What Do I Do?

by EverythingAnimal Tue 12 Jul 2016, 8:18 pm

Everything, it seems, has gone downhill with my mice the past couple of weeks. I hadn't said much about it before now because I just thought it was no use. Of my original two mice Astra has a tumor under her right arm, and a tumor on her left hip. Ellie has one tumor under her left arm, and is sneezing and clicking. I immediately thought uri, but still can't figure out why. Suzie, who has been alone in quarantine for months, is sill sneezing and won't stop scratching at a bald patch under her ear and continuing above her arm. The vet said he saw no bugs, and prescribed a cream to put on the irritated spot. It was for 5 days, and was stressful for her to be able to hold her still and rub on the cream. It didn't work, and the vet didn't say or do anything about her sneezing even though he saw it and I pointed it out to him directly. So now, everyone has issues, and I can't afford any more of these constant vet visits. I'm devastated with all these problems, and from now on I'm not getting any more pet store mice, only breeder or rescues. All the mice are acting happy and healthy, but I feel like they could start suffering from their problems any day. So, what do I do? Do I introduce Suzie to the others, despite her scratching, to give her a chance at a normal life with other does? Or do I keep her in quarantine for even longer, even if the other mice have just as many issues. I am grateful that they are mainly happy, although I have noticed that in the daytime Suzie picks a spot, can even when awake she doesn't move until dark. Not even in a hide, just out in a random location. Is this normal, or could she be depressed from being kept alone all these months? She used to love all her toys and hammocks and ladders, but all she does now is eat, sleep, drink, scratch, and occasionally run on her wheel. Thank you for taking the time to read about all my mousey problems.

by CinnamonPearl Tue 12 Jul 2016, 8:47 pm

I'm so sorry you're going through a rough time, EverythingAnimal.

If Suzie underwent antibiotics and is still sneezing, then it's doubtful she has a URI. If she's been alone with months, being alone any longer won't help her to recover. Plus, her behavior sounds a whole lot like depression. If it were me in your shoes, I would have put her with the other girls a long while ago. Introduce them. It can only help her. In fact, the scratching could be increased by her being kept alone.

As for the others, are their tumors soft and moveable, or are they firm and locked into place? If the latter, then they are most likely tumors, and there's nothing you can do for them. A vet visit won't help, so don't worry about that. It'll only confirm the inevitable. You can call your vet and ask about getting them pain meds without going through a visit when you believe they need it, but if they are acting normally, then the tumors are probably not bothering them enough to require pain meds. But besides that, a vet can't help them now. Just let them live comfortably. Unfortunately, it does sound like Ellie has a URI and will probably need baytril for it, but try calling your vet and asking for help to haggle a price. Explain your situation. Heck, even crying on the phone could help. Maybe they'll be able to do something for you.

So long as your girls are happy, then that's all you can do for now. Worry about Ellie's URI, but I really do think that it's time to give Suzie some friends.

by Rodents rock! Tue 12 Jul 2016, 8:54 pm

Hi, sorry to hear you are having so many issues all at once. I know that can be pretty overwhelming. I have a lot of experience with rats, gerbils, and hamsters - but Mickey is my first mouse, so not a lot of experience with mice yet.

But here are my thoughts - I would introduce Suzie to the other girls because she may be scratching herself like that out of boredom and/or loneliness.

I think it would be nice for them to all be together as it might be beneficial to them all.

Hopefully you will get some more advice here from more experienced mouse parents!

Wishing you and your girls all the best!

by EverythingAnimal Tue 12 Jul 2016, 9:12 pm

Thanks for the replies. CP, The lumps are very round, but are moveable, kind of like a cyst. I have been watching Suzie for depression, and she has only begun acting like this this past week. Same with the tumors, as they appeared as if over night on Ellie 2 weeks ago, and on Astra shortly after. I will try introducing them all on the playground tomorrow, and will probably let them be together for about an hour a day for a few before keeping them together permanently. As for Ellie, what kind of baytril is best for them? I have heard very bad things about medicating their water and it seems stressful to force feed them via glove or scruffing, but I will do it if I have to. I have also found chewable flavored tablets, like those made for dogs, of baytril made specifically for mice and sold over-the-counter at many places, does this sound reliable?

by CinnamonPearl Tue 12 Jul 2016, 9:22 pm

For introductions, I would just do it in one day. Doing it over the course of a few days will probably stress them and open the door for things to go wrong. Just introduce them in neutral territory and, once they're getting along, put them in a completely cleaned tank. I think there's only one kind of baytril. Don't medicate via water. Just restrain and do it with a syringe. It's the best way, because you can be certain they're getting the correct dosage. Definitely do not use any sort of over the counter baytril. That screams dangerous to me. Over the counter medications for mice are rarely a good thing. Only a vet can get you what you need.

by River Tue 12 Jul 2016, 10:21 pm

With Suzie;
OCD scratching can be caused by loneliness, and it definitely does seem to be her problem. She's been in quarantine rather long.
That clicking mouse does sound like a URI, so I agree on trying to negotiate and get some Baytril for her.

I would introduce Suzie. She may not even be sneezing - if the vet isn't worried, I wouldn't worry either. It could be stress sneezing?

Not sure what else to say. I am sorry about the mice.

Weird that the 'tumors' moved and appeared overnight; sounds like an abscess to me.

by CinnamonPearl Tue 12 Jul 2016, 10:24 pm

They could be either. With Little Cow, her lump sprouted overnight, so the vet assumed it was an abscess, but it turned out to be cancer. Hopefully they'll be an abscess. It's a good sign that you can move them, but it's probably too early to tell. The multiple lumps in one of your girls sounds more like cancer to me, unfortunately.

by EverythingAnimal Tue 12 Jul 2016, 10:33 pm

I can only hope that the lumps don't cause trouble for each of the girls. Do you think that if I explain everything to the vet, and perhaps send a video of Ellie's breathing, if the vet will prescribe the baytril without having to bring the mice in? It's quite pricy just for a little appointment, all three at once costs far more that my dog's checkups ever have. Also, will all the mice need to be treated, or just Ellie?

by CinnamonPearl Tue 12 Jul 2016, 10:52 pm

Definitely try it. You'll have to know Ellie's weight in grams though, so the vet can calculate the proper dosage. I think only treating Ellie is good for now. If Astra were to have caught the URI, it would've happened already. Sometimes it just doesn't transmit. It's kinda weird.

by EverythingAnimal Wed 13 Jul 2016, 6:32 pm

They are together now. When they were first introduced on neutral ground, Astra and Ellie sniffed Suzie a bit and that was that, they ignored each other after that. So, I put them back in a clean tank, and Suzie crawled into a hide. Astra went to work filling up the hide with paper for a nest, but whenever she brought in a piece Suzie would freak out even though all Astra did was drop a piece of paper and leave! I don't think she's used to other mice any more, but there was no aggression so it should work out. I haven't asked the vet yet about Ellie, but will do so ASAP.

by River Wed 13 Jul 2016, 6:41 pm

Seems like a pretty smooth introduction! I love watching mice build nests.

by CinnamonPearl Wed 13 Jul 2016, 9:18 pm

Glad to hear the introduction went well! Poor little Suzie, being all alone for so long. I can't even imagine. Sad

I'm so happy she's with other girls now. Let us know what the vet says about Ellie! If this one says no, you can always go around and ask others.

by Rodents rock! Wed 13 Jul 2016, 9:40 pm

That is great news on the smooth transition. I'm sure Suzie will get used to her new sisters and maybe soon join in on the nest building. I love watching rodents build nests too. Mickey fixes up his nest each morning before going to bed. Sometimes it looks like he is searching for just the perfect pieces of bedding for his nest. So cute! Please keep us posted on what the vet says. I'm thinking good thoughts for you!!!

by CinnamonPearl Wed 13 Jul 2016, 9:45 pm

I love watching nest building! My mice don't do it as often, but Rosie is pretty much the resident nest builder since she's the one taking in all the shredded paper whenever I give the girls any. I haven't tried it with Henry yet. But then again, he did build a crazy nest out of bedding using the underneath of his saucer since I didn't give him a box this week. Maybe he'd love some shredded paper or something.

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