strange mouse behavior

Question
QUESTION: hello!
long ago i asked a question about my mouse, patches, who had a respratory infection. after being recommended to go to a vet, i did bring her and sh healed amazingly well. now, patches is going on 2 years old and her infection came back suddenly. it is sooooo bad that she was sneezing up tons of red stuff (vet said it isn't blood) from her nose. she gasps for air through her mouth and breathes abnormally.
Patches is my best friend and i immediantly called the vet. unfortunetly, they were closed for labor day weekend. i cannot put her to sleep because of this,

How can i make my poor angel comfortable while she lies on her death bed????!!!!!!She will not eat and i have to almost force her to drink to keep her hydrated.

Please respond immediantly!

ANSWER: Dear Sarah,

I'm so sorry about poor Patches. There is one thing you can try to alleviate her gasping. Run the shower on hot and bring her in with you-- don't get her wet of course!- and keep her in there with you in the steam for 5-10 minutes. She won't like it but it may help her to breathe.

Other than that, you need to keep her warm and comfortable. If she likes to be held, hold her as much as you can.  Just keep her in your hand. Try to get her to eat a little yogurt from your fingers.

If your vet isn't going to open until Tuesday, and she is simply miserable, there must be an emergency vet service in your area. However, that can be terribly expensive.

I wish her the very best.

squeaks,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: Hello again!
Patches has been doing great and I think she has at least a few more months left in her :)
My neighbor friend and I have 5 mice in all. They all play together, except Patches who doesn't like them very much. Miracle (born with three legs) and Poppy in one cage, Chance and Dart in one cage, and Patches alone. I have been socializing Patches with Miracle and Poppy, but I started noticing Poppy doing something odd. . .
Poppy and Patches were together in a tank with nothing but food and water. Patches was sitting in a  corner when Poppy decided to investigate. Poppy was practicly shoving her nose all over Patches. She was licking her fur, going under and over her, chasing her, sniffing so hard she ruffles Patches fur. Poppy was going nuts! She kept pushing Patches on her side and sniffing at her stomach. The whole time Patches was frozen still.
What were they doing? Usually they sniff each other under the tail and that's that. But Poppy does this every time she see's Patches.


Answer
Dear Sarah,

I'm so glad to hear that Patches recovered! Wow. What happened? Did you get to the vet?

However, I don't think she should see Poppy anymore. Poppy is being aggressive, and Patches is old and simply isn't up for it. If she freezes, she is terrified. The stress will make her sicker.

Squeaks,

Natasha