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Quick question: do sunflowers cause diabetes? What are the signs of it? I don't ask this for my self (thank good), but a degu owner near by is worry because their degus are peeing very often.. So I thought I would share answer from the first hand.
Thanks and love your animals!!! Very Happy

Yes, and they are 3-4 month old..

Too many sunflower seeds can definitely make for an overweight Degu, it's like junk food for them.

And being overweight and eating too much junk food can definitely increase the chances for diabetes.

Symptoms, I'm not sure, but cataracts (cloudy, white eyes) can be a result of diabetes. Not sure about the peeing, hoping someone else will have better answers on that!
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She said that their 2 degus drink 60 ml per day, some day more, some day less. Otherwise they act normally..

Sunflowers are ok as a treat once a week but no more as they can make them fat which in turn can sometimes cause them to become diabetic. But sunflower seeds alone wouldn't cause diabetes.

The signs of it are usually an increased thirst (so drinking a lot of water in excessive amounts, an adult degu with diabetes can empty a large water bottle within a day), excessive peeing (due to the amounts of water the degu is drinking), usually there are also cataracts developing or present. The degus might be less active then usual and more sleepy too. Diabetes can be passed on through the parents genes so if either parent has diabetes then it is likely the young could develop it too.

60ml doesn't sound all that much between two active degus. They all vary some drink more and some drink less, for example if they are kept in a warm room they will drink more whereas degus kept in a cooler room will drink less, the same also applies to degus who eat fresh vegetables, the ones who eat them tend to drink less as they receive all the fluid they need from the veggies. The downside of drinking more is they will pee more. I wouldn't suspect 3-4 month old degus would have diabetes unless it has been passed on from the mother.

I would get your friend to keep an eye on them for a while. Maybe check out the temperature in the room to make sure it isn't too warm and try to keep them of any foods containing sugar such as raisins just to be on the safe side Smile

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I can'

t thank you enough!!!!!

What do you think is that food? On Slovenian forum for little mammals a girl asked if that food is ok for degus, but no one know it.

I haven't a clue what it is but it looks like some kind of seed Confused

I would advise her not to feed it as it doesn't look suitable especially if its seed based as its always better to be safe then sorry Wink

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