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Degu help. Breaking up food

Claire W

Claire W

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I am wondering if someone can help me please. My degu Geoff killed his brother back in January :( For the past couple of months, he has been breaking up his food in to a fine dust and has lost a lot of weight :( I’m pretty sure it isn’t his teeth as he’s eating all his veg (which consists of broccoli, carrot and green beans so hard foods), his treats which are also hard and his hay.

I have wondered if he’s doing it out of boredom or because he doesn’t like the food anymore or a medical issue?

We have thought about getting him a friend but single degus in rescue are few and far between and due to what he did to his brother, we’re worried he would do it again.

Any thoughts? I am very worried about him
 
I haven't had degus myself but I had a friend who had 4 of them and I looked after them whilst she was on holiday, I wonder if Geoff is lonely and so exhibiting a type of stereotypie behaviour. Of course I could be barking completely up the wrong tree. It could also be worth changing his food and seeing if this makes a difference. As he is still consuming hay I would agree that teeth are probably not the issue. Hope you get to the bottom of everything soon.
 
4GorgeousGuineas said:
I haven't had degus myself but I had a friend who had 4 of them and I looked after them whilst she was on holiday, I wonder if Geoff is lonely and so exhibiting a type of stereotypie behaviour. Of course I could be barking completely up the wrong tree. It could also be worth changing his food and seeing if this makes a difference. As he is still consuming hay I would agree that teeth are probably not the issue. Hope you get to the bottom of everything soon.
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Thank you. I do wonder if he’s lonely :( I could also try changing the food
 
Poppy the chinchilla would do the same with the dust but with her it was her teeth, couldn’t eat hay etc but if he’s eating hard treats and hay ok and no slobbers it doesn’t sound like that. Bless him, hope he’s ok and stops worrying his mummy xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
Poppy the chinchilla would do the same with the dust but with her it was her teeth, couldn’t eat hay etc but if he’s eating hard treats and hay ok and no slobbers it doesn’t sound like that. Bless him, hope he’s ok and stops worrying his mummy xx
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To be honest, I don’t think he has long left for this world :( He’s really lonely we think but there are no Male degus anywhere and he’s too territorial :( xx
 
Claire W said:
To be honest, I don’t think he has long left for this world :( He’s really lonely we think but there are no Male degus anywhere and he’s too territorial :( xx
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Yeah I totally understand, I’d worry too after what happened with him and Bobby. Really hope he’ll be with you a lot longer and he cheers up soon xx
 
So sorry you are in a difficult situation. I hope everything works out ok x
 
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