New pet mouse with maroon poop

Question
My daughter just got 3 female mice yesterday. She LOVES them! She is 12 years old and already making plans to be a vet.
One of the mice has maroon or bloody poop. What is wrong? Can my daughter become ill from handling that mouse?

Answer
Dear Samantha,

First, welcome to the wonderful world of mice! Mice make awesome pets. Good choice.

Bloody poop is a bad sign for a person or a mouse. I have a feeling your daughter has fallen in love and won't exchange the possibly ill mouse for a hopefully healthy one? That would really be the best idea. And the pet store needs to know they may have sick mice.

If she is set on keeping the mouse, you need to watch it carefully for signs of illness. Maybe it isn't blood in the poop and she's just adjusting to a new situation.. was it from the very first time you held her, or did it develop? In any case it is a good idea to give the mouse some active culture yogurt to try to stabilize her system. She will probably prefer flavored, at least vanilla, to plain. A little banana mashed in it may help too.

If it truly seems like there is blood in the poop, the mouse ought to go to the vet. It is probably some sort of gastro-intestinal disturbance and could even be fatal. That may be far too serious for me to help with. Find someone who specializes either in "pocket pets" or "exotics." If you have a choice, ask them how many mice they have seen in the last month.

There is also an actual critter vet available online, Dr Karen Rosenthal, who may be able to give you some information:

http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/critter-experts/vet/topiclist.aspx

Here is also a link to a natural product which may help. I haven't tried it myself, so I can't personally recommend it, but it looks authentic to me:

http://www.gentlecarepet.com/diarrhea_vomiting


As for your daughter becoming ill, no. There is no disease that pet mice carry which they could give to humans. The opposite is possible, though. While a mouse can't catch your cold, she can become sick and die if handled when you are sick with anything other than a cold, which may be bacterial. Wash your hands before you hold the mouse if you are sick; don't kiss her; and if you are afraid it might not be a cold, or feel very sick, don't handle her at all.

I recently threw together a video called Your First Mouse and posted it on youtube. It is quite incomplete (it was unplanned) but should give her a good sense of what mice need and how to handle them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNK4uqNZTbA&feature=share

I really, really hope the mouse is OK. There is only one drawback to mice as pets (if you're OK with the poops on you!) and that is their delicate constitution and short lives. If the mouse does turn out to be sick, watch the other mice carefully for symptoms; notify the pet store; and perhaps find another store next time, or be really sure you have a healthy and well-bred mouse by finding a private breeder.

I wish this mouse, all the mice, and your daughter the best of luck, and many wonderful mouse years ahead.

squeaks,

Natasha
<:3   )--~