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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 your degu gets ill, but provided here is a complete table of 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.
Please note that all of the the degu parts listed below are a hyperlink so if you need quick info hyperlink if not take your time and scroll the page.
*Incisor teeth: do not have orange enamel but appear white or very pale yellow in colour. May
be other symptoms
Nutritive deficiency - inadequate intake of essential vitamins such as vitamins A, C and D or minerals such as calcium. Lack of fresh vegetable matter can also affect the color of the enamel.
Other- Severe advanced illness can affect the color of degu teeth
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 (NOT FRUIT). Check your degu regularly of signs of tooth whitening and any other signs of illness
*Incisor teeth: are orange apart from one which appears white. Degu may otherwise be asymptomatic
Enamel hypoplasia: Ameloblasts become damaged by trauma, infection or a tumor and can't produce enamel correctly. This means there is no enamel to be stained orange on the damaged tooth.
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.
* 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.
Always provide wood or mineral stones** to gnaw on and a good supply of dried food. Check teeth regularly for growth/damage. Trim long teeth with nail clippers (this should be done by a VET). Bathe sore tissue with saline solution daily until healed.
* Incisor teeth don't meet or line up properly. Teeth look crooked and don't wear down uniformly. Difficulty eating, may have a painful mouth. Can also affect the molars. Weight loss, swelling.
Dental malocclusion: This condition is usually congenital. Occasionally degus can develop dental malocclusion as a result of mouth trauma such as a broken jaw.
Do not breed from degus with this condition. 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.
* Degu makes a grinding noise with their teeth. May accompany difficulty eating and a painful mouth.
Bruxism: 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.
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.
* 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 D and calcium.
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
MOUTH
*Degu has a sore, painful mouth. Oozing from mouth. Loss of appetite/inability to eat, chew or groom properly. May have a smelly mouth.
Bruxism, Mouth ulcer, Mouth infection: Bruxism- see teeth section above.
Ulcers/infection- caused by poor oral hygiene. Degus are prone to mouth infections. May be a combination of this and molar laceration.
Check molar growth regularly. If the degu is prone to mouth infections, ask your vet about giving your degu hyper chlorinated water. Maintain good cage/feed hygiene. Ensure your degu is able to eat enough
* Bleeding gums, loose teeth, smelly mouth. May accompany other symptoms such as weight loss and hair loss.
Scurvy: Vitamin C deficiency
Check the diet contains a vitamin C supplement and change/supplement as necessary.
* 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.
MISC
* 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.
* 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 minutes to reduce temperature. Seek veterinary attention immediately.
* 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 behaviour.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 degu’s 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
* 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. 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 degu’s 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.
* Lethargy, hunched up, ruffled fur. May appear straining to pass feces. Defecates less often.
Constipation: Caused by insufficient water intake, dehydration, general illness, intestinal parasites.
Do not allow degus to overheat, provide a constant supply of fresh drinking water. Maintain good cage hygiene.
* Lethargy, soft/wet feces, dehydration, weight loss, hunched up, ruffled fur
Diarrhea: General illness, intestinal parasites, contaminated water supply.
Maintain good cage hygiene, change water on a regular basis, isolate sick degu from others. Seek veterinary attention immediately.
* 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 diabetes. 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, do not supply food 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.
* Degu appears very thin/skeletal, bones prominent, may be lethargic, weighs much less than is normal.
Anorexia: Various illnesses including internal parasites, hormonal imbalance and appetite loss. Also caused by inadequate diet and/or vitamin C deficiency.
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.
* Degu has difficulty moving, appears very stiff, may be in pain, avoids moving or moves very slowly
Arthritis: Old age and general joint degeneration. Also brought on by scurvy. Can be a congenital problem if developed at a young age.
Do not breed from degus with a history of early onset arthritis. Check diet for vitamin C supplementation
* 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 diabetes, 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. Infection- poor cage hygiene, foreign body inside ear.
Do not allow degus to develop diabetes. Do not breed from degus with a history of cataracts. 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
* Sudden death of female degu during late pregnancy
Pregnancy toxaemia: Exact cause not currently known, but often occurs in female degus with cataracts.
Never breed from a female degu with cataract
* 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.
* 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 agonistic / fighting degus. Avoid touching affected area, bathe wound daily in saline solution until healed.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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: 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
ABDOMEN
* 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 infection.
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.
STOMACH
* 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.
This is a biggy!!! if you have a degu and its a male but looks pregnant GO TO VET EMMEDIATLY as it could be a rupture bowel as my friend found out the hard way. Please note though I and even another thought it was a pregnant female :-(...our thoughts are with you T.J.
EARS
* Ear scratching more frequent than normal. Continual head-shaking. Loss of balance. Avoids having ear touched.
Inner ear infection, Parasitic ear mite: Infection- poor cage hygiene, foreign body inside ear. Mites- contamination from other degus, transmitted from infected hay.
Maintain good cage hygiene. Quarantine new degus and isolate infected degus. Treat hay that is brought from an open bale before feeding.
EYES
* Eyes appear cloudy, seem to have cotton-wool like substance over lens. Spots appear bilateral and cortical and vary from small areas to completely covering the lens. Degu has difficulty with vision, or disco-ordination.
Cataracts: Brought on by diabetes, is also congenital or a combination of both. Caused by sorbitol build up and/or structural deformity in the lens.
Do not allow degu’s to develop diabetes. Do not breed from degu’s with a history of cataracts, particularly females as sudden death can occur in late pregnancy(see pregancy toxaemia). Avoid feeding foods containing sugar.
* Eye(s) appear to have a red spot in the centre. Vision and/or coordination may be affected.
Ruptured Retina: 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.
* Eye(s) appear closed, swollen. Discharge from /around eye, weeping eye. Frequent washing /rubbing of eye.
Eye infection, Corneal irritation: Injury to eye or foreign body in eye/scratched eye. Poor cage hygiene.
Maintain good cage hygiene and remove all sharp corners/points from environment. Avoid touching eye. Place degu in dark room and isolate. Do not stress.
LEGS
* 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.
FEET
* Sore feet, lameness, not moving around as much as normal or irregular movement.
Bumble foot: Repeated abrasion of the soles of the feet. This condition is usually caused by a degu 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. Maintain good cage hygiene. Treat sore feet with saline solution to prevent infection. It may also be beneficial to rub affected areas with evening primrose oil or sunflower oil.
* 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 sand for degus to dig in or run on. Carefully trim very long nails with clippers, up to cuticle. Ask your vet to do this for you.
* 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 the 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 the environment. Maintain good cage hygiene. Bathe affected toe daily in saline solution until healed. Trim long nails (see nail growth).
TAIL
* Part of tail missing, tail appears shorter than normal or stump-like. Tail hanging off or broken.
Shed Tail: Various, degu’s 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.
RESPIRATORY TRACT
* 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 a degu's cage in a draft or cold/damp room. Isolate infected degu. Some degu’s 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) agent.
FUR
* 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 problem. 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 degus environment. Remember that fur shedding is perfectly normal during shedding season, but your degu should never appear bald
* 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.
SKIN
* 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 degu’s 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 acid(ask your vet).
REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
* Pregnant female appears ill and may be bleeding from the vagina. Traces of blood and/or immature fetuses 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.
*. Pregnant female has been trying to give birth to one pup for more than two hours with no signs of progress.
Breech birth: Incorrect presentation of the pup to the delivery passage, causing pup to become stuck and blocking further pups from being delivered.
Take to veterinarian immediately.
* 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 diet.
Ensure the correct dosage of vitamin C is calculated prior to supplementation. If in doubt, feed a ready-supplemented guinea pig food.
OWNER
* Talks constantly about degus. Has pictures of degu’s everywhere. Obsessed.
Deguitis: Frequent exposure to degus over a set length of time.
None- restricting access to degus after onset of Deguitis can prove fatal. Do not visit Chile. You will have a long and happy life surrounded by degus...
Please note that this is only a guide to the Health and Welfare of your degu.If your degu is sick you should take it to see a vet for proper care.This guide is only a diagnostic tool to help you possibly prevent a situation in the future.
