Mouse itching not responding to mites treatment

Question
QUESTION: I have 2 mice at about 2 years old and they both will not stop scratching! It started with one mouse and after she literally scratched her ear off the other mouse has begun scratching and I'm already seeing a bald patch on her neck as well as a raw area on the inside of her ear. Back when the first one was scratching I treated them both for mites but it didn't do anything!  They both still have glossy fur and they're active and they eat their food. I don't know what to do because vet appointments are expensive and they are old... Is it worth it to try other treatments?

Help :( I hate seeing my mice scratch themselves. The area isn't infected and they don't seem like their in pain but boy is the scratching bad.

ANSWER: Hi Sabrina,

You don't mention how you treated them. Is it possible that you used a spray but didn't shake it really well first? That stuff works about as well as water if it isn't shaken (personal mouse experience).

There are other things besides mites that cause itching. A vet would be able to diagnose if they maybe have a fungal infection or other skin problem. If you possibly changed something shortly before they started-- new litter, food, or maybe some kind of air-borne chemicals such as  hair spray or furniture polish, it could be an allergy. If you changed anything, change it back.

Depending on how you treated them, there may be other things to try against mites. The three main ways to attack mites are a pyrethrin flea and tick spray for rodents such as 8 in 1; ivermectin in various forms, such as a liquid to be applied as a spray; or a dab of Revolution, from the vet, on the back of their necks. Do you have a dog or a cat or know someone who does, who could give/sell you a tiny bit of Revolution? You would use about a half a drop rubbed well into the skin at the back of the neck; don't let them wash till it's dry.

In any case, you definitely have to do something. Can you imagine living covered with poison ivy? If they are scratching that much, it might feel like that. And mites are strong enough to kill an older mouse.

If you can't get to the vet, let me know exactly what you tried and maybe I can steer you in a different direction.

Best of luck.

squeaks,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: The mite treatment we had were the drops from the vet and I took them back every week for a while but they didn't get any better. I've been using the same bedding/ food since I first got them :/.  I did take them  to the vet before (expensive) amd they didn't know what was wrong with my mice either because there were no visible signs of mites. Is it possible that they've developed a compulsive itch or something?  It's always scratching in the same spot and I think I could even be that the wound scabs over and that gets itchy so they just tear it back off and it's a never ending cycle.

Answer
Dear Sabrina,

Well, this is frustrating. It has got to be something contagious. If something had been changed recently, it would not be surprising if they developed allergies to it at different, but close, times. But they would not develop allergies close to one another to a known substance.

I have to reiterate that not only have I no medical training, I also am not seeing the mice in person. The only advantage you have coming to me is that I am more willing to think the entire process through, and might sometimes know more than a vet who hasn't seen a lot of mice. Although my expertise here is behavioral, actually a good half of the questions I get are medical, and I can't turn them away, like someone could with less urgent topics.

First, it is possible that the mice had/have mites even though the vet did not see them. You don't always see mites, either with the fur test (piece of clear tape on the fur) or even a skin scraping. However, Revolution (selamectin) is the most reliable treatment for mites. Perhaps you could make sure from your vet that that is what they used. If it isn't, that is what to try.

The fact that the mice had to be treated once a week makes me think it wasn't Revolution. That is usually used once a month. Ivermectin is a once a week treatment. So do find this out.

**

If the vet used ivermectin, definitely get them to use Revolution (selamectin). Don't show them this letter because they might be insulted at what I wrote and get their back up! In this case I would expect results. This would be a very good hope. Rodent mites can be resistant to ivermectin.

With the weaker (cat/60 mg/ml) formula, the dose (if you get it without the vet) is 0.05 ml per pound. You are going to need a 1 ml syringe. That is not 0.5, it is 0.05; that is, 1/20 of a 1.0 m syringe--PER POUND. In other words, a teeny drop. About 0.01. One teeny bar on the 1.0 ml syringe. With the dog formula, you would use half as much, which would be next to impossible. I do not know if you can dilute it with water.

**

If the vet used Revolution, I would still try the ivermectin, even though it is usually less reliable. Ivermectin also works through the bloodstream, but in my experience the mouse gets more than a drop. However, it would not be surprising if the vet knows more about ivermectin and mice, and the mice only need one drop.

The least expensive source I found for ivermectin is IVER-ON Ivermectin Pour-On for Cattle at Jeffers Livestock, $19.95 (on sale) for 250 ml:

http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2&mscssid=86NED8ESF7KN9PVC6N.

DON'T USE IT STRAIGHT!!

Mix one part ivermectin to 5 parts water. Put in a spray bottle and give the mouse a few good squirts. It is pretty gentle on the mouse. You can do it once a week, though after two weeks the problem should be gone. It's best to avoid the face.

**

If neither treatment helps, then it isn't parasites.

In that case, it is likely to be a fungus such as ringworm, and I can't give you a home remedy for that. I have heard of using tea tree oil, but it is very, very caustic and I do not know what strength to use not to cause a mouse agony, which is what happened to my mouse when I was told to use it. No mouse should ever have to go through what she went through : ((( . The vet should be able to treat for fungus.


Along with an anti-fungal treatment (or maybe instead of it), mice are sometimes treated with a steroid shot, but it is possible that your vet would not or could not do this. Still, you can ask.


At the same time, I would treat (only) the areas themselves with tiny bit of a mild topical anesthetic, which is found in Neosporin Plus. This might stop the cycle of irritation, if the original cause has been alleviated. If the cause is still there, this won't solve it but might make it a little better. Rub it in well, and watch that they don't lick it off for ten minutes.

**

This is pretty long, so let me reiterate:

1. Use Revolution (selamectin) if the vet used ivermectin. I hope this is the case, even though it is expensive. You can ask the question over the phone.

2. Use ivermectin if the vet used Revolution.


3. Treat for fungus at the vet.

4. Possibly steroids (vet of course)

5. Neosporin Plus.  Make this step 3 if you really want to avoid the vet.



Please let me know what happens. I truly wish them the  best of luck.


squeaks,

Natasha