bump on mouses side

Question
My female mouse has a skin colored bump under her left ear and behind the cheek area.  The fur is still there on the bump.  The mouse has shared the cage with another female mouse, which has died.  Then she shared the cage with another female mouse, which has also died.  So she had been in the cage by herself since.  My dad will not take the mouse to the vet.  He told me that it's probably a sist?

Answer
Dear Kimort,

A lump on a mouse, *could* 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 a possibility that the lump is not a tumor but an *abscess*.  A vet can diagnose this, and can lance the abscess if necessary, and give the mouse antibiotics.  But again, if 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-- and I stress that the vet has more modern ones which they can tailor to the problem (and maybe your dad will change his mind if he knows the mouse might be savable?)-- 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, or half that in her small water bottle, and that should be her only source of water for about 10 days. Change it every other day.

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,  gently place a small amount into her now open mouth.  Be careful of her nose!  Wipe a bit more onto her whiskers and chin.  She will ingest that when she washes herself.    If you couldn't get any inside of her, wipe some on her sides as well.  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.  If the lump disappears you can stop the treatment.  I hope that is what it is.

Good luck!

squeaks,

Natasha