older mouse question

by mouse mama Sun 22 Aug 2021, 1:26 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I need some advice on my older mouse Ramses. He is about a year old and I got him from Petco. He used to be quite happy and active "popcorning" everytime he got new toys, cleaned and rearranged his cage or talked to him. Now he lays around quite a bit, drinks a LOT of water and got quite chunky. He almost looks pregnant with bulges on the side. He doesn't want to eat his favorite treats or play with his toys anymore. He actually shows little interest in me too lately. Is this just a progression of age thing??

by SarahAdams Sun 22 Aug 2021, 7:48 pm

My two boys are well over a year old and have none of those problems. To me, the bulging and excessive drinking sound like something else is going on internally but I can't hazard a guess as to what.

Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable about mouse health problems will happen along.

by Moolalastudio Tue 24 Aug 2021, 8:22 pm

Hi, I'm not sure, but I was wondering if he was over weight? Dehydrated? I'm not positive, but it sounds to me that he is over weight. I would take him to a vet if possible.

by mouse mama Tue 24 Aug 2021, 9:35 pm

Oops, I think I replied wrong to this message, so hopefully I am posting it right now the right way?! I do think he looks overweight, BUT in a weird way. The only way I can describe it is he looks overweight lumpy.....like a female does when she is pregnant and has baby lumps?? He was drinking quite a bit of water lately, so I don't believe he is dehydrated, only he seems to be drinking more water then necessary. I put vitamins in his water and he appears to be drinking a little less then before, so I'm not sure if it is helping or just a coincidence? I am currently trying to find a vet near me that sees mice as patients, but so far I haven't found one yet.

by SarahAdams Wed 25 Aug 2021, 10:38 am

Tumours are fairly common in older rodents, so that's a possibility. It is very difficult to find a vet to treat mice.

He might not like the taste of the vitamins in the water, and that could be why he is drinking less. I would stop adding them.

by mouse mama Wed 25 Aug 2021, 8:39 pm

Yes, it has proven VERY difficult to find a vet that sees mice. Where's Dr. Pol when you need him!? It's a shame that stores sell pets like this. including birds and rarely does a vet treat them.OK I will definitely stop putting vitamins in his water....you could very well be right on that too. He is the pickiest mouse I've ever seen. He hates most fruits except for watermelon...hates vegies, except for a cucumber. Hates peanuts, corn, cheerios, peanut butter, beans.. the list goes on and on...lol He picks only certain things out of his food mix and the only thing he likes with any certainty is a yogurt treat he only gets once a day, since he hates everything else....BUT only the strawberry one or the cheese flavored. He also hates plain cheese....crazy little mouse!!

by Moolalastudio Wed 25 Aug 2021, 9:42 pm

I would recommend stop giving him yogurt treats, they are very sugary. That might be the problem, with the lumps and stuff. I definitely wouldn't give him those that often. If he knows you are going to give him those every day, he will be really picky. Hope this helped Smile

by mouse mama Thu 26 Aug 2021, 6:59 pm

Sarah Adams:
Boy did you call that right with the vitamins in the water. I put regular water in the bottle and he chugged away....thank you for suggesting that. Also, I will try not to do the yogurt treat every day. It's difficult when silly mouse boy decides he won't eat anything at all lately...except for that. I feel guilty and figure well, if he does have a condition that is incurable, I'll make him happy in his final days.......BUT I could be adding to that mess with the yogurt treats. Thanks everyone for all the good advice.

by cerial Thu 26 Aug 2021, 11:28 pm

What other mice does he get to interact with?

Is he seperated through glass or wire mesh?

Does he have a wheel, saucer, dig box?

On the yogurt thing I would mix it in or pour it over food that is good for him. Eventually reducing the amount over a month. Then only give it to him once a week.

If you catch some grasshoppers or black crickets he may have fun chasing them around. Even flies can prove to be fun for them just make sure to keep the lid closed until he catches it.

by mouse mama Fri 27 Aug 2021, 6:59 pm

He is the only mouse here. He is a male and I was told that 2 males would fight and females would produce a lifetime of pet mice..lol Being as he's older, I don't believe he would take to a new male friend in "his house". He has a wheel, a house to sleep in, toys and different structures that I alternate every other day so he doesn't get bored.
I literally have a giant bag full of tiny house, big houses, multiroom castles, toys, branches, you name it I got it. He even has a mouse sized "teddy bear" to play with. The yogurt is actually a yogurt drop treat, not a liquid. I have different flavors, but he likes either the cheese or strawberry flavored ones. I even alternate a slice of cucumber or watermelon, the only other 2 things he will eat as fruits and vegies.

by Moolalastudio Mon 30 Aug 2021, 6:52 pm

I would try putting it in the microwave and melting it, then mixing it in with healthy food. He'll be picky because he knows he will get it, so he won't have to eat other food because that will keep him alive.

by mouse mama Mon 30 Aug 2021, 10:06 pm

That is a really good idea. Melt it down and mix it!! Dang, why didn't I think of that...lol I WILL get him to eat his vegies that way!!

by SarahAdams Wed 01 Sep 2021, 1:51 pm

mouse mama wrote:He is the only mouse here. He is a male and I was told that 2 males would fight and females would produce a lifetime of pet mice..lol Being as he's older, I don't believe he would take to a new male friend in "his house". He has a wheel, a house to sleep in, toys and different structures that I alternate every other day so he doesn't get bored.
I literally have a giant bag full of tiny house, big houses, multiroom castles, toys, branches, you name it I got it. He even has a mouse sized "teddy bear" to play with. The yogurt is actually a yogurt drop treat, not a liquid. I have different flavors, but he likes either the cheese or strawberry flavored ones. I even alternate a slice of cucumber or watermelon, the only other 2 things he will eat as fruits and vegies.

For sure two males will fight, often to the death. Your boy doesn't need company and it sounds like he's getting great care!

I'm glad the drinking problem got solved! Very Happy

Tiny mice dehydrate very quickly. I give mine Brita-filtered water, since the tap water is not very tasty and might discourage them from drinking.

My two boys (who are now elderly) are very picky and fussy too, eat very few veggies except peas, potatoes, and some broccoli once in a while. They also like various salad greens but I don't feed a lot of those in case of loose stools - dehydration again! They don't like fruits of any kind.

I have those yogurt drops too, but give just a pinch of one very infrequently as a treat. It's basically junk sugary junk food and should not be part of a regular diet.

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