Strange behavior

by pokemonsz Mon 15 Oct 2018, 7:07 pm

Hi all, my Benji finished his antibiotics for the suspected respiratory infection a few weeks ago and seemed to fully recover.

However, over the past week or so, he has developed strange behavior. It's hard to explain, but I will try my best.

In general, he seems to have trouble getting around. It's almost as if he is blind or something, because the way he walks he is constantly "sweeping". It doesn't seem like he is focusing on a "target" any longer when he is getting from point A to point B, if that makes sense. For example, when I give him a nut he will be rapidly looking around, not at the nut, but will eventually find it. He is able to find his food and water luckily, but in general he seems to be less active (no more wheel, less athletic than he used to be).

Has anyone seen something like this before? It just seems to me like he's getting senile or something like that. I can try to record a video if that would be more helpful in diagnosis.

Thank you. Love

by pokemonsz Mon 15 Oct 2018, 9:04 pm

by Sam Tue 16 Oct 2018, 4:32 am

I had an elderly girl who did this. It didn't seem to cause issues and I never actually thought much of it until now. She passed away due to something completely unrelated. I wonder if it could be that as their eye sight deteriorates they have to use their nose and whiskers more, hence the swaying to feel and smell things around them?

by MerciToujoursMaPetiteBoop Tue 16 Oct 2018, 7:49 am

I wonder if maybe whatever caused the health problems last month may have affected the brain or spinal cord. Or if there may be an adverse reaction to the antibiotic treatment. A neurologic infection or side effects from medication can mess up coordination, which would make him less likely to want to run and play. They could also be messing up more than that.

I guess one thing you might do would be to compare Benji's temperature to Dedenne's and make sure he isn't over-warm or over-cool, watch him while he's sleeping for any out-of-the-normal behaviours, and make sure he seems to be eating and drinking enough. If any of those things are off, contact his doctor.

by CallaLily Thu 18 Oct 2018, 11:46 am

The only mouse I’ve had behave like that was a wild one the cat got hold of. I suspected neurological damage but unfortunately being a wild mouse I couldn’t get vet treatment to confirm. But with your pet mouse I definitely think speaking to your vet about it is the best option.

by pokemonsz Thu 25 Oct 2018, 1:42 pm

Hello, I have an update on Benji. Unfortunately, he seems to have been getting worse in terms of balance / neurologically, and it seems the only thing he likes to do is eat, sleep, and drink water.

As such, there is a new issue that I was wondering if anyone has experience dealing with. Because he isn't spending time chewing anything, his front teeth have gotten very long and curved to the side. Can I get this corrected if I go to the vet? Is there any chance of it correcting itself on its own?

His food requires gnawing but I guess he hasn't had the energy to do any additional gnawing to wear them down. The teeth have grown past his lower lip.

Thank you all.

by MerciToujoursMaPetiteBoop Thu 25 Oct 2018, 6:40 pm

That's called "malocclusion", and Benji needs his teeth trimmed. A small animal vet should be able to take care of that with no difficulty.

If, after the trim, he does not resume normal tooth-grinding activities, he will have to go in for regular tooth trims, maybe every few weeks to every few months, depending on how fast his teeth grow.

If the teeth are not trimmed, the condition interferes with eating and grooming, could end up injuring Benji, and could misalign or infect the jaws.

by pokemonsz Tue 06 Nov 2018, 12:01 pm

Hey all, another update.

Thank you for the advice. I immediately went in and had his teeth trimmed- one had broken off and the other was mallocluded. He seems to have a much better time eating now.

His condition hasn't really improved much, he is still very wobbly and spends most days hunched over, sleeping, eating and drinking. I've noticed his back has become a bit dry, which I think is because he can't really groom there anymore. I don't ever catch him grooming.

I'm just trying to make sure he's eating and drinking and getting everything he needs to be as comfortable as possible.

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