Degus are generally not susceptible to certain diseases, but it can happen that a degu shows certain symptoms that indicate an illness. Here it is important to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to get help. For a quick diagnosis and proper examination, it is important to know which symptoms indicate which diseases.

• What does the daily and weekly health check look like?
• What are general symptoms of illness?
• How can I tell if my degu is not doing well?
• What are the symptoms that make a visit to a veterinarian necessary?

The short daily health check is used to quickly check whether all degus are present and are apparently in good shape. This is carried out in the morning or in the evening when feeding. If there are any abnormalities, the degu should be examined more closely -> see large health check.

Short daily health check-up - checklist

• Completeness of the groups
• Interest in the area
• Is one of the degus sitting in the cage with fluffed fur and an apathetic demeanor?
• Normal movements of the degus

• Normally shaped feces or signs of diarrhea

The big weekly health check should be carried out on all animals so that any illnesses can be detected early and the degus can be brought to the vet in good time. Detecting symptoms early can save the degu's life. While the daily health check only provides information on minor illnesses or stress, the weekly check gives you the opportunity to identify worse illnesses in good time. It is particularly important to examine each animal carefully and to take enough time for this.

Large weekly health checklist

• Weight control - A reduction in weight from 20g is a warning signal that something might be wrong. Feces should be checked more closely.
• Head - The ears should not be blocked, the eyes should be clear and not watery. A look into the mouth is necessary to see whether the degu can still eat properly or whether there is a misaligned tooth.     Tip: hold a treat upwards until the degu has to stretch; you can see the upper and lower incisors from below.
• Palpation - palpation of the abdomen, paying attention to thickening and gassing.
• Fur - The fur should always be smooth and shiny. If a degu is fluffed up and has a dull coat, there is usually a disease.
• After - This is the best place to see if the degu has diarrhea.
• Penis - Male degus can have a penis prolapse, with hair wrapped around it like a ring, which leads to severe swelling. Remove with an ear swab and baby oil, in serious cases to the vet.
• Feet and claws - If there is an injury, a claw has been torn out, the sand bath must be removed and the wound disinfected.

Here is a list of general symptoms of illness, these can indicate a serious illness. In any case, the degu should be presented to a qualified veterinarian immediately. Which symptoms can indicate which illness can be found in the next section.

A veterinarian must be consulted in the event of the following symptoms:

head

• Difficulty breathing, breathing noises (evidence of a cold, runny nose, pneumonia)
• Secretion from the nose

• Clouding of the eyes, clouding of the lens (evidence of diabetes)
• increased salivation (indication of dental problems)
• teeth that are too long, crooked or curled

body

• Fluffed fur
• Dandruff, bald patches in the fur
• Itching (indication of fungi, mites)
• Reddening of the skin and other skin changes
• Abscesses, swellings, or bumps (mostly from bite wounds)
• bloated stomach
• sticky anal region (indication of diarrhea)
• Symptoms of paralysis, cramps
• Swelling or other changes in the genital organs

behavior

• Apathetic sitting / lying
• Expression of painful sounds
• Loss of appetite

Others

• Blood in the urine
• Diarrhea, abnormalities in the feces
• continuous weight loss (mostly an indication of dental problems)

The most important signs that a degu is not doing well is:

• permanent / all day long fluffed fur and apathetic sitting / lying

If a degu shows these abnormalities, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately.

RodiCare - To regulate digestive processes or poultry food.

RodiCare instant - is a high-quality powdered complete feed for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus, which are temporarily unable to consume solid food on their own.

RodiCare acute - supplements the low-herb diet with valuable secondary plant substances, which regulate the digestive processes in a natural way.

Endoparasites are mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract, even if there are parasites that can attack other organs. Above all, giardia, coccidia, roundworms and tapeworms are found in faecal examinations. 

A common infection is that of Giardia, these parasites living in the intestines occur in numerous animal species and also in humans. These can suddenly cause diarrhea, which sometimes becomes bloody and / or slimy and can lead to the death of the degus. Giardia can only be detected through a fecal examination in the laboratory!

What are the symptoms if my degu has giardia?

• Diarrhea (sometimes with blood in the feces)
• Emaciation (despite a good appetite)
• Shaggy fur
• Weaknesses
• End-stage paralysis

Frequently an infestation is a b he associated with no clinical symptoms, therefore, a fecal examination is advisable.

What should I do?

• Collect fecal samples and send them to the laboratory for analysis

The fecal samples must be collected from all group members over different days and should not be contaminated. For this purpose, the degus are placed in a transport box (plastic covered with paper towels) for 2-3 days, daily for about 10 minutes, and the feces are then collected in cling film. 

A quick test carried out at the vet's on-site does not provide any meaningful results, these are 90% NEGATIVE, as Giardia are not excreted every day. 

The collection sample must therefore be sent to a laboratory - this is the only place where a full test can be carried out.

We have Giardia, what helps?

• Medication according to the vet - attention! The cleaning effort only helps in connection with the regular administration of medication to all degus
• Quarantine cages are recommended
• COMPLETE cage cleaning every 1-2 days
• with Halamid / Chloramin-T
• This cleaning cycle must be carried out for at least 30 days
• Wooden objects either in the oven at 100C ° for 30 minutes or discarded
• Wash stones and other furnishings with boiling water or Halamid and only put them back into the cage after the treatment has been completed

Update - new treatment template from the Veterinary Laboratory Freiburg - 2020

• 10 days of continuous administration of medication (Panacur) to all affected degus
• COMPLETE cage cleaning * see above *, remained the same
• This cleaning cycle is carried out for 12-15 days
• After 10 days of drug administration, feces are collected for the next 2-3 days and then sent to the laboratory for examination

required test: individual analyzes Giardia spp. Elisa group

Treatment is urgently needed as the other animals can become infected through body fluids, blood or faeces. As a rule, new pathogens are excreted with the faeces every 2-3 days, so regular cleaning is a MUST - otherwise you will not get away Giardia. 

Giardia and roundworms can be treated with fenbendazole (Panacur), which degus tolerate well; treatment with praziquantel has been described for tapeworm infestation. Coccidia should be treated with a sulfamethazine solution or sulfadimidine solution. Here, too, therapy of the whole group and the involvement of the cage should take place. Prophylactic care must be taken to ensure good hygiene and housing conditions, as well as adequate supply of vitamins and minerals, as animals with a strong immune system rarely develop serious clinical symptoms.

The following drugs are recommended after consultation with the veterinarian

• Baycox  is a prescription drug against coccidia (first choice for degus)
• Panacur  is a prescription drug for worm infections (anthelmintic)
• Kokzidiol SD powder is a prescription drug

Where does this disease come from?

• Contagion from other animals
• Genetic defect

What helps the degu (in addition to medication treatment)

• Vitamin drops for the water
• Regulation of the intestinal flora,  RodiCare  acute for the water, RodiCare instant as a porridge - alternative  Bene Bac
• RodiCare instant  as a porridge

• Halamid / Chloramin-T disinfectant (clean cage)
• additionally - Bactazol disinfectant (clean cage)

are too long or molars that are too long. Cellulosic feed (raw fibers), such as in hay, leaves, herbs and vegetables, wear the molars better than pellets and grain feed. A look at the teeth and a close observation of the eating behavior is important, as degus can lose weight quickly due to misaligned teeth and are therefore no longer able to take in enough food and starve to death.

Recommended treatment at the vet

• Gas anesthesia with examination of the pharynx (incisors and molars)
• X-rays to detect misaligned teeth
• Gas anesthesia, regular grinding / cutting of teeth
• Clindamycin (Antirobe, Sobelin)

Where does this disease come from?

• Bad diet, lack of structure-rich crude fiber (acquired tooth misalignment)
• Disease (retrograde growth)
• Trauma (e.g. hanging the incisors in the bars)
• Congenital tooth misalignment / genetic causes

Symptoms that can indicate dental problems

• Increased salivation, drooling
• Long chewing / gnawing on the food or careful eating
• Weight loss as a result
• White teeth, normal color is yellow / gold (from adult age)

What good is the degu

• Only after consultation with the veterinarian or in the event of severe weight loss:
• Feeding with soft food, fresh food, oat flakes (also softened in a little tea) - only if the degu can no longer chew (tooth loss)
• Lots of hay and green fodder (leaves, herbs, flowers) - if your teeth / molars are too long
• RodiCare acute for the water, RodiCare instant as a porridge - alternative Bene Bac
• RodiCare instant as a porridge

Stress, drafts, immune deficiency due to a diet low in vitamins or a multiplication of bacteria and viruses due to poor housing conditions are mostly the reason for the transmission of viral and bacterial pathogens. A respiratory disease can be recognized by the fact that the degu frequently sneezes and has nasal discharge, if the lungs are also affected, this can be recognized by whistling / rattling breath noises. Degus who appear to have a cold must see a vet immediately, as a harmless cold can quickly turn into life-threatening pneumonia.

The following drugs are recommended after consultation with the veterinarian

• Fluoroquinolones such as enrofloxacin (Baytril) or marbofloxacin (Marboxyl)
• Sulfonamides (sulfaperine / retardon)
• Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin Palmita)
• PetVital N500 or N300 are globolis based on homeopathy and help against febrile illnesses, pneumonia or shortness of breath

Where does this disease come from?

• stress
• Drafts, hypothermia
• Immune deficiency due to a diet low in vitamins
• poor housing conditions

Symptoms that can indicate a cold

• Increased sneezing (can also be caused by allergies)
• Discharge from the nose / eyes
• Refusal to eat
• Pressed breathing

What good is the degu

• Add chamomile / fennel tea to the water (diluted and at room temperature)
• Offer mint leaves / thyme as fresh food (give in moderation)
• Vitamin drops can also be added to the water
• Cleaning the cage, draft-free location
• Red light / heat lamp on one corner of the cage
• Go to the vet

Bite injuries after fights often occur in degus, mostly only superficial wounds that can be easily disinfected. However, if a degu has bitten properly, it can lead to hole-like wounds that have an entry and exit wound, similar to a piercing. In degus, minor injuries heal very quickly without human care, but the wound must be observed in order to detect possible inflammation at an early stage. Abscesses are a collection of pus caused by inflammation caused by a foreign body. An abscess must be checked regularly by the veterinarian and treated accordingly.

Recommended treatment at the vet

• Have the doctor clean the wound
• Antibiotic capsules that are pushed into the wound support the healing process

Symptoms that may indicate an inflammation / abscess

• Swollen area around the bite wound, hard knots
• Strong smell
• Hard stomach, changed behavior of the degus (loss of appetite, weight loss)

What good is the degu

• Remove the sand bath to keep the wound clean
• Disinfect with Octenisept wound disinfectant spray
• Tyrosur wound healing powder is very suitable for bites as first aid
• Consult a veterinarian in the case of deep or large bite wounds
• In the case of severe bite wounds, place the Degu extra and hold it on Zewa / paper towels, e.g. from Safebed paper wool / paper strips

Sprains in the paws can often occur in degus, but broken bones are rather rare. They are mostly caused by falls or getting stuck on furnishings such as bars, stairs, etc. The paw or leg swells up a lot and is usually very painful, so the degu completely relieves it.

If the degus still does not put any weight on the affected leg after 5 days, or if the leg protrudes in an unnatural way, a veterinarian should be consulted urgently. Lighter fractures, especially on the forelegs, can usually heal well by placing the Degu in a smaller cage with no climbing opportunities - ie no running bike, no branches, no run-out!

In the case of complicated fractures, on the other hand, parts of a limb or the entire limb may have to be amputated. A fracture is curable even in very bad cases, the degu does NOT have to be put to sleep. The vets often give strengthening injections over several weeks, the degu has to be kept on a level with little irritation until the bones are stable again.

A degu would never stop running / jumping or climbing - so the owner has to take responsibility and keep the degu calm!

Recommended treatment at the vet

• Metacam® is a prescription drug for dogs and cats, which the veterinarian uses for painful and inflammatory diseases and for operations
• Baytril® is an antibiotic for animals. It kills bacteria (bactericidal) and is used for infectious diseases.
• Painkillers and little exercise, antibiotics if necessary
• Surgery is usually not possible because there is a risk of too much blood loss and the bones are too thin

Symptoms that may indicate a sprain / fracture

• Swollen areas
• hobbling gait, paw drawn up

What good is the degu

• Remove the climbing facilities and the running bike so that flat surfaces are possible
• Antibiotic ointment Tyrosur® Gel without a prescription
• No run-out, generally little ventilation, possibly separate part of the cage
• Consult a vet if there is no improvement after approx. 5 days

Healthy droppings are oval and somewhat elongated and should be firm. If the droppings are elongated and narrow, this is often due to the hay. This can then possibly be too green, too dusty or too old. If the droppings are smaller, this is often due to pellets or the treats. Then you should slowly switch to another food. Diarrhea is easy to spot, the degu is sticky and it usually smells very strong. The droppings are then soft and stick to the furnishings, or it is completely liquid - here to the vet immediately. Diarrhea often results from giving too many treats or wrong food, sometimes also from the hay. A lot of animals are constipated without their owners knowing. The droppings are then smaller and the fewer come, the worse the constipation.Bacteria or other diseases can also be the cause of diarrhea.

A fecal analysis at the veterinarian's can help identify many diseases. To do this, you have to collect the freshest droppings possible over several days (3-4) and bring them to the vet, at best the degus are kept on paper towels during this time in order to avoid contamination of the samples. It is always helpful to describe all symptoms to the veterinarian, otherwise he will not know exactly what to examine the feces for. Some exams are not done by default.

The following drugs are recommended after consultation with the veterinarian

• Beaphar Santalina N6 is a remedy for intestinal disorders, bulging and diarrhea

• Sab Simplex has an antispasmodic effect, especially in young animals, and against bloating

• Petvital - N 700 diarrhea treatment

• RodiCare acute for the water, RodiCare instant as a porridge - Alternative Bene Bac, Critical Care
  
• RodiCare instant as a porridge

Where does this disease come from?

• Change of feed, wrong feed
• poisoning
• Bacterial infections
• Immune deficiency due to a diet low in vitamins
• poor housing conditions
• Parasite infestation

Symptoms that can indicate an illness

• Bonded anal region
• Strong smell
• Hard stomach, changed behavior of the degus
• Loss of appetite, severe weight loss
• Bloated stomach (usually from antibiotics)
• Dehydration
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Lack of hay
• Dental problems
• Liver disease

What good is the degu

• Add chamomile / fennel tea to the water (diluted and at room temperature)
• Red light lamp (only a maximum of 30 minutes a day)

• Offer enough water

• No fresh food

• Reduce feed to hay, leaves, herbs, grasses, oat flakes - no treats (nuts etc.)

• Clean the anus region (washcloth)

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in degus, diabetes mellitus is based on a lack of insulin, ie the blood sugar level rises. The symptoms of diabetes are increased drinking (increased fluid requirements), milky eyes and cloudy lenses. In addition to the opacity of the lens due to diabetes, the osmotic cataract in degus is also described, here the lens is also cloudy, the animals are also not completely blind. However, this lens opacity also occurs with normal blood sugar values or only slightly elevated values. Degus generally cope with cloudiness of the lens, but the indication of diabetes requires a change.

Recommended treatment at the vet

• Diagnosing diabetes, having blood drawn and examining by the vet
• Have blood sugar levels checked regularly
  
• Administration of insulin (insulin lente - only after consultation or instructions from the vet)

Where does this disease come from?

• Bad diet, sugary feed
• Genetic inheritance

Symptoms that can indicate diabetes

• increased drinking and eating fresh food
• frequent need to urinate
• Lens opacity
• Changes of character
• Nibbling on limbs
• Powerlessness, exhaustion, tiredness

What good is the degu

• Diet change
• Lots of green forage (hay, leaves, herbs, flowers), oil seeds, low-carbohydrate vegetables
• No sugary feed (fruit, raisins, starchy grain, drops, etc.), pellets, extrudates, flour seeds, dried root and tuber vegetables
• Gift of apimanu Diabgymna

• Avoid being overweight, exercise bike and run

In general, degus should never be held by the tail or lifted up. The degu's tail skin can become loose due to incorrect handling and accidents in the cage, sometimes even the entire tail. The rest of the leftover dries up in most cases and is then gnawed off by the degu or falls off by itself. The tail cannot grow back like lizards, so injuries to the tail should be avoided. Since the tail usually serves as a balance aid, degus with short tails are a little more clumsy.

Like minor flesh wounds, the loss or injury to the tail often heals without problems. At first it bleeds profusely, but this should stop quickly, if not - see a vet.

Recommended treatment at the vet

• Have a doctor clean the wound (usually not necessary)
• Disinfectant spray

What good is the degu

• Remove the sand bath to keep the wound clean
• Disinfect with Octenisept wound disinfectant spray
• Consult a veterinarian in case of inflammation

Vitamin deficiency usually results from an undersupply due to a diet that is not varied. Often this promotes other diseases. The addition of vitamins is only necessary after consultation with the veterinarian.

• Vitamin A deficiency, characterized by cramps, paralysis, reluctance to move and shortness of breath.
• Deficiency in vitamin B, recognizable in hair loss and skin diseases, intestinal diseases, growth disorders, paralysis, cramps and anemia.
• A lack of vitamin C can be recognized by bleeding gums and scurvy.
• Vitamin E deficiency can lead to indigestion and nosebleeds.

The following drugs are recommended after consultation with the veterinarian

• Versele-Laga Opti-Vit for rodents

Castration of degus is possible in both females and males. Male degus do not change their behavior, ie the sexual drive and / or aggressions or dominance remain unchanged. So it does not make sense to castrate male animals in the hope that this will make them calmer.

Since a female castration is a considerably larger intervention with correspondingly higher risks, it only makes sense if the animal has been diagnosed with a disease of the ovaries or the uterus.

It makes sense to keep degus in same-sex groups from the outset, if this is not possible or if a pair has been sold as two females in the "specialist trade", etc. castration of the male can be a good solution to the problem. It should always be taken into account here that the male is still able to reproduce for a few weeks after castration. A separation of the animals over approx. 8 weeks should therefore always be taken into account. If the degus are housed in such a way that they can still have contact through a grid, subsequent assembly is usually not a problem.

In general, neutering has such high risks that it is NOT recommended, a mixed group is not a prerequisite for degustation.

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