I really sincerely truly hope my mouse isnt dying!

Question
tonight, maybe half an hour ago, i went to feed my two mice. Pepper was as enthusiastic as ever and rushed up to meet me. Sandy didn't and she LOVES eating! She stayed curled up in their little wooden house and i assumed she was sleeping when she didn't come when i called. i let her sleep. but then when i went back, pepper was begging for a treat and sandy had moved to their nest but stayed very still. i picked her up and she just sat in my palm not moving. she was sitting very heavily on her back feet and when encouraged to move, didn't want to move her back feet. her fur is all poofed out everywhere and her eyes arent open all the way. one eye looks like it might have a little goop in it that wasnt there when i last held her. she was perfectly normal but i have noticed the poofy hair and lack of desire to eat rather recently. forgive me for the lack of some punctuation and some spelling errors. i am typing one handed because sandy is in my hand right now. i searched her for lumps and bumps and scabs and other sorts of things but nothing of that sort. she is a bit cold to the touch and she is a lot lighter than before. her energy is gone. and she was far more energetic before. i had a ball on a stand in their cage but it recently broke. i havent bought a new wheel yet but plan to tomorrow. is it just that shes not getting enough exercise? she did really like the ball. her breathing also seems more difficult. her stool also smells funny. i have heard multiple different opinions. one person said shes sick, one said shes too cold and could be going into hibernation, another said that she probably just has a cold, and one person told me shes probably dying. shes not even a year old yet. she was maybe three-four weeks old when i got her over the summer. this is not normal. peppers fine, by the way. chewing just as much as before. sandy got like this right after my old mouse died but she just had the sit around and refuse to eat. after she had a new cage mate, she perked right up. i need to know if theres something i can do for her. im afraid to go to sleep. the last time i did, my mouse like this died.

Answer
Dear Sarah,

I am very sorry to tell you that she probably is dying. Mice do not hibernate, and a cold mouse is a very bad sign. If she has a chance to pull through, you are doing exactly the right thing to hold her- and it is also the right thing to do if she is dying, because a loving mouse usually wants to die in your hand- I have had many mice ask to be held when it was their time. I have also saved lives by simply holding a mouse all night and up to 24 hours long. It is a combination of the warmth- if she does not have to fight to stay warm and if she does not have to suffer the cold, it is possible that she can heal herself- and the love.

I do not know what is wrong with her, but if she survives the night she should go to an experienced vet. There is no point in putting her through the stress of a vet visit if it is not someone who knows mice. At this point she needs a specialist.

I hope she is OK but I can't tell you she will be. Much love to her if she makes the journey over the rainbow bridge.

Squeaks,

Natasha