Degus and sugar: what they can and cannot eat

Why degus cannot handle sugar

Vet Times describes the degu as "very intolerant to sugars", with a divergent insulin structure and a high risk of diabetes mellitus when fed free sugars regularly. A review by Hurley and colleagues (Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2018) notes that degus can spontaneously develop type 2 diabetes. PDSA adds that degus therefore need a diet high in fibre and low in sugar and fat.

Sugar also affects the eyes. According to Vet Times, cataracts can develop even without diabetes because the lens is very sensitive to high-sugar diets. With diabetes, cataracts can appear as early as four weeks after the onset of the disease. Since a degu lives 5 to 7 years in captivity (Ardiles et al., 2013), feeding mistakes add up over many years.

What a degu should eat every day

PDSA and RSPCA agree that most of the diet should be good-quality hay, with constant access. Alongside it come a measured portion of pellets and a little leafy greens. Degu pellets are suitable; RSPCA also accepts guinea pig or chinchilla pellets if they contain no molasses. PDSA gives a rough guide of 1–2 tablespoons (10 g) of pellets a day, scattered around the cage, and a small portion of leafy greens once or twice a week. That figure comes from a single source, so treat it as a starting point and adjust the amount with your vet.

RSPCA lists carrot, sweet potato, beetroot and parsnip as sugary vegetables and allows them only in very small pieces as an occasional treat. On fruit, the sources differ a little. RSPCA says not to give degus fruit at all, PDSA allows "an occasional bit of apple", and Vet Times lists fruit, raisins, breakfast cereal and honey treat sticks as foods to avoid. The safest choice is therefore to skip fruit and look for treats among hay and other fibrous foods.

Where sugar hides in food

Vet Times warns that most pelleted feeds contain molasses, so the ingredient list is worth checking. RSPCA adds that shop-bought treats are often too sugary and that chinchilla mixes with dried fruit are unsuitable. PDSA also advises against rabbit, hamster and gerbil food, which has too much protein, and against human food scraps.

What a sensible daily ration looks like

In practice, hay is always available in the cage and pellets are a supplement. PDSA recommends scattering the pellets around the cage instead of using a bowl, and giving vegetables as a small portion once or twice a week, not daily. Always check treats that look healthy in the shop against the ingredient list. "Natural" on the pack does not mean "sugar-free". If you are unsure whether something is suitable, ask a vet who knows degus rather than trying the food on the animal.

Signs of diabetes in degus

Vet Times and Improve International list increased thirst and urination, greater appetite and obesity, lethargy, a poor coat and a clouded lens. PDSA highlights cloudy eyes, excessive drinking, excessive urination and obesity as warning signs. A vet confirms the diagnosis with a blood test. Vet Times gives a normal glucose of around 8 mmol/L and diabetes above 11.1 mmol/L.

Closer to home: what the Ljubljana Veterinary Faculty advises

A leaflet on degus from the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Pavlin, Kubale, Golob, Račnik; August 2019) is stricter than some foreign sources. Among foods not to give it lists fruit, sweet vegetables (carrot), sweet potato and peas, molasses and raisins, nuts and sunflower seeds (obesity), and food made for other rodents and rabbits. According to the leaflet, the daily meal can be varied with leafy greens, beetroot, radishes or pumpkin, while PDSA mentions vegetables only once or twice a week, so start sparingly. For equipment (cage, bedding, hay, pellets) the leaflet estimates €130–290, then €20–25 a month; the ideal room temperature is 22–24 °C.

The Croatian portal Index.hr wrote in 2014 that a degu may get a piece of apple a few times a week. That does not match the Ljubljana leaflet or RSPCA; because the sources differ, we stay with a fruit-free choice and leave any exception to a vet who knows degus.

What this means day to day

For a degu, diet is prevention, not just good intentions. You can read more about the animal, its character and housing needs on the degu page. For comparison with the diets of related rodents, see What do hamsters eat and Guinea pig care. Keep in mind that a degu should not eat hamster food (PDSA, RSPCA).

Can degus eat fruit?

The sources do not fully agree: RSPCA advises against fruit, PDSA allows an occasional bit of apple, and Vet Times lists it among foods to avoid. The Ljubljana Faculty of Veterinary Medicine leaflet also lists fruit among foods not to give. The safer choice is no fruit; agree any exception in advance with a vet who knows degus.

Is carrot OK for a degu?

Better not, or only rarely. RSPCA allows very small pieces of carrot as an occasional treat, because carrot, sweet potato, beetroot and parsnip are sugary. The Ljubljana Faculty of Veterinary Medicine leaflet, however, lists carrot among the sweet vegetables a degu should not get. So do not feed carrot regularly; hay and leafy greens suit everyday feeding better.

Are guinea pig pellets suitable?

RSPCA accepts them if they contain no molasses. Improve International, however, lists guinea pig feed among foods that raise blood sugar, so always read the ingredients and prefer degu pellets. The Ljubljana faculty leaflet advises commercial degu pellets following the manufacturer’s recommendations and does not count food for other rodents and rabbits as allowed.

How long do degus live?

5 to 7 years in captivity (Ardiles et al., 2013); the Ljubljana Faculty of Veterinary Medicine leaflet gives the same range. A high-fibre, low-sugar diet is therefore an investment over many years, but the sources do not say by how much diet extends life. If a degu stops eating or produces no droppings, a vet visit is urgent.