Very sick mice (bump and gasping)

Question
My male mouse seems to be having trouble breathing. It looks like his lungs are really having to work at it. Also, he opens his mouth each time he takes a breath. Does this sound like something serious?

My female mouse has a scab on top of a small growth on her back. Does this sound like skin cancer?

They are in separate cages by the way.

I hope you can help, I'm worried.

Answer
Dear Kristen,

You should bring both mice to a vet as fast as possible.  Try to find a vet who specializes in "pocket pets" or "exotics."  If you find more than one, ask them how often they see mice. If you really can't get to a vet, I can give you some advice to try at home, but both mice are in danger of their lives right now, so try to go.

Your little boy is very sick.  He needs medical attention right away if he is to have a chance.  If he can't go to the vet, he should be treated with an antibiotic.  The vet has far more advanced antibiotics than you can get over the counter, but when I treat a mouse at home I use  Tetracycline, which is packaged for fish. Instructions below.

If he is still gasping, the best thing to do is to give him a steam bath.  Turn the shower on hot until the room or stall is full of steam.  Take him in and hold him in the room for 5-10 minutes.  He probably won't like it, but it may relieve his breathing. Make terribly sure he stays dry and don't shock him by taking him from the steamy room right into a cold atmosphere-- hold him in warm hands for a while.

You also need to make sure he stays very warm in his nest.  You can put a heating pad on low under part of the cage, or a hot water bottle against the side of the cage, or a lightbulb shining onto the cage. With the lightbulb, make sure he has dark, thick bedding so the light doesn't bother him.  With any method, make sure he can get away from the heat source if it gets too hot. Make sure he has easy access to his food and water; a bit of cheese might be easier and more interesting for him to eat than seeds; yogurt might be easier to take in for liquid than drinking from a water bottle.

As to the girl:  A growth can be a tumor or an abscess.  An abscess makes sense if it is under a scab, because the wound probably got infected.  If it's a tumor there is nothing much you can do (even surgery doesn't help because the tumors come back), but if it is an abscess, antibiotics should help.

Here is the information on home antibiotics:

Go to a pet store- as fast as you can- and pick up a bottle of Tetracycline from the FISH section.

You are going to put some in each water bottle and try to get an initial dose inside each mouse.  

If you have the capsules, empty one capsule into a large water bottle or one half into a small one.  Shake extremely well.  If you have the powder,  1/4 flat teaspoon measure is the same as 1 capsule.  If you have the tablets, completely crush them into fine powder with the back of a spoon and use as powder.   This should be their only water source.   

Next, take another capsule worth and mix it with one drop of water.  This will make a paste about the consistency of mustard.    You have plenty to play with, so if the mixture is too watery, try again.  Now pick up the mouse by the scruff of the neck.  This is the skin just behind its head.  This does not hurt it-- it's how its mama used to carry it-- but it will struggle valiantly.   Holding it gently but firmly,  quickly place a small amount into its now open mouth.  This is hard.  Be careful of its nose!  Wipe a bit more onto its whiskers and chin.  It will ingest that when it washes itself.  If you couldn't get any inside it at all, wipe some more on its head.  Put it back into the cage so it will wash itself.  

Again, the vet is always the best bet.  I wish both mice health and luck.

squeaks,

Natasha