Sneezing mouse

Question
Hi, my female mouse has started sneezing in the last few days. Not constantly, just one or two then nothing for the rest of the day. Also, my one (or both, I don't know) of my mice has been squeaking a bit this past week. I've got too females and I've had them for a few months now and never heard them squeak before. The one that sneezes also froze today, she kind of stood still, only for a few seconds though, to the point where I could pat under her chin without her moving.. Is that normal? Otherwise she's been her usual self, still active and eating and generally happy. I know I'm probably being paranoid but I thought I'd better be safe than sorry and ask you, that way if it's not normal I can take her to a vet.
Thank you heaps. :)

Answer
Hi Kelly,

If they have never sneezed before, I would be concerned, yes.  The suddenly freezing after a sneeze is a worry, too.  The only time a sneezing or coughing habit is normal is if a mouse has had a very bad respiratory infection in the past, which sometimes results in habitual sneezing from the damage.

Since this is new, it is definitely something to look at.  While a sneeze itself isn't a bad thing, it could become serious if not checked out, so I'm glad you asked!  The first thing I'd wonder is if the bedding or cage had just been changed.  Some beddings can get very dusty and cause irritation, in which case you may consider switching brands.  My favorites are aspen and paper beddings, with aspen being the least dusty of the two sorts.  Pine and cedar beddings can cause both respiratory distress and even other organ damage over time, so be sure and check what is in the beddings you use, as some pet stores label them generically and not the type of wood they use.

However, the more serious potential cause of the sneezing may be an upper respiratory infection, called a URI.  Since I believe in being on the safe side, I would definitely take her into a vet if you could to see if you can get her on a round of antibiotics, so that if she is sick, she never has to experience worse symptoms, and if untreated, bad URIs can be fatal and are contagious.

A URI is caused by different things, so a general antibiotic that works on a broad spectrum of things is an excellent idea, and one that couldn't hurt, either.  A vet that works with pocket pets can prescribe a medicine to put in the water, so that both mice get their doses during their normal routines.  If the sneezing stops, excellent!!  If not, you may need to explore other possibilities, such as the bedding I mentioned before, a strong smelling cage that could be irritating her, or even allergies (which I would explore last, as they are not as common as the other causes and are difficult to identify).

A vet will be able to give you more informed options and potential causes, so if you are able, I would definitely recommend a visit.  That way you can nip any problems in the bud, and hopefully the sneezing and freezing will stop for her.  If you aren't able, please do write me back and I can explain how to use tetracycline that you can get over the counter, but a vet's opinion is always best and can get any problems resolved much quicker than I could help you with, so that would be better for your little mousies.

About the squeaking - when do they squeak?  Try and observe them and see if it is random, which might indicate surprise or even pain, or if it's when they are playing with each other or running around.  Once you know when and why they are squeaking, it would be easier for me to help you identify if it is a problem or a normal behavior.  Some mice never squeak, some do all the time, and some use it as an alert or fear (such as when playing is no longer playing).  Fearful squeaks are often accompanied by chasing or being chased, biting and nipping (blow backwards on the fur to notice any scabs from nips), and warning behaviors such as tail rattling or boxing (standing on the hind legs and punching outward at the other mouse).  These behaviors would mean they are no longer getting along, and serious fights could result.  Like I said, once you know when the squeaking happens and what they are doing, it will be easier to figure out how to stop it so both are happy and healthy.

Feel free to write back with a followup if I can answer any other questions, or clarify anything for you.  Good luck, and thank you for being paranoid - it means you care a lot about them, and that's WONDERFUL!  :)

Have a great weekend!
-Tam