Carson City Humane Society’s Pets of the Week: Thelma and Louise
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 08/14/2019 - 10:25am
Hello Carson City, and happy Wednesday! Today we have a pair of gals up for adoption and waiting to find a home that appreciates unique pets.
Thelma and Louise are a pair of two-year-old Degu sisters. The Degu is found in Chile, and is cousins with the Chinchilla and Guinea Pig.
The Degu is an incredibly social creature, and have around 15 different distinct sounds used to communicate with one another. They do better when housed with other degu, so the sisters should be rehomed together.
The average lifespan of a Degu is six to eight years, though in perfect conditions they can live up to 13. They have an intolerance of free sugar and can become diabetic, so Degu parents should make certain their food doesn’t contain corn syrup, honey, molasses, or any type of free sugar.
The Degu needs room to play and explore similar to a rabbit or Guinea pig.
They are easily tamed and will quickly begin to bond with humans, and once bonded, will even groom their humans! Just make sure to never grab them by their tail, which will “drop” as a mechanism to outwit predators, which is painful and will not grow back.
They need sand baths (similar to chinchilla dust baths) three times a week to maintain a healthy coat, and like most rodents, their teeth grow continuously so they need to have something to chew on at all times.
If you are interested in having a truly unique pet, come adopt these sisters today by stopping by the Carson City branch of the Nevada Humane Society located at 549 Airport Road.
