Ally

Are there things that a new owner should watch for with their degus, which are the most serious or life threatening?

Amethystbelle

Degus are pretty hardy compared to a lot of other rodents but they can and do become ill. Degus have a pretty high pain threshold and often the first sign they are ill is when they are REALLY ill. It is important for us as the owners to be vigilent for any signs something maybe wrong.

Firstly if you suspect your degu is ill then your first port of call should be your vets as only a vet can diagnose an illness properly and treat it. The following are other things you need to bear in mind.....

* Try to assess what is wrong and act accordingly.

* You will need to keep the ill degu warm as they crave heat when they are unwell and heat can help them recover. This can either be achieved by using a specially designed small animal heatpad or by using a well wrapped up hot water bottle placed in an ice cream tub. I also find it useful to move the cage to a warm spot in the house too.

* Keep the degu in a quiet room so not to disturb it too much and stress it out anymore then it already is. I always think it best if you can to leave it with its friend(s) so not to cause any distress by them being parted.

* You need to keep the degu hydrated as small animals can go downhill quick if they aren't kept hydrated. Syringe feed a little water every couple of hours if you can or you can combine this with something like critical care (which is a food formula). A few drops is all you need to keep the animal hydrated.

The main worry with degus is diabetes as it is something which they are prone to mainly down to poor breeding. Its important that a degus diet is as free from sugar as possible, they can handle small amounts of sugar occasionally as this can be broke down by the body but continued feeding of sugary food and treats over time can do irreversable damage. Signs to look out for are the onset of cataracts, cataracts can develop and have nothing to do with diabetes but if any of the following occur then its likely its diabete..... An increased thirst (excessive water consumption a diabetic degu can easily empty a medium sized water bottle on its own), weight loss or excessive gain (an overweight degu has more chance of developing diabetes as well as liver problems), lethargy. If you suspect your degu does have diabetes then cut out all sugary treats, feeds etc.... and talk to your vet

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