Recovering from an ear infection

by Laluna Tue 11 Sep 2018, 2:58 pm

Vito, one of my young female mice got an ear infection for a couple of days now. She has a croocked head and she turned around all the time. At sunday i got her anti biotic and yesterday i started with an anti-inflammatory medicine. Fortunately she is recovering very well and her head gets more and more straight. Though still a bit croocjed. Today she eats a lot and wants to play again! I gave her some toys but she definately wAnts her friends and more space, so when could she return to the other mice? Is an ear infection contagious at all? When can i put her back with her friends?
And i was wondering: how got her ear infected in first place? Is it caused by mites (this is what i have read on dutch pages) a bactery? Our are there many possible causes?

Here a picture of my beautifull poor little one, hopefully it’s not to graphic? I don’t know how to put it in a spoiler?

Recovering from an ear infection 5ffb0210

by chiroptera Thu 13 Sep 2018, 5:12 pm

@Laluna

Hello, thought I should chime in, because my angel Trouble had the same thing happen to her. I believe ear infections are caused by bacteria, it's possible that mites could have transferred the bacteria to her, but I don't think they alone could have caused it. (If I'm wrong, please correct me!)

Trouble also got an ear infection and developed a head tilt. The head-tilt then developed into her "waltzing", which is what it's called when mice run or walk in circles.

After being on medication for her ear infection, Trouble did get better to a point, but the head tilt never completely went away, and she continued to "waltz" for the rest of her life, so it is possible that this will happen to your Vito as well. I wouldn't suggest keeping her separate just because of her head tilt or waltzing. If she's no longer showing other symptoms of the ear infection, and she's been on the medication, I believe that she should be okay to go back in with the other girls.

Definitely keep an eye on her, and make sure that her head tilt and "waltz" aren't keeping her from eating, drinking, and grooming herself; if she's able to get around well and eat and drink, then she should be able to still have a good quality of life even with a disability! Just make sure she's doing alright, and that the other mice aren't bullying her.

Also, keep in mind that, if she does develop a waltz or tilt permanently, she may be more susceptible to diseases and illness, and it is possible that she will pass younger than the others. However, you can still give her the best possible life while she is with you, with or without a tilt or a waltz! Just keep giving her love and care, and she'll continue to be a lovely little girl. Love

Hope that this helps, and please feel free to ask me any questions about waltzing mice that you may have; I'm not a veterinarian but I have experience with Trouble, so I will do my best to help out! Smile

by Laluna Sat 15 Sep 2018, 2:44 pm

@chiroptera,

Thank you for your sweet answer! I Didn’t know it calles a ‘headtilt’ and a ‘ walz’ but that was exactly the case. I’m sorry to hear about your ‘ Trouble’ that she keeps it perminently. Indeed i heard before that after an ear infection the headtilt could stay. I realise hoe lucky Vito is by making a full recovering. Yesterday her head was straight again and i’m so glad. Though she never finished here cure of antibiotics and anti inflametory meds. Straingely enough: she refused to take those medicines since she feld better, so she only took it for 4 days. She got a little depressed from not being anong here friends and i put here back days ago. I was afraid they wouldn’t recognize her or bully her, but it was SO sweet... all here friends came near her, inspect her gently and they looked glad to see her again, she got lovely groomed by everyone and she was running and jumping like a deer. So it was so sweet for a big group that’s just recently got stabile. It went beyond expectations.
Today Vito is still doing very well.

Recovering from an ear infection E88dd410

by pokemonsz Sat 15 Sep 2018, 3:26 pm

@LaLuna just so you know, it is generally advised to always complete the full course of antibiotics because you are likely leaving behind the strongest bugs that couldn't be killed by the early doses of antibiotic. Taking the meds for the full time ensures that you aren't leaving any bacteria behind and they won't reproduce and come back stronger than before.

by Laluna Sat 15 Sep 2018, 4:11 pm

@pokemonsz
Thanks for your advise, i don’t know if it is yet usefull to continue since i stoped 4 days ago ? Do i need to continue now or is it too late?

by chiroptera Sun 16 Sep 2018, 7:54 pm

@Laluna I'm glad to hear that Vito is making a full recovery, and that her friends are welcoming her back nicely! Smile

I would suggest keeping an eye on her, to make sure that the tilt or waltz doesn't come back, just in case!

by Laluna Mon 17 Sep 2018, 2:08 pm

Today i have noticed vito is making noise whilst breathing, i don’t know the word in English, but i know it could be a respetory imfection or a cold? Would it be usefull to start with the antibiotics again? Or do i need ti try other things first?

by Laluna Mon 17 Sep 2018, 2:09 pm

Tomorrow i’ll call my vet but most time they don’t know much about mice

by chiroptera Mon 17 Sep 2018, 11:28 pm

Definitely give her her antibiotics again, and when you can, call your vet back, and see if they'll prescribe baytril or doxy... shoot I can't think of the full name for doxy, whoops. But respiratory issues can be really serious, and if she does still have any residual effects from the ear infection, it can make it worse. Keep a close eye on her.

@Laluna

by Laluna Tue 18 Sep 2018, 1:09 am

Thank you!! Strainchly enough the noise problems disappeared yesterday as sudden as they came! I’ll keep a close eye on her!!

by Laluna Tue 18 Sep 2018, 1:20 am

@chiroptera, whats Baytril and Doxy? Is it an antibiotic as well?

by Laluna Tue 18 Sep 2018, 8:30 am

An update: i contacted my vet today and i have to start with antibiotics (novadox)again for 7 days at least. Vito her sister ‘ Vikas’ and an unrelatedmouse ‘mika’ are sneezing as well so i seperated those three from the others and tread them with antibiotics also. This question is more generally: Is sneezing and noises with breathing always a sighn to start with antibiotics? Couldn’t it be just a cold like human have and won’t they recover from it by their own immuinsystem? Because, if you give then antibiotics too often, bacteria could get resistant and when thete’s a life threatening desease, it might not work anymore?

by chiroptera Tue 18 Sep 2018, 4:59 pm

The reason that it's recommended to start antibiotics whenever you see/hear sneezing or wheezing, is because mice have incredibly sensitive respiratory systems, and it's very common for them to die from those types of problems. Also, since mice are prey animals, they are very good at hiding symptoms until their illnesses become more severe.

Baytril and doxy (doxycycline) are antibiotics. Although I'm unsure if different antibiotics are used in different parts of the world? So maybe something different will be prescribed to you since you don't live in the US.

by Laluna Wed 19 Sep 2018, 3:14 am

Hi Chiroptera,
Thank you for your clear answer! I understand better now. In my country vets will subscribe Novadox for those types of illness.

by CallaLily Wed 19 Sep 2018, 7:31 am

Novadox / doxycycline are the same medicine, different names. Wink

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