|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 3, 2022 21:05:26 GMT
I can try! He hasn't used it since he's been with me, but he generally wouldn't use it until a few hours from now.
I did end up calling the vet since I wasn't sure how long they expected him to be like this. They did say it could take him up to 24 hours to fully metabolize the meds, especially the pain meds. Apparently when he first woke up he would pretty much just fall over immediately when he tried to move, so there definitely is an improvement there.
I've put a heat pad thing in with him, he seems quite happy with that. But all in all, I guess this isn't too unexpected, which is good to hear.
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 4, 2022 0:36:15 GMT
CC was a no go, but he happily ate some baby food with baby oatmeal! He then moved from the 2nd level (where he's been all day) to the 3rd! And is sat on his favorite tree branch perch
|
|
|
Post by teemu on Mar 4, 2022 14:06:42 GMT
CC was a no go, but he happily ate some baby food with baby oatmeal! He then moved from the 2nd level (where he's been all day) to the 3rd! And is sat on his favorite tree branch perch Baby food and oatmeal, especially if you mixed some water in to make a gruel, should take care of fluid intake nicely until he feels solid enough to start eating and drinking normally again
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 4, 2022 15:27:48 GMT
He was moving around more this morning! I came down and he was eating the baby food mixture I left on the bottom floor of his cage. He then ran up to the second floor. He took a bit of a tumble, so balance is not quite there yet, but I think that's not unexpected. He refused to eat more baby food with his meds since I think he was full. He did take several rice puffs though!
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Mar 4, 2022 16:19:31 GMT
There's always room for rice puffs! Glad to hear he's feeling better.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Mar 4, 2022 19:00:57 GMT
Losing a length of tail, which they use so much for balance, will definitely take some getting used to. I've never thought of it before, but I wonder if people that lose a portion of an arm, or all of an arm, also find their balance needs to adjust?
I'm very glad he is more interested in food, and is more active today. That is a good and happy thing!
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 4, 2022 23:45:55 GMT
No idea, I've honestly never thought about it!
I'm happier, for sure. And he was eating his oil seeds when I got home from work! And running a bit in the wheel.
|
|
|
Post by teemu on Mar 5, 2022 1:05:33 GMT
Yes, losing a substantial part of an arm would certainly require an adjustment period, just from how your body dynamics and balance will shift. You have to adjust to how you can't swing the arm while moving for counterbalance any more, and also learn that you can't for example support yourself on anything from that side any more. It will take time for neural pathways to re-develop to account for all that. Similarly, degus definitely will be clumsier to start with after their counterbalance (tail) gets shortened. It's probably both the fact that they tend to do really acrobatic things where even slightly overbalancing can lead to a tumble, and also the fact that there's pain to begin with. Luckily it generally seems to be that they will learn to be more or less just as agile again. My Munkk had only half a tail, but he was certainly the more active and agile of the boys
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 6, 2022 17:34:31 GMT
He's looking really good today I could just be seeing things, but even his coat looks better, not as poofy. Thoughts on how long until he can get a sand bath? They did the amputation how one on a human would be done (at least thats what I'm told) so that the top flap of skin was folded over and sewed to the bottom half to prevent there being an open wound.
|
|
|
Post by teemu on Mar 6, 2022 19:40:44 GMT
Poofiness is sometimes (certainly in situations like this) a sign of pain, so it's very good that he's feeling more at ease. He's likely feeling a lot better without the messy wound at the end of his tail now. You should probably wait a couple of days before sand baths. Mostly it's the fact that small sand particles can work themselves into almost anywhere. This is especially nasty since degus often pee in the sand bath. So give it a couple of days to be sure that the surface of the wound has closed and no dirt can get into it.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Mar 6, 2022 23:26:57 GMT
I second that . . . hold off on the sand bath for a while yet. I would think 7 - 10 days after the surgery.
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 8, 2022 1:25:48 GMT
Tom still seems to still be doing well! He obviously lost weight due to the amputation (down to 167g) but he seems to be slowly gaining (170g today). I offered some critical care + baby oatmeal in sweet potato baby food. He was a huge fan!
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Mar 8, 2022 5:20:30 GMT
I think that's great news! I'm thrilled to hear how he is doing and am very glad for the improvements!!
|
|
|
Post by hpdegus on Mar 10, 2022 0:43:26 GMT
Tom gave me a shock today!
I thought he was having a stroke since he was contorted weirdly on his side, jerking sporadically. Nope, seems like he lost his balance while 'cleaning' himself and decided to just continue!
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Mar 10, 2022 1:30:35 GMT
He's feeling better! Lol.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Mar 10, 2022 9:34:29 GMT
|
|