Nanna broke her hind paw :-(

[Morgaine]

Well, we don't really know what happened, but this morning when we woke up Nanna was limping and not using her left hind paw at all She must have taken a fall, but we don't know when.

I consulted my books on degus and it said that in the rare instances of broken limbs degus should be taken to the vet. It said that the only thing he could do was give her painkillers and then she should be keept quiet and not move around a lot.

We don't want to give her painkillers as I know of several people who had that done to small pets and they died from it. Plus if the pain is gone she will move around a lot and the break wont heal as fast or at all.

We moved her into a little one level hamster cage and surplied her with soft bedding, food and water. Right now she is sleeping next to me and stirring occasionally.

We are concerned about her babies and hope that they will be okay. We tried moving one of them with her as a test, but it schrieked and did not like going to a new place one bit. So we moved it back to the big cage and auntie Luna is now taking care of them (I just saw her nursing them).

Not really sure I have any specific question here, I think I just needed to get it of my chest. I feel so bad for Nanna

[RodentzRule]

Awww, poor nanna, get well soon *hugs*

[Morgaine]

Well, she spent the entire day in the hamster cage resting and not moving at all except to eat or drink.

This evening she started moving around more and putting some weight on her foot again. She is still not 100%, but she looked better and she started to climb the cage walls. So we figured if she was well enough to climb the walls and wander around, she was well enough to go back. So we put her back in the cage (before they all forgot her and she would have to be re-introduced) and the reunion was heartwarming The babies squealed with joy that mommy was back and started nursing right away. Even Luna was thrilled to see her.

She is nursing the babies right now, and we are hoping that a good nights sleep will do the rest for her. Maybe she just sprained it or maybe they just heal really fast? This was a first for us.

[MañasMom]

You should have taken her to the vet. In fact, you still should. Degus hide pain very well, being that they are a prey species. So she has no choice other than to get back up and try to function even if it is killing her, because she is afraid of predators.


If she hurt 1 paw, it is also quite likely and possible she hurt something else, even something internally that you can't see. You need to get her examined by a vet who knows about Degus.

[Morgaine]

I'm sorry, but what is he gonna do to help her? She is a small animal, painkillers or an operation might kill her. So the only thing he would do is empty out our pockets. And besides we don't have any vets who are experts on degus nearby.

She is fine now by the way. And I can tell when she is in pain, she was not hiding it the first day. She is doing fine now, walking normal.

[MañasMom]

Degus may be small, but they deserve the same kind of respect and care that a larger pet deserves. You'll never know what a vet can do for her because you never took her.

[Morgaine]

My point is that we don't need to take her anymore, she is perfectly fine. She is running the wheel, jumping up and down the levels in the cage and making high jumps. She is fine! I think it was just a sprain and the rest in confinement did her a world of good.

And we do respect and love our degus, enough so not to put them through the trauma of driving them clear across town to someone who wont know what to do with a small animal like that, and who will either operate or medicate them, both being unnatural for their small bodies. I'm sorry, but we just don't believe in vetenarian care for small animals like degus. We take care of them the best we can, we feed them and love them, give them treats, toys and talk to them. If they have wounds we disinfect them, and if they limp we isolate them to heal. But we do not subject them to medicine or operations. It is our choice to make, and we do not need a lecture for doing what we feel is right.

Who are you to judge what is right or wrong? Maybe the degus would prefer not to be taken to the vet, how are you ever gonna know. So don't tell me you way is right and ours is wrong, because you just can't know for sure. And I really think it's rude for you to imply that I don't love or respect my degus because we don't take them to a vet!

[MañasMom]

Well, if you're concerned about doing what is "unnatural" for a Degu, I think being in a cage is about as unnatural as it gets.

[Mark28]

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgaine My point is that we don't need to take her anymore, she is perfectly fine. She is running the wheel, jumping up and down the levels in the cage and making high jumps. She is fine! I think it was just a sprain and the rest in confinement did her a world of good. And we do respect and love our degus, enough so not to put them through the trauma of driving them clear across town to someone who wont know what to do with a small animal like that, and who will either operate or medicate them, both being unnatural for their small bodies. I'm sorry, but we just don't believe in vetenarian care for small animals like degus. We take care of them the best we can, we feed them and love them, give them treats, toys and talk to them. If they have wounds we disinfect them, and if they limp we isolate them to heal. But we do not subject them to medicine or operations. It is our choice to make, and we do not need a lecture for doing what we feel is right. Who are you to judge what is right or wrong? Maybe the degus would prefer not to be taken to the vet, how are you ever gonna know. So don't tell me you way is right and ours is wrong, because you just can't know for sure. And I really think it's rude for you to imply that I don't love or respect my degus because we don't take them to a vet!

I think what ManasMom was trying to say is some things need a vet to look at and there is now arguing about it. For instance if your degu has overgrown back teeth, you have no choice but to take them in to have it the teeth trimmed.

If you do not, then the dugu will have problems eating and will eventually die. To keep them from going to a vet in that case is cruel.

In your case however, since the degu seems to be doing fine, there would be no need to take them in.

You just have to understand that for some problems, you really do need to have a vet check the animal out.

Ive had my degu in for teeth checkups several times and they put her under and she always recovers perefectly fine, and she is a 4 year old degu.

[Jennicat]

Morgaine, painkillers will NOT kill a small animal if they're given in the correct dosage. We have given painkillers to hundreds of small animals of all species (including degus) and have never had one die from painkillers. I'm not sure where you get the idea that painkillers are dangerous, but how would you like to have a broken leg with no choice but to drag yourself around on it without even the benefit of medication to help you bear the pain?

If you want a natural degu, don't own a degu. Pets aren't natural. You are responsible for them, and you have to put their needs before your own personal beliefs.

[MañasMom]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jennicat If you want a natural degu, don't own a degu. Pets aren't natural. You are responsible for them, and you have to put their needs before your own personal beliefs.

Yup. Exactly. When we chose to bring pets into our lives we are taking the responsibility on ourselves to care for them. We made that choice, so then we have to be responsible for it.

[Morgaine]

Fine, all you point are taken, and of course we will evaluate the situation each time as it comes along. But as I said, she healed up nicely in just under a day, so it was most likely not broken.

And sorry, but the how would you like it without painkillers speach does not apply in this household. Niether my husband nor myself take any kind of painkillers, we endure ;-)

Of course we would take her in if we thought there was something to be done. And had she not healed up on her own as quick we might have considered it, who knows.

My position on operations is still the same, I simply think it is unnatural to oprate on anything that small and I wont subject them to it. I might be persuaded to let them treat something with medication depending on the case, but we are really not that keen on medication, hospitals or operations, for ourselves or the animals.

My feelings were really hurt very deeply by you all judging me/us saying we did not love our animals because we don't rush them to the vet at the first sign of trouble. We love them all very much. I sat with Nanna all day when the leg was bad, I watched over her and made sure she got better and not worse!

[Jennicat]

You're welcome to endure whatever you want. It's your choice. Your pets do not have a choice. They are kept in a cage. They don't get the option of turning down a painkiller. They are FORCED to endure pain, like a child would be forced to endure pain if their parents refused medical treatment for them.

I sincerely hope your poor animals never contract any type of illness that requires either pain medication or surgery. My own sweet guinea pig Mnemosyne had a bladder stone. She was in a lot of pain until we could do surgery. With the help of both pain medication and surgical procedure, we were able to save her and give her a good quality of life. She's hearty and hale now over a year later. I shudder to think of the way she would have died, screaming in agony and finally having her urethra blocked and being poisoned by her own urine. That is cruel. It is against the law in many states and countries to deny medical treatment to animals.

Again, PETS are unnatural. Either don't keep them and be natural, but don't deny them medical care and make them suffer because of your beliefs. You are a human and you have the OPTION and the ability to seek medical care. They have neither. They rely on you.

And, actually, it's not unusual for small animals with broken legs to appear "normal" after around a day. As soon as they are able to put weight on a broken limb, they will, especially in the cases of a minor fracture. They're prey animals, and designed by nature to pretend to be well to avoid being eaten.

[MañasMom]

I totally agree with what Jennicat said.

Having pets is unnatural. In fact, having a Degu is an extra unnatural pet, as they have not been domesticated. They still retain the same wild instinct their free cousins live by. Even if you think of wildlife sanctuaries that really try to completely mimic the natural environment of the animals - you will know that #1 on their priority list is giving GOOD veterinary care to the animals in their sanctuary. Anyone who cares about animals, really cares, will know that proper vet care is essential.

There are a lot of people who claim to be "animal lovers", but actions speak louder than words. If you believed you broke your arm, would you just "tough it out"? You might, but you know what, it would be YOUR choice to tough it out.

And to think that just because you read in a book that nothing could be done - wow! Or to think that just because an animal is small there is nothing to do for them - another wow! My Degus have always gotten good medical care. Imana had severe, chronic health problems for a year, we made regular trips to our exotic vet. She was under anesthesia 5 times, for procedures, xrays, etc. She came out beautifully each time, and came to really make friends with one of the vet techs in particular. She was on a few different antibiotics, eyedrops, food supplements and other treatments. None of that traumatized her. When she saw me coming with her medicine, she came running to the door of her cage and jumped into my hand.

If you work with a Degu, going on a trip to the vet doesn't have to be a terrible ordeal. It can be a fun field trip where they get extra attention, fresh air, and sunshine.

But you considered it out of the question from the beginning. That's foolish. And then you won't listen to people who have been keeping Degus for many years successfully. That's foolish too.

Where do you draw the line of what merits medical attention or what doesn't? You're not a vet. You don't have any idea of what a vet could have done for Nanna's leg. You don't have any idea if she'll suffer complications from this injury in the future. You don't even know if she's still in pain.

I hope and pray also that none of your Degus will contract an infection or get sick any time. Because it will sure be a death sentence for them. I wish you were upset enough to actually rethink your position on vet care for smaller animals. If you would work enough to find a vet experienced with Degus, you'd find out that modern veterinary medicine has come a LONG way, and there are LOTS of treatment options for small animals like Degus.

You should be in a forum like this to learn about the proper care of Degus. I've kept Degus for many years, but I don't for a second think I know it all. I learn new things about Degus and their proper care on a regular basis. That's why it's nice to bring together a group of Degu keepers with different levels of experience - so the inexperienced ones can learn from the more experienced ones. The first moment we think we know it all, the care of our Degus suffers.

[Morgaine]

Well obviosly I should not be in a forum like this, because you clearly all hate me now!