Veterinary Medications List

Here you will find a list of all the medications and dosages that have proven positive or negative in the treatment of degus. All advice listed has either come direct from veterinarians, or from degu owners who have used prescribed meds for treatment of a specific problem.

*CAUTION*- This list is for information only- please consult your vet before medicating your degus to avoid injury or death.

>Medications Recommended<

Abbreviations: ml = millilitres; mg = milligrammes; g = gramme; hrs = hours; mins = minutes; bw = bodyweight

Medication Name Brand Name Dosage for Degu Time Period Used For...
Isoflourane
(anaesthetic)		 N/A 2% min-1 with 1.5 litres NO2 and O2 N/A Surgical anaesthesia113
Ketamine HCL and Xylazine
(anaesthetic)		 N/A Ketamine HCL @ 30 mg kg-1 bw
Xylazine @ 2.5 mg kg-1 bw		 N/A Surgical anaesthesia186
Enrofloxacin
(antibiotic)		 Baytril® 2.5% oral suspension 0.0001 ml g-1 bw
to 0.0004 ml g-1 bw
(@0.0025 mg g-1 to 0.01 mg g-1; 25.0 mg enrofolaxin ml-1)
 Every 24 hrs for 5-10 days Broad spectrum infection treatment
Enrofloxacin
(antibiotic)		 Baytril® injectable 0.00011 ml g-1 bw
(@ 0.0025 mg g-1; 22.7 mg enrofolaxin ml-1)
 Course of 3 - 5 subcutaneous or intra-muscular injections Broad spectrum infection treatment
^Note that Baytril/enrofloxacin should always be given at the lowest dose rate appropriate, except in the case of severe or recurring infections.
Also should not be given to lactating females or pups/juveniles less than 6 months old. This drug has had mixed success in treating chronic respiratory infections in degus.
Meloxicam
(NSAID)		 Meloxidyl® oral suspension 0.0000666 ml g-1 bw
(@ 0.0001 mg g-1; 1.5 mg meloxicam ml-1)
 Every 24 hrs for up to 10 days Reducing inflammation and swelling; pain relief
Meloxicam
(NSAID)		 Metacam® oral suspension

(for dogs)

 0.0000666 ml g-1 bw
(@ 0.0001 mg g-1; 1.5 mg meloxicam ml-1)
 Every 24 hrs for up to 10 days Reducing inflammation and swelling; pain relief
N/A Fibreplex® 0.0005 ml g-1 bw 3 times daily for 2 days Prebiotic for treatment of gastrointestinal microflora imbalance, diarrhoea
N/A Sherley's Lactol® 1 part formula: 2 parts warm water Every 2 hrs for pups up to 1 week old, less frequent thereafter. Daily for recovering adults Milk substitute for neonates and pups; weaning supplement; dietary recovery aid for  sick/malnourished/underweight adult degus
N/A Supreme Science Recovery® for small animals with high fibre requirements 1 part supplement: 1 part water Twice daily for recovering adults Dietary recovery aid for sick/malnourished/underweight adult degus
Gentamycin
(antibiotic)		 Tiacil® ointment 1 drop directly into eye 3 times daily for 5-7 days Eye infections
Gentamycin
(antibiotic)		 N/A (opthalmic solution) 1 drop directly into eye 3 times daily until cleared Eye infections; stuck eyelids
Fusidic acid
(antibiotic)		 Fucithalmic® opthalmic solution 1 drop directly into eye 2 times daily until symptoms clear and for 2 days afterwards Eye infections; corneal ulcers
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole
(antibiotics)		 SMZ-tmp® liquid 0.00040486 ml g-1 bw Oral administration once every 12 hrs Broad spectrum infection treatment
^Not for elderly degus (5+ years). One owner reports long-term use at above dosage for chronic respiratory infection with no problems.
Bacitracin, neomycin and polymyxin
(antibiotics)		 Trioptic-P® topical ointment Apply small quantity directly to the eye Twice daily for 14 days Eye infections
Neomycin, polymyxin and dexamethasone
(antibiotics)		 N/A (opthalmic suspension) 1 drop directly into eye   Twice daily for 7 days Eye infections
Amikacin (antibiotic), dexamethasone SP (corticosteroid) and saline N/A 12 ml amikacin, 6 ml dexamethasone and 184ml saline in nebuliser Twice daily for 10 mins Chronic respiratory disease; ease breathing
Ofloxacin
(antibiotic)		 N/A (opthalmic solution) 1 drop directly into eye Every 6-8 hrs for 5 days Eye trauma
^Not for use in diabetic degus, pregnant/lactating females or pups/juveniles less than 6 months old.
N/A Bayer Keto-Diastix® N/A N/A Testing urinary glucose levels and urinary ketone levels (test for diabetes)
Bovine insulin Insuvet® 100 IU insulin per 10 ml vial, 2 IU injected (0.2 ml) Twice daily for 4 days Immediate treatment of dangerously high blood glucose (and ketone) levels

^Vet reports above treatment successful for extreme hyperglycaemia in a degu (glucose levels off the scale, ketone levels elevated), blood glucose levels normalised after treatment.
Porcine insulin Caninsulin® 40 IU insulin per ml, 1 IU injected (0.025 ml) Twice daily for 4 days Immediate treatment of dangerously high blood glucose (and ketone) levels
^Given for a diabetic degu with extreme hyperglycaemia (urinary glucose levels off the scale, ketone levels elevated) and ruptured retina/bloody cataract. Owner reports some change to urinary glucose levels in first few days, cataracts improved somewhat.
Yohimbine N/A 2.5 mg kg-1 bw Single intraperitoneal injection May aid recovery post-surgery and also increase sexual activity186
Lactated Ringer's Solution N/A Variable, 5 ml + Subcutaneous injection as necessary To replace fluids lost such as during surgery, shock, etc186
Ivermectin spot-on drops N/A 0.1 % (1 mg ml-1):
One drop per 60 g bw		 Drop directly onto the skin behind the neck, once a week for 3 weeks (treat all animals at once) Treatment for dermal mites; mange

>Medications to be Avoided<

Abbreviations: ml = millilitres; mg = milligrammes; g = gramme; hrs = hours; mins = minutes

Medication Name

 Brand Name

Dosage for Degu

Time Period

Used For...
1. Metoclopramide
(dopamine D(2) receptor blocker)		 ? 0.05 ml Immediate (subcutaneous injection) Gastric/intestinal problems
2. Metoclopramide Reglan Injectable 0.01 ml (240 g bw) Immediate (subcutaneous injection), once daily for 5 days Gastric/intestinal problems
3. Metoclopramide Reglan oral suspension 0.05 ml (5 mg/5 ml) Once daily for 2 days Gastric/intestinal problems
^1. Owner reports seizure, strenuous breathing and death within 2 hours following administration (given for lethargy and traces of blood in urine).
2. Owner reports degu stopped eating and defecating within 48 hours, on the last administration immediately went into convulsion and died. Given as routine post-op treatment after neutering procedure, along with Syvaquinol 0.1 ml and Norocarp 0.02 ml.
3. Owner reports no side-effects but no improvement, given for GI bloating secondary to molar elodontoma/sinus problems.
Fusidic acid
(antibiotic)		 Fuciderm® carbomer ointment Tiny quantity rubbed into affected area once daily 5 days Skin complaints; dermatitis
^Application may be painful and owner reports did not clear up complaint. Not for pregnant degus.
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole
(antibiotics)		 Septra® oral suspension 0.0001 ml g-1 bw
(8 mg trimethoprim ml-1; 40 mg sulfamethoxazole ml-1)		 Once daily for 14 days Broad spectrum infection treatment
^Should be used with CAUTION in degus due to sugar content. One owner reports marked increase in mounting/dominance behaviour in a neutered male during treatment.

If you are a veterinarian or a degu owner with something you would like to report about a specific medication used for degu treatment that you would like to see on this list, please send it to us. Make sure you give the name of the medication, the dosage used (per g bodyweight), timescale and the outcome in as much detail as possible.