Cough and RI remedies for sick degus

[deguconvert]

OK! We have had a few very sick degus and rats on the forum of late, and it is definitely something that is difficult to treat, and even more difficult to watch. So I've been thinking that if we can round up some sound and helpful advice to have on hand, then we can go to our vets with suggestions, as well as have things on hand at home that can aide in the recovery of our little loves. There are a couple of different things that I am going to copy over from other posts into here, but please, please, PLEASE add all that you can or what you know, things that have worked for you.

I'm hoping that we can together build a treatment plan that will shorten the duration and intensity of any RI and end with healthy, vigorous degus.

[deguconvert]

Something I can pass on to you, while you are waiting for the opportunity to see the vet is a steaming method that might be helpful.

There is an inhalant sold there called Olbas Oil. It is great for colds and such. If you can get your hands on some, do so. Then follow this method for your degu.

Have on hand: Two straining bowls (like what you would use to drain a pot of boiled spaghetti)
One bowl large enough to set one of the straining bowls on top of, but not so big that the straining bowl will sit deep inside it.
Hot tap water.
Olbas Oil.
A towel large enough to drape over the whole combined thing.
The sick, or coughing, degu.

Now arrange in this manner.
Pour hot water into the bowl, putting in 3-5 good drops of the Olbas Oil.
Place into the bowl, suspended above the hot water (not in the water at all) the first straining bowl.
Place in the strainer the degu, immediately placing the second straining bowl "Upside down" over top to contain the degu safely.
Over all of that, drape the towel.
Now sit beside your goo, giving her about 10-15 minutes of steaming time. Then remove her back to her cage. If she looks or feels damp, gently dry her with a dry towel, and maybe let her have a roll in her sand bath. Do not let her get chilled.

The Olbas Oil will help to relieve the air ways, and hopefully also help to thin out the mucus that is filling them. Thin mucus is obviously much easier to expel than is thick mucus. This treatment needs to be done once or twice daily, depending on the severity of the illness, and for up to a week in duration.

[deguconvert]

Quoted from Maravilla:

My vet normally also gives Baytril for such infections, but there are some other antibiotics which could be more suitable: Chloramphenicol palmitate and Marbocyl (I don't have own experiences with them but they were recommended in deguforum.de).
The infection and the inappetence are a vicious circle. The lung problem can cause the inappetence which results in distension that affects the lungs. Offer your degu a puree with his normal food and water or ground oats and nuts mixed with water (it may help him as there is no need to chew these things). Can you buy simethicone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simethicone)? It is something you can give him and what helps to reduce bloating. It doesn't cause any harm so you can give it prophylactically.
To provide him a warm place you can put glas bottle with warm (not hot) water in the cage. But remove them before cooling too much.


Thank you Maravilla.

[deguconvert]

I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb here, and I have to caution you that I really don't know if this will help you or not. I'm just following a line of thought, and you can judge as you feel is best.

Inflammation in humans, well any animal, is a huge cause of illness, pain, and trouble. Often if comes of what we eat. For an animal like a degu, I have no idea what might bring it on, but I would think that it is most likely an accompanying issue with RI's. So . . . what if there is inflammation in your degus lungs, as well as the infection? The inflammation may prevent the antibiotics from having the full impact that she needs. SO what if you could feed her some small bits of food that has natural anti-inflammatory properties?

The skins of red apples, the skins of blueberries, rosemary herb, and curcumin (turmeric) powder, all have this natural property, as do walnuts and whole grains. What if you were to try feeding her a couple grains of whole wheat seed, maybe a single small ribbon of apple skin, if you have access to blueberries (frozen/thawed?) . . . squeeze the guts from one and give her the skin, maybe a piece of rosemary herb, little pieces of walnut? I don't know if I would go so far as to try the turmeric powder as I have no idea if it would be toxic to her or not, but perhaps the others crushed together to make a paste of sorts, will help your degu in another way from the inside out. If your degu is already getting thin, a few extra calories are probably needed, and he/she may need the energy these supply. Other herbs to think of . . . Basil, Dill, and Oregano are also good. (Fresh or dried, which ever entices her most.)

___________________________________________________

This following idea is one that I still think could have merit, however if it is just plain stupid and silly . . . those of you who are more in the know . . . let me know and I'll rip it off here quicker than I take a plaster off of my son!!

My other thought, is to get or use a prescription for an asthma inhalant, and fix up a small chamber that is sealed into which you can squeeze a small dose of the asthma spray, and he/she can sit still in there and breathe it in for a little bit. I am certain you wouldn't want anything stronger than what you would give to a child. How you would go about procuring this item, I have no idea. Maybe it is an idea to ask of your vet . . . who might scoff aloud at such a ridiculous idea. That wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least. It's just an idea.

I have asthma and these are things that help me, especially when I have a cold as the cold germs react with the inflammation caused by the asthma and make things 10 X's worse than they are normally, and antibiotics are not enough to help me. I have to have both the antibiotics and the asthma treatment.

[abirose]

I think this is a really good idea because a lot of people (including myself) understandably go into panic when these situations happen. Thank you for the advice regarding the olbas steam I appreciate it however I have read that it is questionable as it might scar the lung tissue. Saying that I think I will try it will Sammy with him being so young I will probably try just the hot steam on its own and maybe incorporate the oil when he has fully developed, so I do appreciate it.

I'd like to show an article which I found interesting about the plant extract echinacea, it has shown to help respy rats and I imagine it will be transferable to goos. I think it might be a good for goos that have had a RI to help stop it reoccurring:

www.rmca.org/Articles/herbal.htm

[abirose]

After speaking with DC we decided that 2-3 drops of olbas oil should be fine and shouldn't have any ill effects. I got my info from a rat forum where olbas oil steaming is used on a regular basis for some owners so I imagine that maybe when it is done to often there maybe some problems. I'd like to share my own experience with my Sammy (baby rat about 6 weeks now) who was diagnosed with bronchitis.

Being so small and weak (he was a rescue from a feeder) the vet didn't think he would wake up as his left lung was congested. I was given baytiril which is a very common antibiotics for rodents with RI. One tip I would give is when using baytiril it is very bitter so mix it with Ribena or another blackcurrant drink (sugar free for goo's). This has been a lot less stressful for the animal then trying to force it with a syringe. The vitamin c also helps fight the infection.

I bought a facial steamer for £10 from argos (you could use the technique that DC mentioned using a collinder but mine was metal) and I held my little guy over it. I'm pleased to say that it helped to shift the mucus in his chest I also did a little physio (I'm very severely asthmatic so I often have this done) by patting the sides of his back gently with a finger which again helps loosen mucus. Make sure your goo has no rib damage before you do this!

I would also make sure that the bedding is clean as the ammonia from urine can worsen RI and that no deodorants or hairsprays are used in the same room. I will also be introducing echinacea into their diet.

Sammy seems to be on the mend he has got his strength back but it has been a very worrying time! I hope this post is useful and if anyone has any questions feel free to PM.

[deguconvert]

I am so glad to hear of this, Abirose!! To know that the steam and Olbas oil helped to shift the mucus, as well as the used of the physio patting, is really helpful and great to have on hand. You description of how you did it on Sammy is good, and I think would be beneficial for future owners who find themselves in this situation.

Thank you so much for posting your results thus far. It's great to hear that Sammy seems to be on the mend!!