Degus are highly social South American rodents that are increasingly popular as companion animals, but their welfare requires appropriate social housing, diet, and environmental complexity.
Degu welfare in captivity is undermined by three persistent problems: inappropriate social housing, incorrect diet, and inadequate environmental complexity. Wild degus live in large family groups with complex social relationships that clearly indicate their social needs. A degu kept alone develops behavioral abnormalities including self-mutilation and repetitive movements that represent welfare compromise analogous to that seen in other socially deprived animals. The diabetes susceptibility of degus means that most commercially available small animal foods and treats are inappropriate - fruit, honey, and sugary foods cause lens opacification and metabolic disease. The environmental complexity degus need - burrowing opportunities, climbing structures, and dustbathing - requires larger enclosures than most owners provide.