URGENT!

by M O U S E Mon 23 Nov 2020, 7:13 pm

I've posted a few topics on this already. My parents (so far) aren't fond of letting me take her to the vet. I've been using a homemade saltwater solution to clean out her eye. I thought that was helping a little. She was opening it almost the full way, at least.

This is what her eye has been looking like --> https://youtu.be/L0bxuhdYCYs
This is what I just saw --> https://youtu.be/NOW466FmJD8

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!

by disastervibe Mon 23 Nov 2020, 9:01 pm

I can't say for certain, but from that footage it almost looks like she's bleeding from the eye.

Have you heard back from Petco on if they have a free clinic option? At this point, I don't think this is guaranteed resolve on it's own, and in my personal experience, infections can be a really drawn out ordeal if not properly treated (with my own health as well as the pets I've had in the past).

If Petco's free clinic isn't an option, then try calling local vets and asking 1) if they see rodents, and 2) if they can give you a price estimate for what you're dealing with (an exam and antibiotic eyedrops, most likely).

Also, do you have any of your own money, and any means of transportation on your own (a local bus, a driver's license, etc.)? If so, you may be able to just take the mouse into the vet on your own. If you pay for it yourself and get yourself there on your own, your parents don't really have any grounds to argue against you aside from just wanting control.

Growing up, my mother was also very reluctant to take animals into the vet because she thought it wasn't worth the money (to be clear, we could afford to, she just saw it as a waste), and as a result I had to watch animals I loved suffer. If I'm honest, that greatly shaped the way I view animal husbandry and pet ownership, and to this day I have very little respect for her priorities. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, I know it's tough, and it's one reason I don't miss being a kid/teenager/minor. I'd encourage you to try your best to get those mice in to see a vet, and to forgive yourself if you fail or for any mistakes you make in the process.

by River Mon 23 Nov 2020, 10:05 pm

While normally red stuff from the eye is porphyrin and not blood, this is very pigmented, which makes me question it. Is she scratching it a lot? What are the other symptoms?

I do have recommendations for a saline solution suggested to me by a vet. Here's the link: https://www.allivet.com/p-1294-eye-wash-solution-4-oz.aspx?sku=25731&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMpCe7aAdsPAUoc7wO446m2G5W_z-8xX4fe57hRRcH5A1oaRZmSZMIUaAoIwEALw_wcB
This is safer than DIY saltwater and probably less irritating. Have you tried ruling out allergens?

It's hard to recommend much without a vet because you could be trying to treat the wrong thing...especially in such a delicate area. Treating for the wrong thing has possible adverse effects. I was once prescribed (for rabbits, but it looks like it's used in mice too) an antibiotic eye ointment that I later found out could be purchased behind the counter at Tractor Supply, but I'd be very hesitant to recommend this unless it's your absolute last resort.

by Peachy Mon 23 Nov 2020, 11:20 pm

My Pearl did this her entire life. She started when she was about three weeks old and continued until she passed on as a sweet old lady. We were never able to make her stop. I had another mouse who started this when he was a little over a year old. He ended up scratching his eye out.

Inflammation like this can have a variety of causes like allergies, parasites, irritation of or injury to the actual eyeball (like a scratch). It could be completely unrelated to her eye. (Seasonal and/or cat allergies have done some crazy stuff to my left eye! lol) Only a vet would be able to diagnose and offer an effective treatment plan, so I would work on your parents. Maybe ask for a vet fund as a birthday or Christmas present? Offer to do extra chores?

In the meantime, the best you can do is keep it clean, and I would double check that your saltwater is diluted enough that it isn’t irritating. Tiny cool compresses may help keep her a bit more comfortable too.

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 7:43 am

disastervibe wrote:I can't say for certain, but from that footage it almost looks like she's bleeding from the eye.

Have you heard back from Petco on if they have a free clinic option? At this point, I don't think this is guaranteed resolve on it's own, and in my personal experience, infections can be a really drawn out ordeal if not properly treated (with my own health as well as the pets I've had in the past).

If Petco's free clinic isn't an option, then try calling local vets and asking 1) if they see rodents, and 2) if they can give you a price estimate for what you're dealing with (an exam and antibiotic eyedrops, most likely).

Also, do you have any of your own money, and any means of transportation on your own (a local bus, a driver's license, etc.)? If so, you may be able to just take the mouse into the vet on your own. If you pay for it yourself and get yourself there on your own, your parents don't really have any grounds to argue against you aside from just wanting control.

Growing up, my mother was also very reluctant to take animals into the vet because she thought it wasn't worth the money (to be clear, we could afford to, she just saw it as a waste), and as a result I had to watch animals I loved suffer. If I'm honest, that greatly shaped the way I view animal husbandry and pet ownership, and to this day I have very little respect for her priorities. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, I know it's tough, and it's one reason I don't miss being a kid/teenager/minor. I'd encourage you to try your best to get those mice in to see a vet, and to forgive yourself if you fail or for any mistakes you make in the process.

I thought it looked like it was bleeding too.

I went down to Petco, and they only do exams and shots for dogs and cats from what the employee told me. She might have just been talking about the free exams though, so maybe I'll call again today and ask if they offer any vet services for mice.

You're right. I do have my own money. I have a bike, but I'd have to find a place nearby and figure out how to transport her and how to keep her warm. I could ask someone else to give me a ride there though.

Thank you, that means a lot to me.

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 7:48 am

River wrote:While normally red stuff from the eye is porphyrin and not blood, this is very pigmented, which makes me question it. Is she scratching it a lot? What are the other symptoms?

I do have recommendations for a saline solution suggested to me by a vet. Here's the link: https://www.allivet.com/p-1294-eye-wash-solution-4-oz.aspx?sku=25731&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMpCe7aAdsPAUoc7wO446m2G5W_z-8xX4fe57hRRcH5A1oaRZmSZMIUaAoIwEALw_wcB
This is safer than DIY saltwater and probably less irritating. Have you tried ruling out allergens?

It's hard to recommend much without a vet because you could be trying to treat the wrong thing...especially in such a delicate area. Treating for the wrong thing has possible adverse effects. I was once prescribed (for rabbits, but it looks like it's used in mice too) an antibiotic eye ointment that I later found out could be purchased behind the counter at Tractor Supply, but I'd be very hesitant to recommend this unless it's your absolute last resort.

I was thinking the red discharge from her eye in the first video was porphyrin, but I think this was blood. She seems fine in every other way but this, and is acting the same even though her eye has progressively gotten worse since I got her. I have been seeing her rub her paws over her eyes whenever I have her out. She isn't doing it constantly, but it's still happening.

I tried switching to Carefresh bedding. I think maybe it helped, but I'm not fully sure. I'll look into using the eye drops. Thanks for the recommendation.

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 7:52 am

Peachy wrote:My Pearl did this her entire life. She started when she was about three weeks old and continued until she passed on as a sweet old lady. We were never able to make her stop. I had another mouse who started this when he was a little over a year old. He ended up scratching his eye out.

Inflammation like this can have a variety of causes like allergies, parasites, irritation of or injury to the actual eyeball (like a scratch). It could be completely unrelated to her eye. (Seasonal and/or cat allergies have done some crazy stuff to my left eye! lol) Only a vet would be able to diagnose and offer an effective treatment plan, so I would work on your parents. Maybe ask for a vet fund as a birthday or Christmas present? Offer to do extra chores?

In the meantime, the best you can do is keep it clean, and I would double check that your saltwater is diluted enough that it isn’t irritating. Tiny cool compresses may help keep her a bit more comfortable too.

Roisin's eye has always looked a little off to me. My first post about her eye was about her maybe having microphthalmia. She constantly squinted. Now she is opening it the full way (although it's less protruded than her other, typical mouse eye).

I definitely have the money for it, they just don't want me to take her to the vet. I guess they have that mindset where the smaller an animal is, the less it matters.

by Peachy Tue 24 Nov 2020, 10:11 am

Have you considered asking your vet about a video consultation? Email your video and explain your parents’ stance, see what they say? Realistically there’s only so much that can be done without actually seeing her, but maybe they have further advise (or an ophthalmic ointment) to offer.

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 11:17 am

Peachy wrote:Have you considered asking your vet about a video consultation? Email your video and explain your parents’ stance, see what they say? Realistically there’s only so much that can be done without actually seeing her, but maybe they have further advise (or an ophthalmic ointment) to offer.

Evidently, I don't have an exotic vet. I've never had to take an exotic animal of my own to the vet before.

by Peachy Tue 24 Nov 2020, 11:45 am

Evidently, you said your parents wouldn’t let you take her, not that you haven’t bothered to look for a vet that would treat her.

You can search for a vet here, though no results on this list doesn’t mean there’s none around, just that you’ll have to search a little harder.

https://aemv.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=5188

by River Tue 24 Nov 2020, 12:44 pm

You may be able to call one a little further away from you as long as you're in similar timezones since you're aiming for a video call.
This is the ointment I was prescribed but it doesn't need a prescription. If they can't suggest anything themselves, you could ask about this and see if it'd be safe in your situation? There are potential side effects if used in the wrong situation, so I think it's important to check with a vet but it could be an option?
URGENT! 712rc%2BOOlmL._AC_SL1500_

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 2:46 pm

Peachy wrote:Evidently, you said your parents wouldn’t let you take her, not that you haven’t bothered to look for a vet that would treat her.

You can search for a vet here, though no results on this list doesn’t mean there’s none around, just that you’ll have to search a little harder.

https://aemv.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=5188

Thank you

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 2:46 pm

River wrote:You may be able to call one a little further away from you as long as you're in similar timezones since you're aiming for a video call.
This is the ointment I was prescribed but it doesn't need a prescription. If they can't suggest anything themselves, you could ask about this and see if it'd be safe in your situation? There are potential side effects if used in the wrong situation, so I think it's important to check with a vet but it could be an option?

If the saline solution I picked up doesn't help, I'll check it out. Thanks!

by M O U S E Tue 24 Nov 2020, 2:48 pm

So, I just picked up some up & up saline solution from Target. I was also told by a friend's mom that Neosporin may help. Any suggestions for successfully putting drops in her eye as easily as possible?

by Peachy Tue 24 Nov 2020, 3:19 pm

Here are some videos showing how to restrain mice. They're administering oral medication, but it would be similar for eye drops.
https://www.petmousefanciers.com/t25-health-packet#34

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