DEGUCARING FOR YOUR
DEGU Degus originates from Chile where they live in small colonies. They live in burrows and feed on the ground but love to climb. They are social animals and should not be kept/housed singly. Two of the same sex and from the same litter will generally live happily together. They are curious animals and are active during the day and night. They are slightly vocal animals and make chattering and warbling sounds. The lifespan is between 6-9 years. General care
Females are usually larger than males. Degus will groom themselves with their paws, and a dust bath should be provided. If the cage will not allow for a permanent dust bath, provide one for twenty minutes every other day. The teeth of healthy degus are orange, and white teeth are an indication of serious disease. If you want to make your degus happy try to scratch behind the ear. They will eventually allow you to scratch their bellies. Degus really love this. If you notice any problems or if your degus s teeth grow too long you should consult a vet. Degus will appreciate a weekly silver sand bath. Shopping List Aquarium with lid or cage Hay Food Food bowl Water bottle Bottle brush Litter Bedding Nest box Toys Dust bath and dust Book on care of degus This leaflet is produced by the Pet Care Trust, the national charity that promotes the benefits of pet ownership and education within the pet care industry. For more information, go to www.petcare.org.uk, or phone 08700 624 400. A Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered in England No. 666171. Registered Office as above. Registered Charity No. 1052488 © Pet Care Trust
Choosing and buying your degus Your degus should be at least 5 weeks old. A healthy degus should be : Bright and alert Have no signs of discharge from eye, ears, mouth and nose Have a clean anal area Have a glossy coat with no bald patches and no have sores on the skin Should have orange teeth Should have no signs of breathing problems Should move around the cage easily with no stiffness or staggering Should feel well covered and not bony Housing In common with other rodents degus keep their teeth from overgrowing by constant chewing and wooden cages are not ideal. A large aquarium makes a good home provided it has a secure lid and adequate ventilation. Recycled paper makes a good litter and a nest box lined with hay or shredded paper should be provided. The cage should have several different levels, as degus love to climb. The cage should be fitted with a large solid wheel for exercise and plenty of rocks for hiding places. Degus love to carry things around and will appreciate non-plastic toys. Try and buy a selection of toys and rotate them to avoid boredom Cages must be cleaned regularly but the use of disinfectants and soaps should be avoided. Feeding and Water Degus eat by holding their food in their front paws, but although they will eat almost anything their diet has to be carefully controlled as they are sugar intolerant, which may lead to diabetes. Special pellets are available from your pet shop but degus can be fed on chinchilla or guinea pig pellets as long as they do not contain molasses. The diet should be supplemented with soft hay. Soft fruits, peanuts, sunflower seeds and starchy foods should be avoided. But carrot, turnip and dandelion leaves can be given in small quantities. Fresh clean water must be available at all times and is best provided by a gravity-fed bottle. Handling Degus need to be handled with care. The tail is easily injured and if damaged the animal will nip off the affected part. Degus can shed part of their tail as a defense mechanism. This can pose a serious problem for degus as they use their tails for balance. |
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