| NAME | CAUSES | CONSEQUENCES | PREVENTION | CURE |
| Genetical diseases - grey cataract (mostly older degus) picture » | mostly caused by diabetes which is either genetical or caused by feeding degu the wrong food | do not mate two related degus | unfortunately not possible tu cure, but if you start feeding such degu with diet food not to get diabetes worse, he can live a long time even with cataract. And they manage worse eyesight very well | |
| Diabetes | too much sugar in food, sometimes degu is born with this disease | they drink more water than normal and urinate more, often they have also cataracts | do not give them too much food containing sugars and fats, more in chapter Feeding | feeding them the proper diet, more in chapter Feeding |
| Tumors (mostly old degus) | these tumors are benign (not cancer). Increased frequency can be caused by the lowered immune system caused by mating related degus in the past (only a few degus were imported to our regions) | only visible if they are on the surface of the body. It doesn't seem to cause any pain to the animals | occasionaly add soya products to degu food | If you find a vet who has experience with small animals, operation can save degu's life |
| Liver problems (especially concerns females in fertile age) | bad and unhealthy food, too much fat in food | big changes in weight | do not pass them sunflower seeds, nuts and other fat food | |
| Parasites (ticks) | they can have them because of contact with other animals (mice, rats), or from hay | they often scratch themselves and have big bald spots | use a disinfectant (you can buy it in the shop, ask a shop assistant or a vet which is the best for small rodents) | |
| Cold, if not cured, then it can be followed by pneumonia | the degu can't blow his nose, so it's full and it's hard for him/her to breathe | take him/her to the vet so that he could give the degu antibiotics in time | ||
| Injury | conflict with another degu | usually cures itself in couple days. If the injury is large or curing lasts for more than a week, take the degu to the vet | ||
| Broken leg | like people - bad jump or something similar | you do not have to see it immediately, but he tries not to step on that leg | tell your degu to take better care next time :-) | this will cure after a month. It can not be put into a cast - the leg could die. In the meantime, when the leg cures, try to remove any possibilities for the degu to jump, climb etc. |
| Diarrhoea | most often because a degu have eaten too much lettuce or another fresh fruit or vegetable (which were probably sprayed with some chemicals) | instead of heavy droppings, the degu dejects a mess which you'll certainly notice | don't give him any fresh food - give him only hay, pellets or dried bread | mostly ends quickly, but if your degu doesn't want to eat for more than a day, take him to the vet |
| Constipation | hard to say, can be caused by food | the degu doesn't poop, is nerveless, depressed. His condition is getting worse quickly(!) | - | give the degu olive oil and massage his belly. If his condition doesn't imrove withing few hours, take him to the vet quickly, degus' metabolism is very quick and every single hour can mean a lot |
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