Pet mouse bloated and sluggish.

Question
QUESTION: This morning, I noticed that my pet mouse, Jerry (she's about a year old) did't look normal. She wasn't moving, and let me pet her for a long period of time, which was odd because she usually runs away when I try to pet her. She wasn't that warm to the touch. I lifted her up to inspect her, and noticed that she was very bloated. She was a lot larger than usual. She is also breathing strangely. I am quite worried about my mouse friend. She is housed with two other mice, that are younger than her. They get along splendidly. The other two mice seem to be doing fine. There has been one incident prior where Jerry seemed this way before. But in a few hours, she was back to normal. But it has been a about 4 hours now, and Jerry is still acting this way. I am getting worried and would like to know what is wrong with her. She was perfectly fine when i saw her last night.

ANSWER: Dear Lily,

I have both seen and heard of this before. But I am afraid I do not know of a treatment or cure. If you can possibly possibly get her to a vet it is the only thing to do. The vert should at least know what it is, and if it is terminal, put her to sleep. It can only get worse from here. She will continue to bloat and slim down and bloat and slim down and if she goes like my mice, she will eventually bloat so much it will kill her. I do not know if it is a painful death.

If you go to the vet I BEG of you to write back and tell me what the vet says. I did sent the question to my vet but he tends to ignore my questions, wanting, I suppose, to get paid. He never wrote back. Please get her to the vet if you possibly can, and please let me know, so maybe I can help the next mouse, or at least know what it is.

I am gong to ask around (on Facebook, where I know some mouse people) again, but I have done this before and gotten no answer. Please do not wait for me to get an answer.

Can you get her to the vet?? I am so sorry that I cannot help. I am supposed to refuse questions that are not in my expertise (I do not claim to have medical training) but I hate to refuse a question.

squeaks,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: Natasha,
I checked on Jerry once again and noticed that he was back to his normal self? Running on his wheel, eating, like a normal mouse. I'm very confused. Should I still be worried though? Is he still at risk of anything? I'm feeling very frustrated and worried about my mice because I have also noticed that my other mouse, Joey is sneezing. Why is he sneezing? He's still very active. Other than the sneezing, he seems just fine. I'm thinking I should seperate all three of them just in case? I don't have a car, or a job (i'm only in the 10th grade) so it's gonna be hard to get them to the vet. But I'll do what I can to get them care. Thank you so much for answering. I'll do whatever it takes to get them help, and i'll let you know how everything goes...

Answer
Dear Lily,

I don't usually say this, but to be honest I don't think the vet can do anything for the bloated mouse. I have been asking around, and the answers I have gotten are either an intestinal blockage or a bladder or kidney stone. I am not a vet but I don't think there is anything to be done. If it were a cat or dog they might be able to operate but not on a tiny mouse, and it would cost an absolute fortune.

The only advice that I was given was that maybe, possibly, a little massaging would help. And mice love to be massaged.

My honest advice, and there are mouse people who would censure me for this, is not to bring her to the vet. If you don't have a job, the expense doesn't seem worth it. I am not absolutely sure, and if you were an adult with a job I probably wouldn't say this. But I myself would not bring the mouse to the vet. It probably won't do any good.

Here is my immediate advice. I am on my ipad so I can't copy the link here, but in my profile there is an addy for an online vet. She does not always answer very quickly in my experience, but it is worth writing to her. Tell her what is happening, and tell her everything that I have told you, about what I predict will happen and think it might be. Ask what she thinks, and whether she honestly thinks a vet can help. Tell her you are a teen and don't have a job.

During the times when my mouse was bloated, she did not seem to be in pain. I am sure it didn't feel very good, but hopefully it was just strange or a little uncomfortable. Obviously I cannot know. When she died she was very bloated and I am sure it was pretty unpleasant. So I can't say he won't suffer. It is tragic.

***

As for the fellow with the respiratory infection, he needs antibiotics. Although the best antibiotics are prescription only, there is one very cheap one that works most of the time for a mild URI (upper respiratory infection): Tetracycline, which you can buy over the counter for fish.

I can't get on the computer right now- I wanted to answer as soon as I could and not wait- but it is easy to search my answers to find out how to use the Tet. Search with the words "Natasha mice mouse respiratory tetracycline" and choose the most recent answer. Basically, some is going to go in his mouth and some in the water. It is fine for the others to drink the medicated water; in fact it will keep them from getting sick themselves.

Write back with more questions, and I will be on the computer later, if you can't find a post. I am sorry about the first mouse. But I think the second mouse will probably be fine.

Squeaks,

Natasha

Oh- would you please tell me what the online vet says? Maybe I will have more information for the next mouse, if there, sadly, is one. Thank you.