Unhungry Degu ?

[marccc]

hi folks,

i was wondering if anyone could help, my goo has not been eating for a few days, ive given her some cucumber which she has taken and i watched her eat it, its been like 30 degrees in manchester the past few days and wondered if maybe thats whats wrong, I no if i feel shes sick i should take her to a vet and i hate when people put stuff like this on but i had a goo who i had to have put to sleep and she was terrified when i took her to the vet and it broke my heart to think she was stressed in her final hour with me so unless she is in pain i really dont want her last moments to be spent in the vets...

Shes a bit lazy recently and seems to be moving around a little but when i try and offer her a pumpkin seed she doesnt want them? (the other two take them and run! typical goos!!

like i said shes took the cucmuber and it seems to be all she will eat... Is it ok for me to give her a quater slice ever few hours until shes back on her food coz i dont want her going hungry?

Ive checked her teeth and they seem normal, no mouth damage so im hoping that shes maybe feeling a bit under the weather rarther than the other possibility.

appologies again for posting like this and if the worst will happen to my baby then it wont be a post i will go to the vets but like i said is shes not in pain i dont want to put her through that, Im hoping im over reacting ny posting but this site has helped me in my hours of need so I know the good people of this site will run to my aid

thanks all
Marc
(Lebowski *sick*, Mia & Brisco)

[fred]

If she isn't eating and hasn't for a few days you need to take her to the vet ASAP. Time can be of the essence!! If she isn't eating anything, than there is more than just feeling a bit under the weather. That said, how sure are you that she hasn't been eating? Also how old is Lebowski?

[marccc]

I think shes about 2 years old, shes eaten a peice of cucumber,

I just no that if i take her to the vets they will say the same as last time "there too small to tell so its best to put her to sleep"
which is the last thing i want, rest assured if it looks like shes uncomfortable then she will be taken but as i no the ve will simply put her to sleep i dont want to take her incase its just liek a degu flu or something, I just tried giving her a bath and she jumped in which shes not done the last few times that ive tried.

[fred]

I don't know what was the problem with you other degu, but I would expect that a vet first of all tries to help. Surely there must be other vets in Manchester you can go to?

I have recently read quite a few posts about degus with teeth problems on the German deguforum.de. Mostly these were with the molars which you won't be able to see properly. In these cases it was absolutely crucial to keep up their food intake and energy. If she is in a cage with the other two, how do you know she isn't eating anything?

[marccc]

i suppose i dont no for sure she isnt, when i offer her a treat she wont take it , but then she did take soem cucumber this morning, yeah i took my last goo to the pets at home vets and they simply said "Theres nothing we can do for small animals like this other than put them to sleep" which i had to have doen for th last one because i think she was in pain, ive rang around a few vets this morning and they all go "ah a degu, thats like a guinie pig isnt it?" so im a bit reluctant to take her if they dont really no what the animal is as i think they will say put her to sleep,. Molars? possibly ive checked her front teeth and they are fine, nice lenght, not too long and bright bright yellow!
Il keep trying but

IF ANYONE KNOWSS A VET IN THE MANCHESTER AREA they trust PLEASE REPLY

[fred]

This one has been recommended by a member in 2009; www.ashleigh-veterinary-centre.com/AVC.htm.

For the moment I would recommend to offer her plenty of treats (which won't do her any harm over a few days) and weight her daily so that you can see whether she actually looses weight.

[marccc]

Thanks for that .

Im gona monitor her closely the next day and if theres no improvement il take her there tomorrow. Im hoping its just been the hot weather thats tired her out and i am a worryer but im gona stay with her today and see how she is.

Thanks matey

Marc

[Ady]

Molars are teeth in the back. Hard to check. As Fred said it could be the problem why he's not eating. If he eats soft food (cucumber) but nothing hard, maybe the problem is in chewing? Maybe put pellets in water to see if he would eat that? Also u can check under his jaw for any bumps (abces in tooth). Hope he gets better!

[malteser60]

Also they can get growths at the roots of the teeth and the only way to see this is by xray. Monitor her weight very closely but if she does have teeth issues then the only option is for an op by the vet (if it's the growth), or filing down if they're overgrown, etc etc. Basically all vet options.

As for the vet saying they can't do anything for animals that small, that's just utter bull! Degus are pretty resilient little things that live for up to 8 yrs and even longer in some cases. All vets should try and help the rodent first and being put to sleep should be an absolute final option. Grrr.... this has made me mad!

[marccc]

just a quick update,


Lebowski is up this morning and managed some cucumber and porridge oats and was actually jumping around a bit this morning, its broke my heart to leave her and come to work but ive asked my mum to go round, shes just txt me now saying shes bullying the others for the oats! haah! She must be feelig a bit more back to her own degu self!

Il post again when i get home