mouse with tumor died

Question
QUESTION: I think my mouse is having a tumor. I bathe her once a week when I would
wash her cage. But I got so busy that the weekly routine was skipped for
almost 3 weeks. I was just worried when, one day, I picked her up and
noticed she had a lump in her left hind leg about the size of a pea. I called up
a vet and he advised me to give her a water soluble antibiotic to cure it in a
week if it's just an abscess. Unfortunately I wasn't able to give her right away
and even if I already did, the lump is growing and now even twice bigger than
her head. So I think it's tumor. I haven't brought her to a vet.

I really pity the little creature and wanted the tumor be removed but, as I
inquired, it would cost me a lot.  I am not even sure she'll make it or live
longer after the removal. She's been with me a year and a month now and my
third attempt to raise. She's the sweetest and the smartest. She knows her
name.

My questions are:
1. What could have caused her tumor? Could poor hygiene be possibly one?
2. If I decided to have it removed the first time I noticed it, would it be
curable? Is there a home remedy for early stage?
3. I always feel the need to bathe her every time I wash her cage so that
everything is clean. Is bathing alright?
4. Are there mouse illnesses that are contagious to human?
5. When my mouse was young I'd give her food in a specific spot of her cage,
where she has to climb up and get it from me. Since then, when feeding, I'd
call her name from the same spot and she'd climb up to get her food. Are
there more things they could actually do when trained? What are those and
how to train?

ANSWER: Dear Jaw,

Poor little mousie. Tumors are so sad. It's nice that you numbered your questions; that really makes it easier for me.

1.  Hygiene does not cause tumors. Tumors are hereditary and environmental (from chemicals), just like in humans. Abscesses can be caused by poor hygiene though.

2.  No, mouse tumors are not very operable. It is true that you could have had it removed when it was small, if you found an excellent surgeon, but most likely she would have gotten more tumors soon afterward; and the operation itself is very stressful and dangerous.

3.  I do not recommend bathing a mouse. Mice keep themselves meticulously clean. Only a very old or sick mouse stops washing itself, and then I use a dry, very soft toothbrush very lightly on the fur. The only time a girl mouse smells bad is when her cage is very dirty. Mice get sick easily and should not be gotten wet.

4.  Pet mice don't transmit any human diseases. Wild mice can but it is uncommon.

5. People do train their mice to do a number of tricks. Other than asking to be picked up, I don't train my mice. I did a quick search for you:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2049516_teach-pet-mouse-tricks.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2253360_train-pet-mouse.html
http://pet-mice.com/mice_as_pets/index_02.php

a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQEmgJ8waag

Here is a mouse doing a complicated agility course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQEmgJ8waag

I'm sorry about your poor little mouse. She may still live a long time and as long as she seems chipper, she's OK. When she becomes unhappy or depressed or cannot move around, access food or water, or wash herself, or the tumor breaks open, then it might be time to think about having her put to sleep.

I'm sorry about this mouse. I take it you are thinking about getting another. Mice don't much like to live alone, so I recommend you get two or three mice. I always have at least three because then when one dies, there isn't just one mouse left who is both lonely and depressed, and you have a little time to replace the mouse that has passed.

squeaks,

Natasha






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


sweet   QUESTION: Thank you so much for the information and for empathizing, Natasha.

She still able to eat but not so chipper and her tumor is so large now. Will
there be complications with her other organs? How about processed foods,
chips, cookies, don't you think they can causes tumor, too? Is tumor not
painful? I can't seem to see she's in pain only discomfort and somewhat
pulsating movement of her whole body. I hope she will not reach the point
her tumor breaks open coz I really dread the thought of euthanasia option.
This may sound a bit odd but I cried so hard with each mouse loss. I never
thought I could be as affected as that over little creature.

I don't think i'll be getting another one. The first mouse was bought for
pictorial purposes. After the pictorial she had nowhere or at least safe place
to go so I took care of her. Unfortunately she got caught by a cat while I was
cleaning her cage. I bought the second mouse few weeks after 1st Micey's
mishap. Unfortunately she also died, of cardiac arrest (I think so :) ). She was
played by my friends she's not familiar with. The next few hours her nose
bled and she died in a short while. Micey, my third, is actually a token of
appreciation and perhaps my last, unless someone else gives me one (can't
say no) :)

Again. thank you so much for taking time to answer my questions. I am
attaching a photo of Micey.

Keep up the good deeds and more power to you, Natasha!


Clara and friends   ANSWER: Dear Jaw,

Aw, poor little girl. That's a big tumor. she's still pretty though.  

Because the tumor is on her leg, it will probably never interfere with her internal organs.

Processed foods possibly do add to the mix of chemicals that sometimes cause cancers. Have you been feeding her just people food? If she just had a little, it's unlikely that it was a factor. Don't feel guilty about that.  I eat processed foods myself, like veggie burgers, though I'm not sure I should. I have rats, though, and I only give them fresh vegetables and fruits, except I do give them (processed) dog food (a special quality brand) and pasta. My mice get the occasional corn chip, pretzel, or Triscuit l along with their vegetable treats. I stick with things with only two ingredients. You should give her lots of treats now because (sadly) she doesn't have a long life ahead of her where you would worry about obesity, and you might as well make her life as fun as possible.

I don't think tumors are painful when they don't interfere with organs. Notice that if you touch it she doesn't squeak. I had a mouse with a tumor bigger than Micey's and she was perfectly happy. (Poor thing, I had to widen the doorway of the house for her because she didn't fit through it anymore). However, there probably will be a time when the tumor is to large for her to function. Or it may break open. With Clara it eventually broke open and I had to put her down. My vet puts my mice down for free because I am crying so hard (and I have had mice for 37 years; I still mourn each one) and the tiny amount of poison that they use costs nothing. Note: Other vets charge as much as for a bigger animal. I had to pay $55 each for two mice when I was out of town and they got tumors. So if it sadly comes to that, you will want to ask a few different vets what they will charge.

Where do you live? I have some mice for you : ))

Best of luck to Micey. Best case scenario she dies in her sleep.

Sad squeaks,

Natasha

PS I attached a photo of Clara and her friends before the tumor got too big. Hers was on her shoulder.



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


last glimpse   QUESTION: It's so sad... Why do they have to get tumors. It's good Clara has friends at
least she's not that depressed. they got nice colors, too.

Micey's gone, just this evening. she ate a little this morning but this evening
she didn't... Good thing I was able to spend time stroking her head (one of
her likes) before she died. It's heart-breaking to witness her struggle for her
last breath.

I'm in the Phils. I appreciate the offer though :)

Sorry this QA has become a long thread... thank you for the time Natasha! I
still have other photos but it seems I can only upload 1. if you got more
photos to share of your mice, you may send it to my email.. thanks!

Answer
Dear Jaw,

Mice want to die in their owner's hand. I have had many mice wait to die till I could hold them. So she went happy. It's better this way. She went the very best way she could and I'm glad of that. I got two of your photos. Sweet little girl. I hope she wasn't suffering.

I asked a scientist friend of mine why mice get so many tumors these days. They did not get them often when I was a child. She said mice are like the canary in the coal mine. The chemicals in the air that are making us slowly and slightly sick make them very sick because they are delicate little creatures. Evolutionarily, mice are not made to survive as individuals but to produce many babies so some will survive. Mice are sacrificed in many ways by life. The little mice who become beloved pets are the very lucky ones. Not only do they not have to worry about predators (and get all the food they want), but they are cared for when they are too sick to care for themselves.

I'm sorry about Micey. I also understand being too heartbroken by the loss to want another such a fragile creature, only to have your heart broken again. You're not the only person I know who has decided it isn't worth it emotionally.

squeaks,

Natasha