Mouse eye swollen

Question
In May of last year, my sister saved a common lab mouse from our school (it was going to be snake food). We've kept her (pumbaa) in the same type of cage, used the same kind of bedding, and fed her the same food since then. Now, all of a sudden, her eye is incredibly swollen (more than three times it's normal size) with a ring of what seems to be blood about halfway into the eye, which seems to be putting pressure on the swollen eye.  My sister is extremely distraught, and is worried that Pumbaa might lose her eye, or worse. My parents don't see pumbaa as a "member of the family", so they won't take her to the vet.  
We assume it's an infection, and we're trying typical treatments for that, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Trying to put some saltwater on a Q-tip and washing her eye only resulted in a terrifying panic, because the "ring of blood" started oozing/bleeding. We'd really like a bit of help identifying the problem. Any help is a relief!

Answer
Dear Kaleigh,

Ok I'll start with the understanding that a vet visit is completely out of the question (a mouse not being considered part of the family! oh dear!).


A lump anywhere on a mouse, can be a cyst or a tumor, in which case there is nothing you can do, because mouse tumors, when removed, come back.  

However, there is also a good possibility that the lump is not a tumor but an abscess, especially because it happened so fast.  A vet would diagnose this, and would lance the abscess if necessary, and give the mouse antibiotics.  But again, because a vet visit is impossible, and I know it is for many mouse owners, you can simply give the mouse an antibiotic and see if the abscess reduces in size.  Sometimes the results are extraordinary.

The over-the-counter antibiotic that I use is Tetracycline, which is available in the FISH section of your pet store or aquarium store.  It either comes in powder, tablet, or capsule form.  If it is a tablet, you will need to crush it into fine powder, which you can do with the back of one spoon against the front of another.  If it is a capsule you will empty the powder out of the capsule.  One capsule is the same as 1/4 flat teaspoon.

Put that amount in her large water bottle (10-12 oz), or half that in her small water bottle (4-6 oz), and that should be her only source of water for about 10 days. Change it every other day. Cover the bottle with tin foil so no light can get in. Tetracycline reacts with light.

Now mix a small amount (again, about 1/4 tsp, or 1 capsule) with about 2 drops of water to form a liquid paste about like mustard. You have plenty to play with, so if the mixture is too watery, try again.  

Pick her up by the scruff of the neck and, holding her gently but firmly (she will hate this but it won't hurt her; this is how her mom used to carry here),  gently place a small amount into her now open mouth.  Be careful of her nose! If this doesn't work, get some at least on her teeth.  Wipe a bit more onto her whiskers and chin.  She will ingest that when she washes herself.   Put her back into the cage right away so she will wash herself and not wipe it off while being held.

If the lump is an abscess, this will probably do the trick.  Keep the antibiotic in the water for ten days anyway.  I hope that is what it is.

Good luck to her.

squeaks,

Natasha