Blood around cage :(

[ava]

I'm really worried about Pikachu and Dmitri. Yesterday I found the end of a branch where it had been chewed was tinged with pink. I didn't know if this would indicate blood or something weird with the wood as it merely looked like a colouring to it. However, today I've found woodshavings and bits of hay with bright red but dried blood on them, and the branch also had dried blood on it, on closer inspection. I've found a few clotted (is that the right term..?) bits, which I was hoping is a good sign, but I don't know... Neither of them are less active than usual and while Pikachu eats much more than Dmitri, they are both eating and I've seen them both drinking... Most of the blood was on the level with the branch so I would guess it was that. I've tried having a look at them both and I can't see any injuries or blood on them. They had a sandbath as well and there was none in there.

I really have no idea what to do... please help

[NightwishRaven999]

Some foods like carrot and beetroot can change the degu urine colouration to orange or red.
However, it may also be possible your degus fought or got injured on the branch.
It is hard for us to pin point the problem.

The best thing you could do is to keep a close watch on both of them. Look for abnormal behavior or signs of injury.

[ava]

Thanks for the advice. I've been checking on them and other than sleeping a lot the past few days (due to the cold, I believe, as now the house is warmer they're active again) they are behaving normally. I haven't seen any signs of injury. I found two bits of tissue in the cage today with brownish blood - I'm guessing that's likely to be from before? I did also see a small spot or two of blood on the wall. I don't really know about that...

Dmitri had some odd, sort of ruffled fur on his face today but it didn't seem bloody or anything. At the moment I'm trying to observe them whenever they come close, for injuries - but if it would be better I suppose I could try to pick them up. I just don't want to upset them (while they trust me more than when we first got them, they still don't sit on my hand or anything and Dmitri is still shy about approaching me)

What should I do now? If they're acting normally, eating and drinking does that mean they're ok? Or should I take them to a vet? To be honest, from the stories I've read I'm not sure I would trust them and don't want to take them to a vet unless necessary...

[deguconvert]

So far so good, in my opinion. I would continue to keep and eye on them, examing them if you can see something strange or questionable. If you see more blood, give them a really good look over and maybe take to the vet.

[ava]

Ok, thanks.

[madhoose]

Hi Ava, i don't know how long you've had your goos and i'm quite a new owner i've only had mine 9 wks .. But i had the same problem with one of mine and here's what happened. i adopted 2 boys around 4 mths old, only had them a few days and noticed small blood trails or dollops of blood around the cage, almost all of it dried. I checked my goos but couldn't find anything. Then a few days later same thing i checked them again and found it was coming from one of their back ends.. i cleaned goo up & couldn't see anything wrong. I decided to keep an eye on him and get him to vet Monday morning ( it was weekend).. It never happened again and he seemed fine so i never went to vet.. The goo that had been bleeding started eating more than his brother and drinking more water too.. turns out he was a she and she was pregnant... thinking back i also noticed the blood spots seemed to happen a wee while after i'd seen him hump her ( brothers just playing as i thought )that's what had dislodged the tissue plug thingy that made her bleed a wee bit as far as i can make out when trying to read up about it.... she had already been pregnant for 4 weeks by then....

I hope this in not the case for you but i just thought i'd share this as it's quite a similar experience.. lets just hope it was a minor injury and no more..

[ava]

Oh dear, that must have been a shock Thanks for sharing - luckily I am absolutely sure they're both male. I've even seen the proof

[philbailey1806]

lol, I was about to say the exact same thing as madhoose, I was concerned when my degu started having a red discharge from her rear end, I thought I'd got 2 females from pets at home but turned out one was male and impregnated the other. She sort of left trails of it though as if she'd been dragging her bum along.

[madhoose]

glad to hear it ava.. ;D well not the bit about seeing the proof..

Yea philbailey same hear we had between drops and
trails just as you said like she was dragging her bum along things....