not sure if that's mary or Sarah. She's around a year, maybe older, when I got her they weren't entirely sure how old she was.
Actually, that's just made me think. I held out a hand of her more preferred treats earlier, nuts, pea flakes and the like, with a few leafier bits. She actually took a leaf, which is absolutely unlike her. She normally throw her greens off my hands to get to the good stuff.
Ok, I'll see how it goes the next couple of days
Thanks teemu
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Post by teemu on May 22, 2021 18:04:16 GMT
If the water is vanishing quicker than normal, then it could be that she's actually drinking a lot, which is also consistent with heat. And generally when they're in heat, they have things other than food on their mind, so they likely don't care so much about their normal food.
Is it hot there at the moment, by the way? Temperature can also affect degu behavior a lot, I've learned.
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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 18:06:45 GMT
She even rejects crocs! Crocs! I've had them since someone on here recommended them, and they go nuts for them, pushing each other way. Shes not interested.
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Post by savvy on May 22, 2021 18:26:54 GMT
This does sound like she's on heat, its not unusual for them to eat less for a few days.
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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 23:26:22 GMT
Just saw your followup teemu. That's interesting. I don't know if its Sarah or Mary drinking too much but I have noticed the water is going down a lot faster. I have been much more on edge about water because I am not used to it disappearing so quick, so even though I change it every day, I have still been paranoid because I think it is going to be drained and they cant get access to water. So I was aware that was going on, increased awareness of looking after water, without associating it to Sarah's behaviours, so if that is a side effect of heat, it sounds like it must be tied all together.
So maybe it is Sarah draining it because she is on heat.
That's a relief. Little Sarah will be back to normal soon
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Post by degunewbie on May 22, 2021 23:37:44 GMT
It isnt hot here. The uk, it might have picked up the temperature a little but not much difference, I wouldnt describe as hot. Poor little Sarah. She does run up and ask for food, but she wont take food. Perhaps they need a male for this group
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Post by deguconvert on May 23, 2021 0:03:01 GMT
When she eats do you notice food falling out of her mouth? Have you checked under the water bottle to see if it is wet there? Is she pawing at her mouth at all?
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Post by moletteuk on May 23, 2021 15:08:58 GMT
It sounds like heat, but if she doesn't improve in a couple of days, do let us know.
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Post by degunewbie on May 24, 2021 19:01:07 GMT
She didnt seem to have a problem holding food, she just wouldnt accept it. And there didnt seem to be water spillage. But for future, if she was dropping food and pawing at her mouth what would that mean?
But anyway, good news. She seems relatively back to normal. Still was rather vocal yesterday but ate a bit more, and then today she seems to be a happy chappy, nibbling away. Though she is coming across very tired, and had loads of naps today, but I'm not surprised considering how energetic and bouncy she's been without eating barely anything. Hopefully she's back to normal, and that's not a sinister sign. That was an interesting experience.
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Post by teemu on May 24, 2021 19:18:27 GMT
Ah, that does sound exactly like heat, then. They have a couple days of frenetic activity and then crash for a day or so. So that checks out!
I think Deguconvert was asking you about those specific signs because tooth issues are pretty common in degus and can cause them to be unable or unwilling to eat, and it's always good to eliminate the possibility. Basically, if a degu acts like there's something wrong with their mouth, or acts like they're in pain, or doesn't want to eat suddenly with no other issues, it's always good to be mindful of the fact that their back teeth are vulnerable to developing spurs which will need to be operated on by a vet. It's very common in degus at one point in their life or another, so it's good to keep in mind.
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Post by savvy on May 24, 2021 19:23:24 GMT
It does sound very much like she was on heat, if so expect a repetition in about 3 weeks, their cycle is 21 days.
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Post by degunewbie on May 24, 2021 20:02:16 GMT
Does that mean every 3 weeks it happens? That's strange because I've never noticed this behaviour before and I've had her since February. Maybe I was just still learning her "normal". But I must have been through it 4 or 5 times now
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Post by teemu on May 24, 2021 20:18:03 GMT
Degus aren't always as obvious about their heat. My girls seem to be more or less vocal about it sometimes. They've been here for 2 months now, so everyone must have had at two heats or so, but I've only really noticed a couple of times it's happened. Your girls are about a year old, which is around the time they start to get out of their adolescent phase, so that might affect it as well. And the time of year also likely affects how they behave in heat.
Female degus start to go into heat by the time they're two months old (often earlier), they just take time to actually grow up despite that. It's a very intresting way of development, for a rodent. Degus, of course, are pretty unique as far as rodents are concerned anyway.
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Post by deguconvert on May 24, 2021 21:52:07 GMT
Yes . . . that is precisely what I wondered. If there may be dental issues. Glad to hear there are not!
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Post by degunewbie on May 26, 2021 17:19:11 GMT
Guys, I do not know how you all know so much, but I love it! Thanks a lot for all the help.
A bit of a change of subject... but sarah is defo back to normal. Just got my first delivery from ratrations, with millet sprays and olive leaves. They are both so happy right now! Chewing away, Sarah definitely is back to her normal greedy self.
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Post by deguconvert on May 26, 2021 17:54:14 GMT
SO, SO glad to hear she is herself again!
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Post by degunewbie on May 26, 2021 19:15:42 GMT
Me too! thanks deguconvert
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