does my daughters mouse have a broken back?

Question
HELP! My husband went to the pet store and bought our 3 girls each one mouse for christmas, they all share the same cage. My youngest daughter just showed me her mouse tonite, and it has (apparently over the last 2 days) developed 3 distinct, sharp lumps along its back. The girls stated that the bumpy areas developed one at a time. They feel very sharp to me, but the mouse is acting ok (as far as I can tell). It seems to me like the backbone is broken and sticking up pushing through the skin - but I dont know anything about mice. I have grilled my daughter to try and find out any possible truama: the only discovery is that the mouse fell out of her hands onto a carpeted floor one time, about a 2 foot drop. Everything else normal. My daughter states the mouse seemed fine and normal after that, and actually, the mouse still seems fine and acting normal. The other thing is that it looked like to me there is a tiny pink thing poking out of the same hole its pooping from - made me wonder if its an intestant or just a "mouse part". So, what do you think? How can we tell if it is in pain? What could this be? Any help would be so appreciated. Kay

Answer
Hi Kay,

I really hate to say this, but I actually cannot think of what the bumps on the back could be.  I really think a visit to a good vet with experience in pocket pets would be the best way to figure it out.  It's unlikely for the backbone to be broken if the mouse is acting normally (when I have seen mice with broken spines, they have nerve damage and drag their back legs), and it doesn't sound like an abscess or a tumor (the usual culprits for lumpy mice).  I have never heard of a problem similar to this and even asked around - I really do think a vet visit is the way to go, especially to make sure any problems in the poor thing don't get worse.

As far as the pink thing - is it definitely coming out of the anus and not just close to it?  If it is, it's not normal, but could be something simple like a hemorrhoid.  Are her poos normal - rice shaped, dark, and solid?  That could give you clues about any problems that may be causing irritation down there.  If you take the mouse to the vet it would be a good idea to ask about it as well, and if there is anything you should do about it.

Mice don't always show when they are in pain, but you can make guesses based on her behavior.  Signs of pain could include:  less activity, squeaking more especially when handled, loss of weight, poor grooming habits (messy, dull fur) or excessive grooming of a certain area (like her bottom in this case), dull eyes, or any big changes in behavior or weight.

I'm sorry I couldn't help more, but do let me know if you have any more questions!
-Tam