re: Mouse eye problem

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my mouse raindrop has a problem with her eye.

I started to notice it a few months ago, as just a little goop around the eye, and then it went away and I forgot about it.

A month later, it came back and started getting worse.

I put her on a diet of cooked rice for a week, as someone recomended that on the internet.

It seemed to get better with the diet, but when the diet was over it just came back again!

I tried several things already:

Switched bedding several times (Hardly helped at all)

Changed diet. (no nuts or wheat, as some mice are alleargic to those things) that helped a little, but not completely.



Recently, the eye started getting a lot worse.

It was very red, digging into the eye and now I can't even see the eye!

She has lived with it for quite some time, so it doesn't seem like an emergancy, but I'm really worried it will hurt her over time.

How can I help her?

ANSWER: Hi Emma,

Is there any chance you can write me a followup with a picture of her eye so I can get a better idea of what you are talking about?  I don't understand what you mean by "digging into the eye."

Another possibility is that it could be an infection or irritation that may not even be related to diet or bedding.  A scratch to the eye, an infected tear duct, parasites, or even just dust or irritants in her surroundings can all cause inflammation and discharge.  I'd like to see the eye before I can really give a guess at what the problem might be and how to address it.

Even though it doesn't seem like an emergency, it is a very serious problem if you cannot see her eye anymore.  Is there a vet in your area who works with pocket pets like mice?  That would be the best and fastest way to help her eye, rather than trying different things over time.  A vet would be able to figure out exactly what the issue is and be able to fix it quickly.

If a vet is not an option for you, please let me know if you can get a picture of her eye so I can get a better idea of how to help out.

-Tam

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I tried getting a picture, but she moved around so fast that the pictures were way to blurry to see!

Do you have any suggestions on how to keep her stiller?

Answer
Hi Emma,

Try giving her a treat and waiting until she starts to eat it to get a photo.  You can also try giving her something new to perch on, and when she goes up to explore it you might be able to get one that way, too.  Will she let you hold her?  Having someone else take the photo while she is hanging out in your hands might work, as well, if she is calm enough.

-Tam