Mouse has a squinty eye?

by louiee on Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:12 pm

I've had my three female mice for a little over two months now. Only one of my mice, Blossom, has taken well to taming. I can hold her and she will eat from my hand, etc. Thistle (the mouse in question) will come up to my hand but I can't hold her without her becoming very distressed and she scurries away quickly, and her sister, Sage, is even more skittish than Thistle is.

Recently I've noticed Thistle seems to be squinting sometimes. The other two seem fine. I don't know if it's just that she's sleepy when I check on them and her eyes are half shut, or if there's actually something wrong. I can't see any redness/discharge/goop around her eye(s), and all three girls' coats look healthy (no scratching or anything). I'm just worried because I can't really handle her and I don't want her to be in pain or anything.

They live in a 110 quart bin cage on a mixture of half aspen and half Kaytee bedding (unscented, of course), if that helps. Any information/advice/input is very greatly appreciated. Thank you!

by River on Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:49 pm

I'd clean out the nest/sleeping areas bedding once a day until it heals. I would also consider going 100% paper or choosing softer aspen as the aspen could be irritating the eye.

That's all the advice I have, though! Hope she's okay.

by Rodents rock! on Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:22 pm

River wrote:I'd clean out the nest/sleeping areas bedding once a day until it heals. I would also consider going 100% paper or choosing softer aspen as the aspen could be irritating the eye.

That's all the advice I have, though! Hope she's okay.

I agree with River, try a clean out and only use paper bedding, I hope this helps Very Happy

by louiee on Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:28 pm

Okay, thank you! I'll try only paper bedding for a couple weeks and see if that makes a difference! Smile

by CallaLily on Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:06 am

If she's just squinting with no other symptoms, mice do this sometimes - at you, at other mice, at whatever they might be investigating or nervous about. But if her eyes do seem irritated in any way, it could be an allergy (try removing the aspen as others suggested, some mice develop allergies to it) or conjuctivitis.

Mouse has a squinty eye?

Mouse has a squinty eye?

Re: Mouse has a squinty eye?

Re: Mouse has a squinty eye?

Re: Mouse has a squinty eye?

Re: Mouse has a squinty eye?