mouse possible stroke

Question

My mouse   QUESTION: hi there, when i woke up yesterday morning i noticed my mouse in her wheel just laying there legs out holding on for dear life to the side of the wheel. i thought if very odd thinking she feel asleep in it but when i gently moved the wheel as if to prompt her to wake up, she scurried around desperately to get out of it and in to the tunnel. i became very worried she's normally a very fit and mobile mouse. i took her out of the cage and she was desperately trying to find her feet ( unsuccessfully and was leaning to her right side. i placed her down to see what was wrong but she was dragging her self around on her right side trying to find somewhere to brace herself.
she is able to eat and drink, although not as much as normal. I've made her cage safe so she can't get stuck or too far away from food and water.#we have a rotastak cage for her#.
at first i thought she might have gone too fast in her wheel and spun around and hurt her back or legs. but she shows no signs of pain when you pick her up or lightly stoke her. she has since stayed in one corner of the cage near her food, but i noticed about an hour ago she is dragging herself about making her bed up and trying to tidy up the cage where she has been laying which is what she normally does# she has always been the nest maker for her sisters)

do you know if this seems like a stroke? and what i can do to help her? and will she be ok like this?

P.s In the picture i have sent you, if you can see her legs and how they are always out like she is steadying herself she crawls/drags herself around like that. also how she's on her right side that's how she'll lay and slide/crawl too. i have noticed too that she has brought food back to her bed so she is moving about.
I really cant afford to take her to the vet, it has come at the worst time for us.

thank you in advance for any advice you can offer x

ANSWER: Dear Jennifer,

I think you are absolutely right that she had a stroke. There is nothing you or a vet can do. A person would have physical therapy but you'd have no idea what to do for a mouse and of course she wouldn't know how to cooperate. She might partially recover, like people do, by herself, if she is lucky. You are doing the right thing in making her as comfortable,  and her life as easy, and her cage as safe, as possible. If she has a solid plastic or mesh wheel I suggest leaving it in so she can practice her own physical therapy. But not if it is a wire wheel, because she may get her feet or legs caught in it.  Do make sure she can get to her water. If she has trouble, give her a little bread soaked in water.

She is so pretty <:3   )--~

squeaks,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: hi thanks for getting back to me.

she is really cute and she has lovely brown markings on her :)

I'm a little worried for her in that she is unfortunately the last of four mice we had, her last sister died four days ago and she is still getting used to being on her own and now this. i hope she wont be too lonely?

i have been watching her and she is struggling to reach up to the water bottle. will she know what to do with the wet bread? and will it be enough to last her in the nights? thanks again :)

Answer
Hi,

It's a pity she is alone. Girl mice do need to live in pairs or groups; I only recommend less than two mice if you are trying (heaven forbid!) to phase out of mice.  I always have at least three so that when one dies the others have each other, and I have time to replace mouse #3. Normally I would say get some little babies to go with an old lady mouse, but with her current condition I'm afraid she might not be up to the task of getting to know them. It's unfortunate that she is alone because that can make her depressed, which can lower immune response. You have to make it up to her with lots of love.

She will know what to do with the bread in water. It will last the night. Not just a little water-- the bread should be soaking in it (the bread is basically so things don't fall in the water and so she has something to pick up).  Change it when it gets messy.  Rice or soy milk would be good too, for a little extra energy (change more often).  This is also a good time to indulge her in her favorite treats such as cheese or corn chips or yogurt, because you don't have to worry about her getting fat; she needs as many extra calories (but never from sugar or sweets!) as possible. No Peanut butter because her swallowing capacity may be diminished.

I wish her the best.

squeaks,

Natasha

<:3  )--~