As a degu owner, you know when your furry friend isn't their usual self. Of
course you should always take your degu to a vet as soon as you notice something isn't right,
but provided here is a complete table of common degu illnesses to allow you
to diagnose and (most importantly) PREVENT these illnesses
occurring.
>How to use this table<
Illnesses are sorted by body part, then symptoms, followed by the
technical name(s) and cause/prevention information. A prognosis section
is also included. Specific anatomy can be found on the appearance page.
JUMP TO: TEETH- Conditions affecting the molars/incisors MOUTH- Conditions affecting the soft tissue or whole of the mouth ALL- Conditions affecting the degu as a whole DIGESTIVE TRACT- Conditions of the stomach/gut, eating and digestion EARS- Conditions affecting the aural system EYES- Conditions of the ocular organs LIMBS- Conditions affecting the legs, joints and paws TAIL- Conditions affecting the vertebral appendage RESPIRATORY TRACT- Conditions of the airways FUR- Conditions affecting or involving the pelt SKIN- Conditions affecting the dermal surface ANY- Unspecific conditions that may affect various areas REPRODUCTIVE TRACT- Conditions affecting the genitalia or reproductive system
Incisor
teeth (adult degus) do not have orange enamel but appear white or very pale yellow in
colour. May be other symptoms.
Other
Nutritive
deficiency- inadequate intake of essential vitamins such as vitamins A, C
and D60
(particularly
carotenoids and antioxidants) or minerals
such as calcium60 and
iron187. Lack
of fresh vegetable matter can affect the colour
of the enamel60.
Other- Severe
advanced illness can be linked with pale degu teeth, this is thought to be
caused by a link between dietary carotenoids and immune system health.
Check
your degu is eating all the food you give them and not just picking out
the bits they like. Check the ingredients of the food for the vitamin and
mineral content. If you're worried, ask your vet about giving your degu
vitamin supplements. Always feed a variety of fresh vegetables weekly. To correct pale teeth it may be beneficial to give foods high in
carotenoids such as red pepper, parsley, rosehips, carrot and beetroot, as
well as veg high in iron such as broccoli, bok choi, peas and beetroot
leaves. Check your degu regularly of signs of tooth whitening and any
other signs of illness.
(Nutritive
deficiency)
REASONABLE
(Other) POOR to FATAL
Teeth
Incisor
teeth are orange apart from one which appears white. Degu may otherwise be
asymptomatic.
Ameloblasts
become damaged by trauma, infection60
or a tumor58 and can't
produce enamel correctly. This means there is no enamel to form the orange
colour on the damaged tooth. This condition may correct itself after a few
months depending on the extent of the damage.
Remove
all potential sources of mouth trauma from the degu's environment.
Maintain good cage hygiene and check your degu's mouth regularly to
prevent infection and spot any signs of tumors.
N/A
Teeth
Incisor
teeth are long, growing into the soft tissue of the mouth, causing mouth
ulcers and lacerations. Difficulty eating, painful mouth.
Incisor
growth
Teeth
are continuously growing, but are worn down when the degu gnaws and eats.
This condition can occur if the degu is not wearing down their teeth
properly or if an opposing incisor is missing. Incisor overgrowth can also
occur if the molars are overgrown (see molar malocclusion).
Always
provide wood or branches to gnaw on and a
selection of dried food/treats sparingly. Check teeth regularly for growth/damage. Trim long teeth with
clippers (this should be done by a VET). Bathe sore tissue with saline
solution daily until healed. See details below for molar
malocclusion.
GOOD
Teeth
Incisor/molar
teeth don't meet or line up properly. Incisors look crooked and don't wear
down uniformly, or are overgrown. Difficulty eating, may have a painful mouth.
Food may drop out of the mouth, or the degu takes a long time to eat. May
be excess salivation/dampness around the mouth. Weight loss over time.
Molar malocclusion
(misalignment)
This
condition is usually congenital, or
a result of an incorrect diet (not eating enough fibrous matter) Occasionally degus can develop dental malocclusion as a result of mouth
trauma such as a broken jaw56.
A
diet high in fibre is essential to help prevent molar overgrowth.
Ensure degus forage on hay throughout the day and do not over-eat hard
feed instead. Limit hard feed to the recommended 10 g portion daily per
degu. Do
not breed from degus with this condition56.
Check degu's teeth regularly and get your vet to trim any long teeth.
Degus with dental malocclusion need their teeth trimmed regularly to allow
them to eat properly.
REASONABLE
Teeth
Degu
makes a grinding noise with their teeth. May accompany difficulty eating
and a painful mouth.
Bruxism
Molar laceration
The
grinding noise is caused by the involuntary grinding of the molars (back
teeth). This can be caused by the growth of the molars not being worn down
properly. This can cause problems as the buccal
surface may become sharp and lacerate the cheeks causing painful mouth
sores. See molar malocclusion above.
Some
degus occasionally grind their back teeth together. This is nothing to
worry about. However, if the grinding accompanies difficulty eating or a
painful mouth you should get a vet to check your degu's molar teeth and
file them down. A degu that has this problem will need their teeth checked
regularly.
GOOD
Teeth
Blocked
nasal passages, pawing at the nose, nasal discharge, molar problems,
difficulty eating and eventually mouth-breathing/bloating.
Elodontoma
This
condition is not uncommon in degus, caused by tumour-like overgrowth of
the molar tooth roots into the nasal passages. May be unsymptomatic until
sinuses and nasal cavity are impacted. Typically congenital and may be
associated with molar malocclusion (see above). Root elongation can also be
caused by improper calcium:phosphorous dietary balance188.
Do
not breed from degus with a history of elodontoma or molar problems. Check
the molars regularly and if necessary ask your vet to x-ray the skull to
check molar roots. Check the calcium:phosphorous ratio of your degus' hard
feed.
POOR
to FATAL
Teeth
Broken
teeth, missing teeth, tooth is loose or wobbly. May have difficulty
eating. May have bleeding round the gum.
Tooth
loss
Dental fracture
Trauma
to the mouth (such as if the degu falls from something) can break the
teeth. Loose teeth may be caused by a fracture below the gum line and the
tooth may fall out later. The degu could be prone to brittle teeth (congenital).
There may be a nutritive deficiency affecting hardness of the teeth,
particularly vitamin D60
and calcium60, 56.
Remove
all potential sources of trauma from environment. If degu has repeated
tooth fracture, ask your vet about supplementing their diet with vitamins.
If fracture still occurs do not use the degu to breed from. Keep opposite
tooth short by trimming while any missing teeth re-grow. If the root is
damaged the tooth may not re-grow, so always check any shed teeth for
signs of root.
Degu
has a sore, painful mouth. Oozing from mouth. Loss of appetite/inability
to eat, chew or groom properly. May have a smelly mouth.
Excess salivation or dampness around mouth.
Bruxism
Mouth ulcer
Mouth infection
Bruxism/molar
malocclusion-
see teeth section above.
Ulcers/infection-
caused by poor oral hygiene, incorrect diet or infected laceration. May be a
combination of this and molar laceration.
Check
molar growth regularly. Maintain good cage/feed hygiene.
Ensure your degu is able to eat enough and that they are eating enough hay
throughout the day- restrict hard feed if necessary.
REASONABLE
Mouth
Degu
is gasping, sucking air in through the mouth, reluctant to eat or take
fluids.
Mouth
breathing
Elodontoma
Sinus infection
Mouth
breathing is the process by which degus attempt to suck in air through the
mouth due to obstruction in the nasal passages. Air ends up in the stomach
and trapped in the intestines, causing excessive bloating. Degus do not
usually recover from this stage.
Monitor
your degu's teeth regularly, if necessary ask your vet to x-ray the skull
to monitor molar tooth roots (elodontoma). Maintain good cage hygiene to
help prevent sinus infections.
POOR
TO FATAL
Mouth
Degu
has blood around their gums. Painful mouth.
Mouth
trauma
Trauma
to degu's mouth. See tooth loss section above.
Remove
all potential sources of trauma from environment. Bathe any fresh wound in
saline
solution daily until healed.
Degu
does not appear to be their usual self. Unresponsive, hunched up, fur
ruffled, generally looks unwell. Often accompanies other symptoms of
illness.
Lethargy
Lethargy
nearly always accompanies another illness. Often it is the first indicator
to you that your degu is unwell, but is normally shown in advanced or
severe illness. Lethargy is the body's way of attempting to cope, by
shutting down non-essential systems when the illness has overloaded the
degus body.
Depends
on the illness. Regularly check your degu for signs of disease and avoid
letting conditions cause lethargy where possible. Don't handle a lethargic
degu more than necessary and avoid stressing.
POOR
All
Extreme
lethargy, degu appears dead. Feels very hot to the touch, ruffled fur.
Heatstroke
Degu's
cage placed in a hot room/in direct sunlight. Water supply restricted,
inadequate ventilation.
Never
place cage in direct sunlight or a hot room. On hot days, move to a cooler
part of the house and ensure adequate ventilation. Ensure constant supply
of fresh water. A degu with heatstroke should be submerged in cool water
(apart from head) for a few minutes56 to reduce temperature. Seek veterinary attention immediately.
POOR to FATAL
All
Excessive
drinking. Large water bottle needs to be refilled approximately daily for
one degu.
Diabetes
Diet alteration
Dehydration
Kidney disease (Nephritis)
Diabetes-
mostly congenital and often
triggered by regular feeding of sugar-containing foods.
Diet alteration-
increases in the amount of protein a degu consumes can increase their
drinking behaviour42.
Dehydration- degu
is too hot and does not have access to enough drinking water.
Nephritis- often
occurs with age, cancer. Leads to kidney failure.
Do
not breed from degus with a history of diabetes. Do not feed degus sugar-containing foods on a regular basis. Cut out all sugar from diabetic
degu's diets. Avoid sudden diet changes and avoid feeding high-protein
foods on a regular basis. Always provide good access to clean, fresh
drinking water and do not place your degu's cage in a hot room.
(Diabetes)
POOR
(Diet
alteration) GOOD
(Dehydration)
REASONABLE to FATAL
(Nephritis) FATAL
All
Excessive
urination
Diabetes
Kidney disease (Nephritis)
Incontinence
Diabetes-
mostly congenital and often
triggered by regular feeding of sugar-containing foods.
Nephritis- often
occurs with age, cancer. Leads to kidney failure.
Incontinence- may
be congenital and caused by a
weak bladder, often age-related.
Do not mistake any
of these conditions for scent marking, which degus frequently perform by
passing small amounts of urine in particular areas.
Do
not breed from degus with a history of diabetes. Do not feed degus sugar
containing foods on a regular basis. Cut out all sugar from diabetic
degu's diets. Do not breed from degus with a history of incontinence.
(Diabetes)
POOR
(Nephritis) FATAL
(Incontinence) GOOD
All
Lethargy,
hunched up, ruffled fur. May appear straining to pass feces. Defecates
less often. Droppings appear small, black and very hard.
Constipation
Caused
by insufficient water intake, dehydration, general illness, intestinal
parasites56.
Do
not allow degus to overheat, provide a constant supply of fresh drinking
water. Maintain good cage hygiene and a good diet.
General
illness, intestinal parasites56,
gastrointestinal infection, liver failure, contaminated water supply.
Maintain
good cage hygiene, change water on a regular basis, isolate sick degu from others. Seek veterinary
attention immediately.
REASONABLE
to POOR
All
Degu
appears grossly overweight/fat, weighs a lot more than is normal, difficulty
moving, lack of activity.
Obesity
Hepatitis
Diabetes
Obesity-
overfeeding/unrestricted food supply. Feeding wrong diet. Also caused by
other conditions such as hepatitis and diabetes24b.
Hepatitis-
decreased liver function, diet too high in protein and/or fat.
Diabetes- mostly congenital
and often triggered by regular feeding of sugar-containing foods.
Moderate
the amount of food your degus are given to the recommended 10 g per degu
per day, do not supply hard feed ad lib. Do not
feed diets high in protein/fat (avoid diets containing nuts and seeds). Do
not feed fatty or protein rich foods on a regular basis/in large amounts.
Do not feed sugar containing foods on a regular basis. Do not breed from
degus with a history of diabetes. Remember that if your degu is female and
has gained weight quickly, she could be pregnant. Maintain good
activity/exercise levels by providing a solid running wheel and daily free
time out of the cage.
POOR to FATAL
All
Degu
appears very thin/skeletal, bones prominent, may be lethargic, weighs much
less than is normal.
Anorexia
Various
illnesses including internal parasites, hormonal imbalance, molar/teeth
problems and appetite
loss. Also caused by inadequate diet and/or vitamin C defficiency63.
Check
your degus regularly for signs of disease. An anorexic degu should be fed
more than usual in order to encourage weight gain, and the diet should be
checked for vitamin C content and changed if necessary. Always ask your
vet to check the molars to be sure there is no underlying teeth problem.
POOR
All
Lack
of coordination, degu frequently bumps into objects, falls over, is unable
to right itself, doesn't walk in a straight line.
Stroke
Inner ear infection
Cataracts-
brought on by diabetes24b,
is also congenital
or a combination of both. Caused by sorbitol build up and/or structural
deformity.
Stroke- caused by
cerebral haematoma (vessel rupture) or embolisation (particles blocking
cerebral blood supply). Usually factor of old age or obesity, occasionally
neurological trauma at any age or congenital defect in young degus.
Infection-
poor cage hygiene, foreign body inside ear, laceration in ear.
Do
not allow degus to develop diabetes. Do not breed from degus with a
history of cataracts or stroke at a young age. Avoid feeding foods containing sugar, fat or protein
in large amounts or on a regular basis. Do not prolong unnecessary
suffering of a degu that has suffered a severe stroke. Maintain good cage
hygiene.
(Cataracts)
REASONABLE
(Stroke) FATAL
(Infection)
GOOD to REASONABLE
All
Degu
has difficulty moving, appears very stiff, may be in pain, avoids moving
or moves very slowly.
Arthritis
Old
age and general joint degeneration. Can be a
congenital problem if developed at a young age.
Do
not breed from degus with a history of early onset arthritis.
POOR
All
Symptoms
are unclear, general lethargy, loss of appetite and unresponsiveness.
Rapid weight loss. May vary depending on location.
Cancer
Hepatoma
Carcinoma
Old
age, contact with carcinogens. May have a congenital element. A variety of
carcinomas and metastases have been identified in the degu118.
None
in advanced stages of illness (usually when symptoms detectable). Do not
breed from a degu with a history of cancer.
FATAL
All
Sudden
death of female degu during late pregnancy.
Pregnancy
toxaemia
Exact
cause not currently known, but often occurs in female degus with cataracts36.
Distended
stomach, bloating, lethargy. Degu appears fatter than normal, may show
pain response when picked up.
Gastrointestinal
bloating
Pregnancy
Bloating-
unsanitary living conditions, stress, feeding too much green vegetable
matter. May also be caused by protozoal parasite infection56.
Bloating develops secondary to mouth-breathing (see mouth section above).
Pregnancy- contact
with male degus.
Maintain
good cage hygiene, avoid unnecessary stress, feed fresh greens in small
amounts twice a week. Isolate infected degus. Avoid handling bloated
degus, if lethargic seek veterinary attention immediately.
GOOD
to POOR
Digestive
Tract
Degu
is not eating, not interested in food. May be lethargic.
Loss
of appetite
Various
reasons. If degu is otherwise asymptomatic, cause could be mouth trouble
such as infection or bruxism (see mouth section), or bad food.
Maintain
good cage/feed hygiene. Check your
degus teeth regularly for broken/loose teeth or signs of infection, ulcers
and molar growth. Discard feed that has a musty smell or has been stored
in the open/in a damp environment. Monitor degu that is not eating for
other potential symptoms.
Eyes
appear cloudy, seem to have cotton-wool like substance over lens. Spots
appear bilateral and cortical36
and vary from small areas to completely covering the lens36.
Degu has difficulty with vision, or discoordination.
Brought on by
diabetes24b,
is also congenital
or a combination of both. Caused by sorbitol build up and/or structural
deformity in the lens.
Do
not allow degus to develop diabetes. Do not breed from degus with a
history of cataracts, particularly females as sudden death can occur in
late pregnancy36
(see pregancy toxaemia). Avoid feeding foods containing sugar but feeding
veg containing antioxidants may be beneficial111.
REASONABLE
Eyes
Eye(s)
appear to have a red spot in the centre. Vision and/or coordination may be
affected.
Caused
by severe/sudden trauma to the head. Redness due to rupture of blood
vessels inside the eye.
Remove
all potential sources of danger from environment.
Injury
to eye, foreign body in eye/scratched eye, or infection of the sinus/lacrymal
ducts. Poor cage hygiene.
Maintain
good cage hygiene and remove all sharp corners/points from environment.
Bathe sticky eyes in warm water only (boil water first to sterilise and
allow to cool) and cotton bud twice daily, treat with antibiotics where necessary. It may
be beneficial to place the degu in dark room56. Do not stress.
Degu
limping, holding one foot up when walking, painful to touch leg, less
mobile than usual.
Lameness
Various
trauma to legs including dangerous wheels, falls, sprains and strains
during exercise, broken bones.
Never
use a wire frame/open spoke wheel. Remove all other potential hazards from
cage. Restrict activity of a lame degu and avoid handling. Broken bones
will often heal themselves with cage rest (see fractures section).
GOOD
to REASONABLE
Limbs
Sore
feet, ulcertation on soles, lameness, not moving around as much as normal or irregular movement.
Pododermatitis
(Bumblefoot)
Repeated
abrasion of the soles of the feet and/or standing on high-pressure
surfaces (e.g. mesh) for long periods. This condition is usually caused by
degus walking on exposed wire mesh floors of cages over long periods of
time. Can be aggravated by poor cage hygiene and possible link with
diabetes.
Cover
all exposed mesh surfaces with lino or something similar. Be sure to use a
solid based cage. Maintain good
cage hygiene. Treat sore feet with saline
solution to prevent infection. It may also be beneficial to rub
affected areas (unbroken skin only) with evening primrose oil or sunflower oil86.
GOOD
Limbs
Degu
is not walking correctly, may avoid using certain areas of foot. Limping,
getting caught on fabric/carpets, or possibly accidentally scratching
other degus.
Nail
growth
Lack
of rough surfaces to wear nails down. Rear nails often grow more rapidly
and wild degus encourage nail wear through digging.
Where
possible, provide sandy substrate for degus to dig in or run on. Long
nails can be worn down by placing a small square of fine sandpaper in the
running wheel for a few days- remove after this to avoid sore feet.
GOOD
Limbs
Bleeding
from/around nail. Toe may be swollen and infected. Avoidance of
weight-bearing on affected foot, limping. Avoids having area touched.
Nail(s) missing.
Torn
nail
Infected nail
Trauma
to nail, may become infected through poor cage hygiene. Long nails may
become torn if caught on fabric/carpet.
Remove
all potential sources of damage from environment. Maintain good cage
hygiene. Bathe affected toe daily in saline
solution until healed.
Various,
degus shed their tail as an anti-predatory mechanism when restrained by
the tail. Could also be caused by trapping the tail in something, such as
a wheel.
Remove
all hazards from environment. Do not hold degu by the tail (except near
the base of the tail). Avoid using wheels with spokes in the cage. A degu
will bite off the remaining part of the tail itself. The tail will never
re-grow.
Difficulty
breathing. Audible wheezing/rattling sound to breathing at rest/after
exercise. Frequent sneezing. May be discharge from nose/mouth. Lethargic.
Respiratory
infection (Pneumonia)
Allergy
Pneumonia-
often brought on secondary to allergy, also caused by exposure to drafts
and/or cold temperatures or damp environments.
Allergy- exposure
to dust or other allergens/respiratory irritants such as talc.
Never
place degu's cage in a draft or cold/damp room. Isolate infected degu.
Some degus are allergic to certain irritants, particularly dust. Buy dust
extracted bedding and hay, substitute sawdust for paper litter. Never use
talc in dust bath as not only is it a respiratory irritant, it may also be
a carcinogenic (cancer causing) agent55.
Hair
falls out in large quantities, large areas of baldness, patchy fur
coverage.
Allopaetia
Stress
Allergy
External parasites
Allopaetia-
not common in degus but can occur due to a poor diet or lack of iron in
the diet. Can be congenital and
brought on by stress. May be a thyroid problem71.
Stress- numerous
causes, specific to each individual.
Allergy- caused
by exposure to an allergen specific to the degu. Could be a wide variety
of allergenic substances such as disinfectant, sawdust, or dietary
component.
Parasites-
usually mites or fungal ringworm affecting the skin. Often contracted
through direct contact with infected degu/cage or transmitted from hay.
Quarantine
new degus before allowing contact. Treat hay
that is brought from an open bale before feeding. Isolate infected degu.
Determine source of allergen by process of elimination and remove from
environment. Check degus diet and change if necessary. Do not breed from a
degu with a history of allopaetia. Determine the source of stress and
remove from the degu's environment. Remember that fur shedding is perfectly
normal during shedding season, but your degu should never appear bald.
(Allopaetia) GOOD
to REASONABLE
(Stress) REASONABLE
to POOR
(Allergy) GOOD to
REASONABLE
(Parasites) GOOD to
REASONABLE
Fur
Bald
patches appear on the degu, especially around the forepaws, forelegs, hind
paws or around the eyes and back/head, possibly on the tail.
Fur-pulling
This
is a common behavioural disorder or 'stereotypy' in degus, formed due to
environmental stress of some kind. The degu will sit and gently pull out
hairs with the teeth during grooming bouts (themselves or cagemates).
Reduce
stressful exposure to the degu's environment, for example this could be
caused by too small a cage size, cage visited by dog or cat, moving the
position of the cage, loss of a cagemate, being housed in isolation, not
let out for exercise often- there are many sources. See the fur-pulling treatment guide for further info.
N/A
Fur
Dull,
dry coat, fur matted and sticking up in places. Coat appears greasy, may
be smelly.
Nutritive
deficiency
Obesity
Dental fracture/malocclusion
Various
causes depending on circumstance. Degu may be unable to groom themselves properly
due to mechanical issues, or diet is inadequate. May also be caused by
lack of dust bath access.
Always
provide regular access to a dustbath, at least twice a week. Always check
to make sure your degu is able to groom themselves properly and look for
any other signs of illness. Ensure your degus are getting a correct
diet.
Degu
appears to be scratching self more than normal. May be (patchy) fur loss.
Dry, flaky skin or areas of moist skin. Skin appears sore/red.
External
parasites
Allergy ()
Hormonal imbalance
Parasites-
usually mites or fungal ringworm affecting the skin. Often contracted
through direct contact with infected degu/cage or transmitted from hay.
Dermatitis- caused
by exposure to an allergen specific to the degu. Could be a wide variety
of allergenic substances such as disinfectant, sawdust, or dietary
component.
Hormonal imbalance-
triggered when the normal levels of hormones are upset, for a variety of
reasons including depression, infertility, stress, etc.
Quarantine
new degus before allowing contact. Treat hay
that is brought from an open bale before feeding. Isolate infected degu.
Determine source of allergen by process of elimination and remove from
environment. Treat dry skin with mild moisturiser and moist skin with saline
solution daily until healed. Avoid potential causes of hormone
imbalance such as depression and stress. Supplement an itchy degu's diet
omega 3 fatty acids, such as linolenic acid70
(ask your vet).
Smelly
area, red, sore, may be swollen. Painful to touch. May be oozing, or have
a pussy discharge.
Infection
Bacterial
growth on a wound/sore. Caused by poor hygiene and lack of attention to
wound.
Maintain
good cage hygiene, examine degus regularly for cuts and scrapes. Treat an
infected wound with saline
solution daily until healed.
GOOD
to REASONABLE
Any
Open
wound, sore, bleeding area, blood stained fur, cut/scratch, degu
grooming/licking area, painful to touch.
Laceration
Various
trauma including accidents, fighting, excess scratching or long nails.
Check
nail growth regularly. Examine itchy degu for external parasites or
dermatitis. Remove all sharp objects/surfaces from environment. Separate fighting
degus. Avoid touching affected area, bathe wound daily
in saline
solution until healed.
Depends
on deepness/severity
Any
Blood
loss from any part, degu avoiding area, in pain.
Bleeding
Various
trauma.
As
for laceration, avoid touching area directly. In severe cases, apply
gentle but firm pressure to help stop bleeding. Bathe wound daily in saline
solution until healed.
Depends
on deepness/severity
Any
Lethargy,
swelling, pain, loss of appetite, degu is immobile.
Internal
bleeding
Severe
trauma that may involve internal organs. Internal rupture of vital
tissues.
Remove
all potential sources of trauma from environment. Do not handle a degu
with suspected internal injuries and monitor regularly. Do not prolong any
unnecessary suffering.
POOR
to FATAL
Any
Swellings
or hard growths appear, lumps or bumps can be felt. Swellings grow
rapidly. Lethargy, weight loss and loss of appetite may accompany these
symptoms.
Cancer
Carcinoma
Tumors
can be caused by a variety of things. Can be congenital,
but risk of cancer increases rapidly with old age. Tumors may also be
triggered by inhalation or ingestion of a carcinogenic substance.
Prevent
all exposure to known and suspected carcinogens such as tobacco and talc.
Do not breed from degus with a history of cancer or unexplained growths.
In advanced cases, do not prolong unnecessary suffering.
FATAL
Any
Unable
to move, may appear to be dead. Limb(s) immobile, dragging/lifeless limb
or tail, cold limb(s).
Paralysis
Caused
by stroke or nerve damage, or trauma to limb/tail.
Remove
potential sources of trauma from environment. In severe cases, do not
prolong unnecessary suffering.
(Depending
on affected part) REASONABLE to FATAL
Any
Degu
may be limping, adverse reaction to handling, pain, may have cold limb(s)
or difficulty breathing.
Fractures
Various
trauma and accidents.
Remove
all hazards from environment. Do not handle degu and restrict activity by
cage rest. Isolate from other degus where possible. If fracture is
internal or severe, do not prolong unnecessary suffering.
(Depending
on severity) REASONABLE to FATAL
Any
Object
sticking into skin or eye. Wounds do not heal and take much longer than
usual to close. Infection not clearing.
Foreign
body
Caused
by an object becoming lodged in the degu, preventing normal healing from
occurring.
Remove
all potential sources of danger from environment. Ask your veterinarian to
remove the foreign body, then treat the wound as normal.
Male
degu cannot retract penis, penis and sheath swollen and sore, degu
constantly cleaning area.
Prolapsed
penis
Infection
in the penis/sheath or trauma causing swelling and prolapse.
Maintain
good cage hygiene. Seek veterinary advice immediately, treatment requires antibiotics,
anti-inflammatory drugs and possible surgery.
REASONABLE
to POOR
Reproductive
tract
Pregnant
female appears ill and may be bleeding from the vagina. Traces of blood
and/or immature foetuses found in cage.
Abortion
Various,
including trauma to abdomen, stress and infection.
Avoid
handling females in late pregnancy. Remove all potential sources of trauma
and restrict amount of climbing/jumping activity in late pregnancy.
Maintain good cage hygiene.
REASONABLE
Reproductive
tract
Pregnant
female has been trying to give birth to one pup for more than two hours
with no signs of progress.
Breech
birth, abnormal foetus
Incorrect
presentation of the pup to the delivery passage, causing pup to become
stuck and blocking further pups from being delivered.
None.
Take to veterinarian immediately.
POOR
Reproductive
tract
Male
has mated repeatedly with female(s) but after at least 90 days there are
no signs of pregnancy or pups.
Reproductive
failure
Can
be triggered by excess vitamin C supplementation in the male's diet63,
sperm degeneration in old age or a congenital abnormality.
Ensure
the correct dosage of vitamin C is calculated prior to supplementation. If
in doubt, feed a ready-supplemented guinea pig food. Avoid supplementing
drinking water where dosage is hard to quantify.