Sendai Virus?

Question
Dear Tamarah,

In October, one of my mice died. It suffered labored breathing, weakness, glassy eyes. She lost weight quiet rapidly. We ended up putting her to sleep because she could not eat or drink.

At that time (now too), I have 3 other mice. I rescued 2 from a Pet Shop where they were selling them as feeder mice. The other from a more reliable Pet Shop. I haven't got another replacement mouse since the one which died because I am certain that the others have this highly likely disease, Sendai Virus. I have treated them before with medicine in their drink bottle but there was no improvement. The Sendai Virus, you can't cure (unless large mouse colonies)so that makes me think that is it. But, I have a have a feeling, it might not be the actual disease. I have looked at websites. They all say the symptoms they have but I am not entirely sure.

Please help! <:3 )~~~

Squeaks and nibbles,
Olivia

Answer
Hi Olivia,

We spoke about this before I went on vacation, actually, and I do remember your mice.  I'm sorry they aren't doing better, and again, I'm very sorry for your loss.  :(  Sendai virus is less common than other causes, of which there are actually a great many, such as myco (which most mice have but don't show unless complicated with a second infection or a weakened immune system, such as after a stressful event or situation) or many other infections you can find here:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171545.htm

That link not only lists many possible causes of respiratory problems, but also explains how to diagnose them (which can ONLY be done definitively by a vet - see the tests it talks about) and what treatments are available.  Antibiotics in the water were a good first course of action only because tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic, so it's kind of like a net that will hopefully catch the most likely problems, but even typical respiratory diseases can be resistant and just need a different, more targeted antibiotic.  Your vet can provide you more specific, effective antibiotics to try and can tell you how long each one needs - because with any antibiotic, the full course needs to be given even if it doesn't seem to be helping.

If your vet is insistant the cause has to be sendai virus, which I really don't believe it sounds like, I would suggest printing the above link and bringing it in with you.  Any information you can provide your vet will help, but if tetracycline didn't help, there isn't anything else I can help you with - it can be very difficult to find, dose, and give other antibiotics besides tetracycline without a veterinarian's help.

Keep me updated, and I hope they feel better soon!
-Tam