What to do about Naomi (hump and tremor, young mouse)

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my pet mouse has a small hump and a small tremor. She has been doing this for four days. She's ten months old and has gone through many changes so I don't know if this has contributed to her health. In the last month I have moved twice and we lost her sister but she wasn't fond of her and they could not live together anyway so I don't think she took it that bad. But because Nora(the mouse that past) died in the larger cage I threw the cage away. Naomi is stuck in smaller cage. I will move her into a larger one I just don't know what is wrong or what I should do to help her. She's breathing fine and eating and drinking and I give her vitamins.  She lost a leg about four or five months ago but she has been fine since.

She is moving slower than usual today. In the last month I haven't given her much exercise because of the moves. If there is more info I can provide please let me know.

ANSWER: Dear Z.,

A mouse develops a hunched posture (is that what you mean?) and a tremor when it is aged. It almost seems to happen overnight. Ten months is way too early for it to be natural, but it sounds like this mouse has been through an incredible amount of stress. You would be surprised at how fond she may have been of her sister- mice communicate in a higher pitch than we can hear, so if the cages were near each other, they were probably communicating. If they were fighting when they were together it is because they couldn't share territory; once they were in separate cages they may have been the best of friends. The moves stressed her; losing the leg certainly was traumatic; and losing her sister was depressing too. I have seen a perfectly healthy mouse die when she lost a friend. Mice are very, very social creatures.

Some mice develop a condition where they age too young; but the stress in this girl's life is enough to have done it to her.

My advice is to absolutely give her as much love as possible. She may not have too much longer. I have seen an elderly mouse hang on for up to three months after she reached this stage, so you never know; and if something causes her spirits to rally, she may do better. And without seeing her I can't be sure. But I would give her the very best now. She may eat any treat she wants, too. It is past time where she could become overweight.

Best of health to her,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: I fed her right after I sent this and now Naomi is not moving as slowly... I gave her more treats than food... Could this be the problem? Do you think she is missing something from her diet? Also, yes, I did mean that she is now hunched over. I would really like to extend her life for however log I possibly can any advice would be greatly valued.

And thank you so much for your quick response!

Answer
Dear Z.,

Her main diet should still be a commercial mouse seed mix or pellet/block diet. You are right that it is unhealthy to give her more treats than food.

The best way to extend a mouse's life is to reduce stress and give her love. Mice respond very well to human love, especially if they have just lost a mousie friend.

Keep her cage in a quiet area without sudden sounds or other animal noise, to reduce her stress. Make sure she has a nice, dark night time to run around happily. When you hold her, do so quietly rather than making her run around, unless she has the energy and wants to. There should be no major temperature variations.

That's all you can do. However long she lives, it should be happy. But do watch out for any signs of illness which may also be affecting her. Watch for sneezing, nasal discharge (which is red), and crusty eyes. The most important thing you can do for her health-wise is not to let her get cold. Old and sick mice have a hard time staying warm.

Best of health to her,

squeaks

Natasha