baby mice with tail tips bitten

Question
hi,
ive been breeding mice for sveral months with no problems, but my one female PEW had a large litter of 11, but has managed them fine, they opened their eyes 2 days ago and have been wondering around the cage, so i changed the bedding last night (been doing spot cleans while they were growing) and they seemed fine, but when i checked today, there was blood in the tissue bedding, and every baby has the end of their tail wither bitten off or skinned (only about 2mms) I am unsure if its the mother who has done this or if its from litter mates fighting, what should i do? should i try and clean them with something like iodine? or just leave well alone.
thanks

willow

Answer
Hi Willow,

Woah, that sounds icky!  Unless you've seen the pups fighting I wouldn't think it was them - they'd be a little young to already be showing that kind of aggression.  You are positive that they couldn't be pinching it anywhere in the cage?  Young mice just starting to explore can get into dangerous situations, especially with cage toys for adults like wheels.

If you're pretty sure the cage is pup-safe, I'd start watching mom very, very carefully.  It wouldn't be the best answer, since they are still nursing at that age, but if you spot her doing it (and not just cleaning the wounds) or showing any other kind of aggression toward the pups you *might* need to pull them out and finish their growth by hand-rearing them, or find a surrogate mother if possible.  I would absolutely hate for you to have to do that and it should be a very, very last resort, but if she's doing it something is very wrong.  She could either be doing it out of frustration and anxiety, if something near the cage is bothering her (check for electronics like TVs or computer monitors, drafts, abnormal lights or light patterns, irregular noises or vibrations, other pets or pests, or anything that would make her freak out), or it could just be a neurotic thing.  Has she been bred before?  Is she a calm mother or a little skittish?  If you can get the pups away from her without terrifying her, dab the ends of their tails with iodine or betadine like you mentioned.  Tail injuries are perfect entrances to infections, so whatever is causing it, it does need to be kept very clean for each pup.  You can also dab a small amount of neosporin on particularly bad ones, but since mom will be cleaning all of them don't use very much.

Definitely don't remove them unless you're sure more damage will be done, or if you spot her in the act.  Hand-raising 11 babies would be very difficult!  :(

I hope their little tails feel better!
-Tam