Degu health: signs of illness to watch for

What does a healthy degu look like?

The RSPCA describes a healthy degu as alert, with bright, clear eyes, clean ears, glossy fur, a clean tail and no droppings stuck around the bottom. Burgess adds interest in its surroundings: a well degu is curious and busy in daylight. The teeth are the most useful clue. The RSPCA says degu teeth are naturally yellow-orange and that white teeth can be a sign of poor health, and Woodgreen says healthy front teeth are dark orange and meet level, not at an angle.

PetMD gives an adult weight of 6 to 10 oz (170 to 280 g). Your own degu's normal matters more than the range, which is why weighing every week helps. Most degus live 6 to 8 years, PDSA says; our degu lifespan guide covers what changes as they age.

Daily and weekly health checks

The RSPCA asks owners to check degus every day for signs of illness or injury, and to check teeth at least once a week. It takes two minutes while you top up the hay.

• Eating normally and chewing hay, not dropping food
• Plenty of firm, dry, oval droppings
• Drinking about the usual amount
• No discharge from the eyes or nose, no wetness around the mouth
• Eyes clear, not cloudy or white
• Breathing quiet, mouth closed
• Fur glossy, no bald patches or scabs
• Tail whole, with no bare or bleeding skin
• Moving freely, no limping or sore feet
• Weekly: teeth orange, level and not overlong; weight noted

Signs of illness and how fast to see a vet

Degus are prey animals and hide illness, so small changes matter. PetMD's warning signs are reduced appetite, weight loss, laboured breathing, diarrhoea, trouble chewing, lethargy and any injury. The RSPCA says to ask a vet whenever you notice changes in behaviour, eating, drinking or toileting. This table sorts the signs by urgency, using what the RSPCA, PDSA, Woodgreen and Degutopia say.

Degu teeth problems

Teeth problems are on every charity's list of degu illnesses. Degu teeth grow all the time, and only plenty of hay and chewing keeps them worn down. PDSA says dental disease is caused mainly by a diet lacking hay, and Woodgreen adds an unsuitable home or inherited bad teeth.

Woodgreen lists the signs: one or both eyes weeping, drooling, playing with food without eating it, teeth turning paler, teeth growing apart or at an angle, a swelling or lump along the jaw, and fewer or smaller droppings. Degutopia adds weight loss and slow eating for problems with the back teeth, and a runny nose or pawing at the nose when overgrown roots press upwards.

What vets commonly do: the RSPCA says only a vet should correct overgrown or misaligned teeth. Degutopia describes vets trimming overlong teeth, sometimes regularly for life, and taking x-rays of the skull to check the roots. What you can do at home is prevention: unlimited hay, safe branches, measured nuggets and a weekly look at the teeth. See our degu diet guide.

Diabetes and cataracts

Degus are prone to type 2 diabetes, which is why the RSPCA says their diet must be low in sugar and fat. Woodgreen links it to unsuitable food, especially sugary treats such as fruit and chew bars. The signs are drinking much more, weeing much more, unexpected weight gain and cataracts, which show as cloudy or white eyes. PDSA and Degutopia list the same.

If you suspect diabetes, Woodgreen says to arrange a vet check and review the diet. Degutopia advises removing sugary foods straight away. Woodgreen is honest that improving the diet can help but health usually declines slowly once diabetes sets in, so prevention is far better than cure. Our page on degus and sugar goes into the detail, and what can degus eat lists the safe low-sugar foods.

Heatstroke

Degus can't sweat, Burgess says, and they overheat easily. The RSPCA and Burgess say to keep them at 20°C (68°F) or below. A degu lying flat and still, very sluggish and hot to the touch, is in danger.

1. Move it somewhere cool. Take the degu out of the heat into the coolest, shadiest room you have.
2. Cool it gently. Degutopia suggests holding the body, not the head, in cool water for a few minutes. Never use ice-cold water.
3. Offer water. Put the bottle within reach, but don't force water into its mouth.
4. Ring a vet straight away. Degutopia says to get vet help immediately, even if the degu seems to perk up.

Prevention is easy: keep the cage out of sun, away from radiators and conservatories, and in a cool room all summer. Our degu temperature guide has the safe range.

Breathing infections and pneumonia

PDSA lists discharge from the eyes and nose, sneezing, difficulty breathing and not wanting to eat as signs of respiratory disease, and blames dusty bedding, poor ventilation and dirty cages. Burgess warns that degus are susceptible to pneumonia and should be kept away from draughts. Degutopia describes wheezing, rattling and lethargy with pneumonia and says the outlook is poor, so early treatment matters. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics.

At home: use dust-free paper bedding, never cedar, wood shavings or cat litter, which PetMD says harm breathing. Keep the cage clean so ammonia doesn't build up, and never use talc in sand baths. Our degu bedding guide and cage cleaning routine cover both.

Tail injuries

A degu's tail skin can come off if it is grabbed or trapped, a defence against predators called degloving or tail slip. Woodgreen says the skin and fur can pull off the tailbone, or the whole tail can come off, and that it happens most with wrong handling or fights. Chewy says it doesn't grow back.

A degloved tail needs a vet straight away. Woodgreen says the vet will clean and repair the wound, and PDSA says amputation may be needed to prevent infection. Prevention is simple: never pick up a degu by its tail, keep tails clear of wheel spokes and doors, and separate degus that are really fighting. Our guide on handling and taming degus shows the safe way to lift one.

Other problems to know

• Sore feet (bumblefoot). Red or ulcerated soles, often from wire floors. PetMD and Degutopia say to use solid, cushioned floors.
• Ear mites and skin parasites. Scratching, head shaking, flaky skin. The RSPCA says to treat only as your vet advises.
• Constipation. Few, small, hard, dark droppings and straining. Check the water bottle works and hay is unlimited.
• Bald patches. Degutopia links them to diet, stress, allergy or parasites. Normal shedding is fine; bare patches are not.
• Liver disease and vitamin A deficiency. Both on the RSPCA's list of degu illnesses to know, and both tied to diet.
• Lumps. Any growing lump or fast weight loss needs a vet check.

Finding a vet for degus

Find an exotic vet before you need one, because many general practices don't treat degus. PetMD advises a check-up soon after you get your degus, then once a year, and the RSPCA asks for at least a yearly health check. Pet insurance can help with unexpected bills, as the RSPCA suggests. When you travel to the vet, the RSPCA says to put some used bedding in the carrier with hay and water. For the rest of the routine, see our complete degu care guide, and for behaviour changes that can be an early sign of pain, our degu behaviour guide.