Degu malting

[rowanphilip]

Amigo, one of our goos, has started malting. I have just been stroking him and I have noticed a large amount of hair on my t-shirt. We have had Amigo for quite some time and I haven't noticed this before. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

[deguconvert]

I've never come across this . . . and it's not something I've heard of from any other member. I don't know what to tell you. Do you notice any other things about him? What does his skin look like? Do you see any flakes, or anything that looks like a tiny bug? Are there any red patches or anything?

[malteser60]

Around this time of year (a bit sooner normally) degus will shed their winter fur as it's summer, and hot, and thus they don't need that extra fur.

If the moulting is resulting in bald patches then you should be a bit concerned (not too much though as it's not life threatening) as that is not due to the seasonal shedding. Probably some skin irritation of some sort.

If Amigo is still looking good with lots of fur on then it is the shedding of the winter fur. Let us know how he goes

[rowanphilip]

He has no bald patches and his skin looks fine. He seems perfectly healthy so I think it's just the shedding of the Winter fur. Thanks.

[Kat]

One of my degus malted a little while ago. I found it very odd that Scrat malted but Gerrard didn't. I wonder if some degus are more likely too than others. Similar to how some men become bald while others don't.

Kat
X

[deguconvert]

ROTFL!! Now that creates some funny comparisons. The comb over, the toupee, the black spray on paint stuff, the extreme shave it all bald and hopefully sexy . . . LOL! SO glad degus don't have human vanity.

[moletteuk]

my goos are moulting too. I think they already moulted out of their winter coat in late spring and this is them moulting out of their summer coat rather early - it's not very warm here.