I buy mice from the pet store for my preschool science center. This time the mouse I got is an aggressive little biter. He bites his cage mate, and even jumped on me and bit my hand. Kinda creeps me out and I wonder what's wrong with it.
2006-09-22 15:16:09 · 5 answers · asked by chieko 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
No, rabies in pets of any kind is virtually unheard-of now due to vaccination; there's nobody to catch it from even if you're not vaccintate. As for the aggressive mouse: in recent years a lot of mice and rats are being bred as "feeders" for snake food. Probably more are sold as feeders than as pets, since snakes and lizards have to eat regularly. So many breeders do not concern themselves with the temperament or long-term health of the rodents they breed. As a result, an increasing number of rats and mice with poor temperament are on the market now. You realize, of course, that the temperament of pet rodents is vastly different from that of wild animals of the same species; they were bred for docility over countless generations. In other words, nothing's wrong with the mouse except that it's not a good pet.
2006-09-22 18:28:10 · answer #1 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rabies take about 10 days to kill its host. It sets up in the salavary glands, (frothing at the mouth - which has a ton of shed out of new rabies virus) and causes them to swell so that nothing can go down their trought. (Rabid froth pours out of the mouth cuz it can't go any where else). Mean while the virus progresses to the brain. Ultimaltely the animal dies from dehydration, pain, and the virus attacks the brain..... and thats it. Most mamals it take about 10 days for the virus to take its host. Its an extreemly painful death. Not all rabies is aggression rabies, infact the most common rabies is Dum rabies - where they cower and stumble everywhere. I don't think your mouse has rabies, just being a typical grouchy, nippy, and territorial mouse.
2006-09-22 15:59:14 · answer #2 · answered by Krazee about my pets! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Domestic mice with rabies ? - Not that I am aware of. There are actually very few mamals that carry rabies. But if you have a nasty mouse, you obviously do not need it around your little kids. The last thing you want to do is turn them off by freaking them out by it. Since you know that the majority of mice are not like that. As far as what's wrong with it; well, 1) either like half of the people today, it is just psycho or 2) consider the very sad life this poor creature has to look forward to thanks to your science class and 3)who knows what happened to it before it got to you...... Duh
2006-09-22 16:50:26 · answer #3 · answered by Horseplay#9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt you've got a rabid mouse on your hands, but if you are concerned, call your local health department. If there is a risk they will probably kill the mouse and test it for rabies.
Again, it's probably nothing to worry about, but rabies is a scary disease so you can't be too cautious.
2006-09-22 15:25:52 · answer #4 · answered by lickitysplit 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If in doubt, contact your doctor; rabies untreated is ALWAYS fatal. Keep the mouse so that it can be tested.
2006-09-22 15:25:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋