Plush toy?

[creggle]

Hi, I've been looking for puppy plushies and similar things for a few days and they are all so big, does anyone have an easy recommendation? Something around the size of a Degu and safe?

Thanks

[teemu]

Are you thinking that Blinder might feel like he has some company if you get him a toy friend? That can work, some degus absolutely love snuggling with a soft toy. One of mine got a lot of company out of a small soft toy. Some degus do not like them or they may try to just tear them apart, but sometimes they are greatly appreciated.

Now, I'm not sure about what kind of a soft toy would be preferrable, but if you want to be sure it's safe, then one made from, say, cotton or other natural materials would be a lot better than one made from a synthetic material. It's still possible that the degu will attempt to tear it apart, but synthetic materials are very unsafe since they're impossible to digest and can block the intestine. So the main things to consider when looking for one is that the covering is preferrably a natural material, that it has no plastic bits (degus LOVE to gnaw at those) and that it's stuffed with something that is also safe for a degu.

Another thing that can give a degu a lot of comfort is a Snugglesafe heat pad. It won't feel like a friend, but I've yet to see a degu who wouldn't enjoy a heatpad.

[creggle]

Yes exactly! I don't want him to feel alone and I don't know how long it will take to find a similar age rescue, he has a snugglepad btw!

www.amazon.co.uk/Jiffybair-Octopus-Plushie-Reversable-Reversible/dp/B097DMLD3F Is this good? If not, would continuing to search for puppy plushies be preferable? This octopuss doesn't look like it would be very snuggly when it's almost the size of his heatpad!

[teemu]

I don't see anything wrong with trying that. It is rather large, as you say, but it's possible that he'd actually like to perch on it. My Munkki liked to perch on top of a soft toy. Looks like it would be very comfy for that purpose, too. You could try it, certainly, it's made from rather safe materials and all. Though if you do try that, you should still keep an eye out on if he starts to actually gnaw at it or tries to actually start eating it.

An optimal one, for potential snuggleability, would be one roughly similar to his size and shape. If you wanted to, you could even try to make one yourself with some simple fabric and some cotton stuffing. Thinking about it, you could likely take a cotton or bamboo sock, stuff it full of cotton stuffing (or even just shredded, soft toilet paper) and sew it up for a rather snuggly pillow, though it's not a very intresting shape. Might be a pretty cheap first option to try, to see if he even likes things like that?

[moletteuk]

You could make something out of a stuffed sock, this would work out around the right size. If he isn't a chewer, you could even fill it with rice and heat slightly in the microwave.

[creggle]

Oct 23, 2021 21:08:49 GMT teemu said:

I don't see anything wrong with trying that. It is rather large, as you say, but it's possible that he'd actually like to perch on it. My Munkki liked to perch on top of a soft toy. Looks like it would be very comfy for that purpose, too. You could try it, certainly, it's made from rather safe materials and all. Though if you do try that, you should still keep an eye out on if he starts to actually gnaw at it or tries to actually start eating it.

An optimal one, for potential snuggleability, would be one roughly similar to his size and shape. If you wanted to, you could even try to make one yourself with some simple fabric and some cotton stuffing. Thinking about it, you could likely take a cotton or bamboo sock, stuff it full of cotton stuffing (or even just shredded, soft toilet paper) and sew it up for a rather snuggly pillow, though it's not a very intresting shape. Might be a pretty cheap first option to try, to see if he even likes things like that?

Price doesn't worry me, it's finding suitable toys. They're either massive, have synthetic materials or inappropriate stuffing. A small 6 inch bear or mouse all cotton toy would be perfect

In regards to you both, I did stuff a pair of socks with tissue and put them on his snugglesafe and he is making piles on them, it's so adorable but also so sad 

My options are: buy 2 Degu pups (I really don't want to do this though)
rescue a 5+ year old male, and go through the arduous journey of introductions
rescue a 5+ year old female and have Blinder neutered, easiest option but that's something I'm not too thrilled about putting my handsome little man through.

[teemu]

Yeah, this is always a tricky issue to deal with, for degus and pretty much any communal animal that becomes the only one. Getting him company is of course optimal, but as you say, that can be a rather arduous process in itself. Even if the degu is lonely, it's not a given that they will bond with new ones.

For what it's worth though, my experience is that if you can support two cages (which is a necessity in any case for the beginning) and want to have other degus after Blinder (though it's perfectly understandable if you do not wish to do so), just having degus in the same house can perk a lonely degu up greatly. It's always possible that they don't want to accept new degus in their cage, but it clearly calms them down and gives them comfort to know that others are nearby.

[moletteuk]

Since Blinder is over 5yrs, it tends not to be recommended to neuter after this age, so that probably rules out females.

I also wouldn't recommend degus under 18 months for Blinder, pups may be OK for a couple of months, but you soon run into adolescence and then things can get very tricky indeed with all the hormones flying around, and also such young and energetic degus would probably not be a great match for a 5yr+ degu.

So that leaves a pair of fully adult boys, or an already single adult boy or older boy. I think it's certainly worth looking around for another older single boy.

[bouncy]

From memory, sarahc thought Brain was a bit past it at five when he moved in with his girlfriends (so I got Snoozy and Sneaky!), but I think her vet assessed him and said there was no reason why he couldn't have his bits done.

I often give my lot toys. Any dog toys should be ok, but try and avoid something with a squeaker. Spidey used to be quite attached to a small donkey (Great and Small, I think). No guarantees they'll take to the toy, though!

[sarahc]

Yeah brain was 6 when he got neauted. He was a frisky old man. He healed very quickly from it