Many people haven’t even heard of degus: they are small rodents native to Chile which are increasingly popular UK pets. Often likened to keeping mice or chinchillas, the pet health care responsibilities of keeping a degu are relatively simple provided the owner does their research and is prepared to make a commitment for the duration of the degu’s life.

Just as with other animals, degu pet health care requires a proper home for the animal. For degus this means a decent sized cage equipped with a water bowl or bottle and a food bowl. Always position the cage away from cold and out of sunlight, in a quiet spot.

Cat litter makes a good bedding base, as do hay and shredded paper in which degus will love burrowing. Make sure to clean the cage at least once a week to avoid pet health care issues.

Degus need to eat hay and hard vegetables like carrots and cucumber, but your pet shop will give you more advice. But don’t feed them sugary foods because they could cause diabetes. Make sure clean water is readily available. Teeth need to be worn down with fibre because they constantly grow. Orange teeth mean a healthy degu: yellow or white suggest a potentially serious pet health care problem.

You might want to handle your pet. As long as you take care to be gentle handling shouldn’t be a problem. When picking them up do so gently, holding them underneath. Reaching for them from above may make them think you are a ‘predator.’ And if you try to pick them up by their tail you could be in for a surprise. If grabbed by their tails, degus have a natural defence mechanism which causes their tail to fall off. And it will not regrow. If this does happen, talk to a vet.

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