Degus are social, busy, sand-bathing climbers, and an older degu usually ages in company — which helps him and complicates his care at the same time. His body becomes less forgiving of dietary sugar, his continuously growing teeth can trouble him if chewing slows, and his enthusiasm for upper levels may outlast the balance that once made them safe. Senior degu care means keeping the group life he depends on, quietly reshaping the cage around a slower animal, and making sure every person who feeds him follows the same strict rules about what goes in the bowl.
The sugar rule matters more, not less
Degus handle sugar poorly, and ageing does not soften that — if anything, an older degu with less activity to burn energy is more vulnerable to the consequences of sweet treats, fruit, and sugary commercial mixes. Hold the line on a plain, hay-rich, formulated degu diet, offer leafy vegetables and herbs as the interesting part of the menu, and make sure every family member and visitor knows that a sweet nibble is not a kindness to this species. If his eyes look cloudy, he drinks noticeably more, or he loses weight while eating eagerly, book a veterinary appointment and describe those signs rather than trying dietary fixes at home.
Teeth, chewing, and food he can manage
Like his chinchilla relatives, a degu's teeth grow throughout life and depend on constant chewing of hay and safe wood. An older degu who chews less can develop overgrowth that makes eating painful before it becomes obvious. Watch him eat: dropping food, chewing slowly on one side, drooling, or choosing soft items over hay all point to a mouth that needs examining. Scatter hay in several low spots and near his favorite resting place so a stiff degu does not have to cross the cage and climb for every mouthful, and keep a close eye on whether he finishes his share when companions are feeding beside him.
Bring the climbing world down to him
Degus love height, but senior legs and balance argue for a rethink. Lower the most-used shelves, add wide ramps with good grip instead of narrow jumps between levels, keep the exercise wheel solid-surfaced and easy to step into, and make sure the sand bath — still important for his coat — sits somewhere he can enter without a leap. Never handle an older degu by his tail, which is fragile at any age and easier to injure now. Shorter, calmer handling sessions on a lap or in a playpen suit him better than being carried around the house.
Group life, competition, and when to worry
Keep his companions; a lone degu is a stressed degu, and older animals draw comfort from the pile they sleep in. The watching brief is competition: weigh him regularly, because a slow degu in a busy group can quietly get less food than he needs, and offer some meals in a separate spot if the scale trends down. Less interest in the sand bath, a thinning coat, hunched posture, squeaks when handled, or a sharp change in droppings or drinking all deserve a veterinary conversation. Through KinsLe's Family Sharing, the household speaks with one voice about his care, and a stand-in helper never has to guess what this degu is allowed.