Degus can hurt their tails. This can break bones or cause the skin to collapse (degloving). Degloving can lead to infections. Sometimes, degus lose their whole tails, just like gerbils. Tail injuries in degus are common if they are handled roughly or caught by their tails.
Degus are fun pets, but they can get hurt like other pets. Degus often hurt their tails, and people can cause these injuries. If a degu hurts its tail, it needs help right away.
It can get an infection if you don’t treat a degu’s tail injury. Knowing the signs and how to care for an injured dog can help it stay healthy. If you are curious to know then read the full article it will be beneficial for you.
What Are Tail Injuries?
Degus can hurt their tails. This can break bones or cause skin to come off. Degloving can lead to infections. Sometimes, degus lose their whole tails, just like gerbils. Degus use their tails for balance and talking to other degus. The whole length of a healthy degu tail is covered in fur, and the end looks like a paintbrush. Under the fur are skin, nerves, muscles, and bones that help the degu move its tail. Because it has many kinds of delicate tissue, it’s easy for a degu’s tail to get hurt.
Types of Tail Injuries in Degus
Tail Degloving:
When the fur and skin come off a degu’s tail, it’s called degloving. This usually happens when someone picks up the degu by its tail or the tail gets stuck in something like an exercise wheel, cage door, or bowl. Degloving is also called a shed tail, and degu tails do not grow back after they are degloved.
Broken tails:
Degu tails can break even when the skin stays on. Sometimes, the break heals by itself. Other times, the vet needs to cut off the tail above the break.
Tail infections:
Degus can cut, scrape, or bite each other’s tails and get infections. Keeping the tail clean and moist can help the degu heal faster. You might need to get antibiotic cream or pills from the vet to clear the infection and help the tail heal.
Symptoms of Tail Injuries in Degus
- Bleeding
- Loss of tail skin
- Discharge, swelling, or odor
- Broken bones
- Lesions
Causes of Tail Injuries
Degus can get hurt by their owners, things in their cages, or other degus. These injuries can cause problems with the degu’s tail.
Improper handling by owners:
Be careful when handling your degu to avoid hurting its tail. Picking up degus by their tails can cause degloving.
Interacting with other degus:
Degus can hurt each other when they live together. Watch your degus to make sure they get along. If they fight, put them in separate cages.
Injury from objects:
When degus bump into things, get scraped, or get stuck in objects in their cages, they can hurt their tails.
Diagnosing Tail Injuries in Degus
You can usually see if a degu’s tail is hurt. If the skin comes off or you think the degu has a minor injury, take it to the vet. The vet can look at the degu and see if it has an infection. The vet can also tell you how to treat the injury.
Treatment
Over a period, the tails of degus are prone to injuries and may exhibit signs such as bleeding and infections. In case of tail skin separation, wash it with water and take your degu to a vet if it does not stop bleeding in 15-20 minutes. Check for discharge, swelling, unusual tiredness, or loss of appetite, and seek veterinarian care for the administration of antibiotics where necessary.
The prognosis for Degus With Tail Injuries
Most degus can heal from degloving on their own or with help from a vet. Vets can stitch wounds and help prevent infections. Signs of infection need to be treated right away by an exotic vet. Infections from tail injuries or degloving can be serious if you don’t treat them.
How to Prevent Tail Injuries
Even if you take good care of your degu, it can still hurt. You can do some things to help your degu avoid tail injuries.
Careful Handling
You can help your degu avoid tail injuries by never picking it up by its tail. Do not put wire exercise wheels in the cage. Be careful when closing the cage door and putting down houses, food, and water bowls. Always know where your degu’s tail is when you handle it or move things in its cage.
Monitoring Signs of Illness
Watch your degu to see if it acts differently. Healthy degus have clear eyes, shiny fur, and clean bodies and tails. Look for signs of infection, even if the tail doesn’t look hurt. Small cuts and scrapes can happen from things in the cage. Watch all injuries closely, and take your degu to the vet if needed.
Conclusion
Degus can hurt their tails. Tail injuries can cause infections. You can help prevent tail injuries by being gentle with your degu and keeping its cage safe. Watch your degu for signs of injury, and take it to the vet if you notice anything. Early treatment can help your degu heal faster and avoid serious problems. Degus use their tails for balance and talking to other degus. Fur covers the whole length of a healthy degu tail, and the end resembles a paintbrush. Under the fur are skin, nerves, muscles, and bones that help the degu move its tail. Because it contains many kinds of delicate tissue, a degu’s tail gets hurt easily.