Whats wrong with my pet mouse?

Question

Three days ago, I noticed my female mouse [that I got 6 months ago] was getting a bald spot on the back of her head. Behind her ear on the same side of that had a little dry blood. I don't think it is a mite problem, what else can it be? I haven't changed her diet recently or her type of bedding. She eats washed lettuce, dry corn, and pellets. I clean her cage every 3-4 days. Now that she is getting balder, I am changing her bedding every other day. She still runs on her wheel and eats fine, but she is scratching herself a lot. If she doesn't get better by Sunday, I am going to take her to the vet.

Thanks for the answers!!!

If there is a mite problem, how can I help her?

She has pine and ceddar bedding. If the bedding is the problem, which is better to use? I don't think that is the problem because she has been using those types of beddiing for 6 months.

If I try Neosporin, can't my mouse try to eat it or scratch it off? Won't it sting her?

Answer 1

It sounds very much like a mite or lice problem. Itching lots generally mean mites or lice. She could have a fungal skin infection. This can also cause itching along with dry and flakiness of the skin.

A vet trip would be a good idea, even if it turns out to be nothing.

Just a thought: have you checked the length of her back nails? Whether they have mites or lice or not, if their toenails are too long or sharp they can scratch themselves while itching. Then they get scabs which get itchy as they heal so they scratch themselves again and it goes round in a circle! I use a very fine nail file and gently stroke each nail to blunt them.

(Although it is unlikely to cause skin problems, pine and cedar are both very bad bedding for mice and other small rodents. Rats and mice in particular have sensitive respiratory systems and the phenols which cause the distinctive scent of both those woods can cause and enhance breathing problems. There is also evidence that these phenols can cause liver and kidney dysfunction. Aspen is the best wood based litter. CareFresh is also good but can be a little bit dusty.)

Also, when treating for lice or mites remember to treat everyone living in that cage and thoroughly clean it out every other day during treatment to prevent recurrences. To prevent parasites in future, freeze bedding for two weeks before putting in the cage.

Good luck with your little one, hope she is better soon :)

Answer 2

Get rid of the pine/cedar which can cause breathing problems in pet mice. Use Aspen wood, Corn Cob Litter, or Carefresh.

It might be a mite/lice problem, but the vet will need to check a skin scraping under the Microscope. He will tell you what to do. Follow the Vet's suggestions.

It might just be a habit she has developed. Or, it could be from being bored - having nothing to do. Mice are social creatures, so 2 females would make for better health. Make sure there is a wheel and some toys, empty boxes, empty toilet paper tubes, etc. to keep them busy.
...~~~(O8:>... (squeak, squeak...mommy, mommy!)

Answer 3

Sounds like lice or mites. One vital point some of these excellent answers missed is that often micro-organism pests come from the bedding. A wise remedy is to clean out your cage and also THROW OUT the remainder of the bedding and buy a brand new bag of fresh bedding.

But regardless, you need to take it to the vet and diagnose the problem accurately so you are treating its ailments with the correct remedies.

Be careful with any treatment though. Mice are relatively tiny and fragile animals when it comes to medical applications. Too much can easily kill the mice. The vet will explain this danger properly.

Good luck with it.

Answer 4

I cant tell you for sure this is whats causing it, but her diet isnt very balanced. She should get a good quality pelleted diet, with some dark green leafy veggies and an occasional fruit.You didnt say if the lettuce you are feeding is iceberg, but if it is you should know that it has almost no nutritional value and tends to cause diarrhea. Dry corn is okay, but it should not be the only thing he gets. What kind of bedding do you have her on?

Answer 5

You might want to try a little antibiotic ointment like Neosporin on the sore spot. Also, try changing her cage a bit. Mice are very smart (and great pets!), and they get bored of the same old stuff. The tubes from toilet paper rolls are good toys, so are little bird perches (wooden or rope), cardboard egg cartons, and treat balls--these are usually marketed for rats, but mice like them too. It's a wire ball with bells and things that can be hung and you put a reward in it (my guys like cabbage). Move it around to challenge the mouse.

Answer 6

does she have a wheel that is made of wire because she could be rubbing her head against it. also the wire wheels can cause injuries to the tail. pine and cedar bedding can be toxic to your mouse as they release phenols ( a chemical found in soft woods) when urinated on.

Answer 7

She may be wearing the hair off. My sons hamster wore the hair off her nose by standing on the top of the water bottle and chewing on the cage. Her nose went between the bars. Check around the cage for something thing that.

Answer 8

yes, taking her to the vet would be the best thing you could do.
also is she maybe allergic to the bedding, or maybe you have a bug problem, or probably she's just scratching too hard! i know a lot about most rodents, but not too much about mice, since i've never had any :), but i hope i could have been a help in some way!!
best of luck!!

Answer 9

If you have more than one mouse it is because mice are dominent animals and kinda chew on each others head to show dominance

Answer 10

A vet trip would be a good idea