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Post by flower1331 on Feb 23, 2022 2:01:41 GMT
Unfortunately she wouldn’t take it with the peanut butter
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Post by yasmin on Feb 23, 2022 2:10:36 GMT
There is a treat made by Versele-Laga called "Complete Crock" - the Herb one is safe for degus. They have a soft centre. I split one in half, stand up the halves so that I can put the medication onto the soft centre, and then let it soak in and dry up a bit (15 minutes or more). Then I feed one half at a time to the degu and make sure they eat it all. I have so far not had a degu that refused to take medication this way.
Another way that works for me is to mix it with baby food. Mine seem to like Sweet Potato baby food (no additives) - I just put a bit on a spoon (1/2 tsp to a tsp), then stir in the amount of medication required. I then offer the spoon of baby food to the degu. My degu Nod gets her meds this way - she loves it.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 23, 2022 2:20:58 GMT
Okay thanks I’ll see if I can get that treat she usually loves any. But I’m guessing she could smell the antibiotics through the peanut butter or she just wasn’t feeling up to eat it.
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Post by savvy on Feb 23, 2022 2:46:29 GMT
They can be really difficult to get meds into.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 23, 2022 22:01:14 GMT
She’s about the same today, a little bit less feeling in her back legs. We didn’t know if she was drinking so she got some fluids. The results for the test the vet ran came back without a specific answer, she might have a tumour under the swelling. My vet sent her x rays to a vet whose treated degus and we are now waiting for his response.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 24, 2022 12:27:12 GMT
Unfortunately she has a rare disease that can’t be fixed and will only worsen. I’ve decided to bring her in today to be humanly euthanized. I’ve really upset but I know I have to think about her sister too, there the only two I have so she would be all alone. Do I need to get her a new friend?
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Post by savvy on Feb 24, 2022 13:03:53 GMT
I am so very very sorry!
Her sister will need a friend, but she will also need to grieve. So will you. We can help with intros when the times right.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 24, 2022 20:36:13 GMT
I’ve contacted someone on kijiji about a new friend so we’ll just wait. Her sister defiantly seems a little off.
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Post by teemu on Feb 24, 2022 22:17:25 GMT
I'm very sorry to hear about your loss! These things are never easy.
She definitely needs a new friend, but these things can be hard. Degus are sometimes stubborn and don't like new degus on their turf. For this reason, you should definitely get another cage to begin with, when the new degu (or degus) comes in. That way, introductions can be done at the pace they are comfortable with.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 25, 2022 0:36:35 GMT
Okay I am a little worried because I got them both as babies from the same litter so she’s never been with another degu that’s not her sister. Also it’s hard to find an adult degu for rehoming and I don’t know how she’ll be with a baby either. Right now we are waiting for someone to respond that has 6 month olds which would be good. But otherwise I can’t find any others near me. How long can the one be by herself for? The longest would be till Easter if we can’t find any before then.
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Post by savvy on Feb 25, 2022 3:18:50 GMT
Its early days so don't panic, she will be grieving for her sister and will need a little time and a little extra attention. You can put a snugglesafe in there for warmth and a small cuddly toy as something to curl up with which may help her.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 25, 2022 11:54:51 GMT
I'm sorry for your loss.
There can be a range of reactions after the loss of a cagemate, some take it much harder than others. I think she will be fine until Easter, it's usually best to give them a little time to themselves anyway. Introductions can be a slow process, you would need to have the new degu(s) living side by side but in a separate cage for a little while so everyone can get to know each other.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 25, 2022 12:48:31 GMT
Okay and what’s the best age for the new one to bond with her. I don’t think I can get another female that’s her age but it’s possible to get a 6 month old or a 2 month old. What would she probably do better with?
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 25, 2022 18:32:55 GMT
Oh Flower1331!! I am so very sorry for the loss of your sweet girl! A rare disease . . . definitely not the news you wanted for her. You have been very kind and loving to her. Sending you hugs! You and her sister will need each other.
What is the age of her sister? In some ways that doesn't really matter, and yet it can impact things. The first two years of a degus life is full of growth and maturing that can be very challenging for the owner, particularly if when they are in the teenage - young adult stage, they are full of vinegar and looking to dominate the other degus in the cage . . . sometimes even the human that cares for them. With a degu at six months of age, that degu will either be at the start of that adolescent stage, or it could be already going full steam, or it may be a few months in the future. With a degu that is two months, that is still to come, and introductions may be easier for a time, but that can change once adolescence hits. Both of these degus will eventually have that stage to go through, and you can see some instability with their bond. However, this is normal in the life of every degus. They all go through it . . . like we do . . . some worse than others. We can, and will, help you with it/through it, whichever new little love you choose to bring home.
The need to have the extra cage is necessary, regardless of the age of the new degu. You need to know that a degu of two months is still small enough to walk through any wire cage that has spaces between the bars that are wider than a cm apart. I just remembered that you said you had your girls from the time they were little pups, so that is probably something you already know and would plan for.
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 26, 2022 4:33:44 GMT
I have a critter nation with small enough bars that they can’t fit through. Would it work to keep one in the top and one in the bottom of the critter nation? Then have them separated by a like a barrier during playtime so they can meet but can’t touch?
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 26, 2022 7:46:32 GMT
Critter Nation is a good cage. Is it a double, since you refer to a top and a bottom? In the degu world, degus that have a higher nesting location are higher dominance and higher stature in the colony. Now that might sound weird, since they are ground animals, but they often build their colonies on the slopes of high hills or mountains, so the higher up the hill/mountain your burrow is found, the greater your standing. They also collect sticks to pile by their burrows. Males with LOTS of sticks are looked on with greater approval by the females. ANYWAY, all that to say that whomever is placed on top will be already in an advantaged position, which may create an instant sense of competition between them. When at all possible, we encourage owners to create a divide on the same level, so that they have common (though safely separated) ground, which starts them off as equals . . . at least as much as we can try to do. Where do you let your degus have playtime? Is it easy for you to incorporate a barrier? Is it free of tiny small spaces that a small pup might be able to crawl into, or even escape through? They are masters of escape!!
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 26, 2022 16:20:49 GMT
It is a double and the cage is in a bathroom. I let them play in the bathroom and I have a good barrier it’s kinda like one of those dog playpens but with smaller bars so they can’t through them.
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 26, 2022 18:24:52 GMT
You must have a LARGE bathroom!! Does it get very humid in there?
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Post by flower1331 on Feb 26, 2022 18:38:20 GMT
Sometimes in the summer but I usually put a fan in there on really hot days.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 26, 2022 19:03:01 GMT
The best way to split a Critter Nation for introductions is to build an extra shelf at the top of the bottom half and then allow the degu in the top access to a portion of this shelf in the lower half. It does need some DIY skills and the divide needs to be really sturdy, but it's helpful for them to be able to meet on the same level.
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