are my mice still sick?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, My female mice have been sick with a cold recently, making chirping sounds, so I put them on tetracycline and it's been about 10 days now, as I listen to them now, they no longer chirp but I can here them breathing, sort of like how a dog sounds when it it sniffing for something. Generally I do not here anything from them when listening and this is the first time they have sounded like this. Are they still sick or is this normal?

ANSWER: Dear Sara,

Yes, they are still sick. If the Tetracycline didn't work, they need to go to the vet. Unfortunately Tetracycline is less powerful than the drugs your vet can prescribe- which is the reason you can get it over the counter.

Can you get them to a vet? They may be quite ill- they may have pneumonia.

Good health to them.

Squeaks,
Natasha

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

QUESTION: No, I am unable to afford a vet visit. They don't act like it bothers them to much though they are still as active as ever. Would there be an repercussions to leaving them on the tetracycline a bit longer or would that be harmful to their health?

Answer
Dear Sara,

It's OK to continue Tetracycline for a while longer. If you feel they are far better than before - though not well - it may help.

A vet would probably give you Baytril (enrofloxacin), amoxicillin, doxycycline, or most likely a combination of two of them. These are actually available for pigeons at pigeon supply stores. Baytril is no longer legal for poultry, so you won't find them in an online catalog. However, Jedd's will sell it to you over the phone.

http://www.jedds.com/-strse-Medicine-%3E%3E-Respiratory/Categories.bok

You can also ask them if they carry either of the other two in liquid form. That's important because I have no idea how to mix a powder.  My recommendation is Baytril and one of the other two. Remember I'm not a vet and I haven't seen the mice. This is what I would/do do with my mice. I have had Baytril work alone when Tetracycline didn't, and have had a combo of each other two with Baytril work when that didn't. You will also have lots of medication for the future. It won't cost as much as a vet visit, but it isn't necessarily cheap. Amoxicillin is cheap. You can find the other two medications at other pigeon supply stores if Jedd's doesn't have them; I don't remember which I have used.

I have to stress that I'm not a vet.  I can only tell you what I would do. Definitely use Baytril; use whichever of the other you can get. They are not the same but I have been given each regimen by vets for mice. Give the mice each a drop twice a day for ten days. You do this like I described for the initial dose of tetracycline, by holding each mouse by the scruff of her neck in back; use an eye dropper or tiny syringe (no needle). They hate this. You will hate it too. But they will get better. I hope.

As for separating the mice, you have a good idea: If some of them get better and others don't, separate them. Just don't leave anyone alone. Loneliness is another stressor, and stressors make it difficult to fight infection. I'll mark the other question as already answered.

I hope I have helped. I don't give this advice to everyone because I can't be sure I am suggesting the same thing; nor give you an exact dose any more than "a drop."

Good health to your mice.

squeaks,

Natasha