dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 1, 2012 18:24:14 GMT
My degus managed to get hold of a plastic bad and eat a huge hole in it! what should I do?? I took the bag away obviously but now what? will it hurt them?
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Post by blossombrooks on Jan 1, 2012 20:09:23 GMT
Do you know if they actually ate the plastic or did they discard it somewhere else? It's not ideal if they ate it but keep an eye on their eating (and pooping) habits for the next few days and hopefully they'll be fine. Of course if you're worried at all the vet will be the best idea. Hope they're alright!
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dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
I [url=https://postimg.org/image/dwub0fayl/][img]https://s6.postimg.cc/3zja7d3cx/heart.gif[/img][/url] My Goos
Posts: 58
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 1, 2012 20:18:49 GMT
I cannot find any bits of plastic in the cage but I'll keep looking through the hay just incase. I really hope it doesn't harm them. I'm keeping an eye on them but they seem like they are still eating fine at the moment
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Post by fred on Jan 1, 2012 20:48:50 GMT
It depends on what type of plastic it is. There should be a symbol and lettering (e.g. PP or PE) beneath somewhere on the bag. Can you have a look whether you find it? Also, if you can't find it shredded in the cage, how much would they have ingested?
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dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
I [url=https://postimg.org/image/dwub0fayl/][img]https://s6.postimg.cc/3zja7d3cx/heart.gif[/img][/url] My Goos
Posts: 58
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 1, 2012 21:10:50 GMT
which one is the bad one? I'll try and find out which it says
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Post by fred on Jan 1, 2012 21:14:04 GMT
We recently had a discussion on the degupedia forum (in German). If you let me know what it is, I'll look it up there.
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Post by winic1 on Jan 1, 2012 22:27:51 GMT
our guinea pigs managed to grab their hay bag through the cage and eat a chunk of it, and they didn't suffer from it. I guess as long as they chew it well, so it goes in in small pieces, it just passes through. Have had to get quite stern with the family about leaving hay and seed bags anywhere near the cages, tho, as degus and parakeets have nearly done the same thing. No one seems to believe that they can reach OUT THROUGH the bars, even tho we can stick fingertips and things IN THROUGH the bars, for some reason.
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dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
I [url=https://postimg.org/image/dwub0fayl/][img]https://s6.postimg.cc/3zja7d3cx/heart.gif[/img][/url] My Goos
Posts: 58
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 1, 2012 23:14:32 GMT
@fred I cant find anything on there if its helpful though it was a tesco bag winic1 i hope they are going to be ok am realy worried about them, I'm so careful not to put bags near there cage, i have no idea how they got this one last time I checked it was on the floor near my bed!
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Post by fred on Jan 1, 2012 23:46:03 GMT
There are two potential health hazards with plastic ingested by degus. One comes from softeners (phthalates) in some plastic which can be eluted in the stomach leaving sharp, dangerous pieces. As far as I can see this does not apply to Tesco bags. The second would be if the material forms a plug in the stomach or intestine. That could happen if large amounts have been ingested. I wouldn't worry too much but you should monitor them closely over the next day.
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dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
I [url=https://postimg.org/image/dwub0fayl/][img]https://s6.postimg.cc/3zja7d3cx/heart.gif[/img][/url] My Goos
Posts: 58
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 2, 2012 0:18:40 GMT
It has biodegradable written on it...not sure if thats a good or bad thing! I will be watching them closely, they are going back to the vets anyway soon because Dylans unwell
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abirose
Burrowing Degu
Forum Helper
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Post by abirose on Jan 2, 2012 20:20:47 GMT
Hi hun I've had a similar experience. When my girls were in a thickets cage my bro used to go and say hi to them. One day I came back to find that he had gave them some oats and forgot to put them back in the cupboard. The bag was leaning against the cage with some very happy looking degu's in it with a hole in the bag. I went into mass panic but luckily most of the plastic turned up in the nesting box. I think the important thing is after doing a thorough sweep of the cage keep an eye on them, make sure their pooping normally and eating ok.
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19Uhr30
Warbling Degu
Keep calm and DFTBA
Posts: 40
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Post by 19Uhr30 on Jan 3, 2012 1:36:36 GMT
One comes from softeners (phthalates) in some plastic which can be eluted in the stomach leaving sharp, dangerous pieces. As far as I can see this does not apply to Tesco bags. As far as I can see you can hardly get plastics without softeners. It would be colorless and really brittle. So I will stay in the "no gnawable plastics for degus"-camp. Since it was an accident here there is no sence in blaming yourself. The only thing you can do is keeping a close eye on your degus. Especially about whether they eat, poop or have blood in their droppings.
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Post by Jaiye on Jan 3, 2012 21:55:50 GMT
Mine have recently managed to chew through some HDPE plastic pipe that I use at my job for gas pipes ans they are still fine =)
It seems that all these things that are toxic and bad to degus are actually ok if eaten by accident! Obviously I wouldn't even deliberately give my googles anything known to be harmful (or that I'm not sure of!) but if they get hold of it accidentally (by being their usual inquisitive selves) then you cannot be blamed and they will normally be fine.
Hope they are all ok! =)
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19Uhr30
Warbling Degu
Keep calm and DFTBA
Posts: 40
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Post by 19Uhr30 on Jan 4, 2012 18:15:11 GMT
I would not be that sure that every degu is okay. A degu of a friend was in a critical condition for days because the eating of a plastic table cloth caused an intestinal obstruction.
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dylhendoog
Foraging Degu
I [url=https://postimg.org/image/dwub0fayl/][img]https://s6.postimg.cc/3zja7d3cx/heart.gif[/img][/url] My Goos
Posts: 58
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Post by dylhendoog on Jan 4, 2012 20:34:32 GMT
they are still fine, all still pooping fine all still active and seemingly ok. Going to vets on friday anyway because of Dylans infection so I'll ask him about it then
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