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Diabetes and Degus
When you get a pet Degu, you may be unable to resist hand feeding your new pet treats. You will love the way that they respond to you when you have a treat in your hand, and it will quickly become a habit…a very dangerous habit for your Degu.
You see, Degus cannot process sugar. Sugar is present in many foods naturally, such as fruit. Degus love fruit, but they shouldn't have very much of it, and many owners avoid feeding their Degus fruit altogether.
So, you don't feed your Degu fruit, instead you feed him nuts – which he also loves. The nuts don't contain sugar, so they are safe, right? Wrong. The nuts contain high levels of fat, which causes the Degu to gain weight, which in turn leads to diabetes, even if he never eats sugar. These high levels of fat can also lead to liver problems.
So, what treats can you give your Degu? You can give him nuts, but you should limit it. Do not give him daily treats. Give him treats once every three to four days instead, and otherwise, just feed him his regular food. Some people give their Degus nuts that are still in the shell, such as walnuts, and this is fine they should be shelled. Limit the peanuts, as these are especially high in fat content.
How will you know if your Degu has developed diabetes? In most cases, you will notice that he is gaining weight. He may also be incredibly thirsty, and may have a hunger that seemingly cannot be satiated. Any of these symptoms are cause for a visit to the veterinarian, who can confirm whether or not the Degu has developed diabetes.
If the Degu has developed diabetes, your veterinarian will suggest controlling it through diet, but this may not work, and he may need insulin shots, which can be very expensive. Usually, if this is the case, the owner will have the Degu put to sleep.
If your Degu has gained weight, and then suddenly starts losing weight – without any dietary changes, this is an indication that the diabetes has taken a turn for the worst, and your Degu is probably near the end of his life.
As you can see, it is important to prevent diabetes, and this is done through an appropriate diet, making sure that your Degu is getting enough exercise, and by weighing your Degu on a monthly basis and recording that weight. When you see differences in the weight, you need to see your veterinarian.
Degu information,Degu tips, Degu advice,pets,Degu pet
Next Article: Choosing Bedding for Your Degu
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