Mouse with mites

Question
QUESTION: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2009/7/Baby-mouse-losing-hair.htm  (I just read this by Natasha)

We have 2 female mice.  Only one of them has an issue.  She has some hair loss on her face.  No areas that are completely bald.  But certainly missing a good amount of hair.  We've been keeping paper towels as bedding and changing it regularly (usually 4 times a week).  They have 2 plastic wheels, a plastic igloo and a food dish.  These items all get washed every time we clean out their bedding.  We also regularly use hot water on their glass enclosure to kill off any possible mites.  We've given our mouse, Veronica, a little bit of the 8-in-1 spray for small animals with fleas ... just a few drops on her back rubbed in.  We've also given both Lucy & Veronica 2 baths.  The first time I just used warm water.  The second time I made a bath for them using a drop from a cat shampoo that we have...diluted it in water, drained 1/2 the water, diluted it again, drained 1/2 the water, diluted it once more and it seemed fine for the girls.  They have been fine since both baths.  But Veronica continues to have these same issues.  I've seen the pictures of other mice with mites and it seems that she has the same issue.  We've been going about trying to get rid of these mites for at least 2 months.  And we haven't seen any change.

Natasha's response from the link above says, "After reading the directions carefully, shake the can well.  Hold the mouse over a bed in case it panics when it is wet.  Spray it thoroughly, making sure it is all wet (it will hate this).  Although I would use my hand, the label does say not to let it touch your skin(!).  If you don't want to get it on your hands then put rubber gloves.  The mouse's fur should be soaked such that all of its skin is wet.  Make sure the mouse is warm and absolutely dry before you return it to the cage." (Natasha)

We don't have the bird version of the spray.  We just have the small animal 8-in-1 flea & tick spray.  

As I stated before we've only putting a small amount (a few drops) on her back so far.  Mice are very clean critters!  The moment she is back in the cage... she starts the grooming process!

My fear is that she will ingest a large amount of the spray and get poisoned by it.  

What do you think we should do?  
Thank you!
Jules

ANSWER: Hi Jules,

If you use enough to wet her down all over, then you can hold her until she dries and keep her from licking it.  Once it's dried it should be more difficult for her to ingest.  It's not very strong, since it needs to kill something so much smaller than the mice, so it shouldn't be a problem.  However, you could consider the possibility that she has an allergy rather than the mites, which will also cause scratching, skin irritation, and fur loss (where scratched).  You could try her on a different bedding for a few weeks and see if that helps?

Also, are you repeating the process every week and a half?  Like fleas, mites that are not in their adult stage the first time you treat can come back and cause more problems.

I'm sorry it's not improving so far, but you do seem to be doing everything right.  I hope she feels less itchy soon!

-Tam

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

QUESTION: Hi Tam,

Since the beginning of treatment we have been using new bedding.  Before we were using regular pine bedding.  Now we use paper towels.

How do you get a mouse to dry off before grooming herself and ingesting the spray?

In our experience she starts grooming the minute she gets sprayed.

We have been repetitively spraying her once a week for 2 months.

Thanks!  Jules

ANSWER: Hi Jules,

Hmm, if it was an allergy to her bedding then it should have improved after two months on a new type.  What I did with my mice to keep them warm and drying off was to hold them in a towel and distract them if they started to groom - like with a pumpkin seed or other little treat (or simply the fact that mine like very much to explore when outside of the cage).  I wouldn't recommend toweling them off, since you need that medication on there, but having them in something warm that they can climb around on and through is a good idea.

I've got to reiterate - it really sounds like you're doing everything right already!  I would start looking for other possible causes of the mites affecting Veronica.  I've been told before by Natasha that mice always have *some* mites, and that they just aren't usually a problem.  Therefore, Veronica could be more susceptible to them if she has a lower immune response either naturally or due to stress or some other sickness.  Might something else be bugging her?  There's also the possibility of barbering, which can look similar to mites if done too aggressively.  Does Lucy groom her too much?  Mice that barber will trim the hair on their cagemates in a similar pattern, or just overgroom, and if done too roughly it can leave scabs and irritation.  In either case, I would definitely start looking for other causes for the mites or hair loss, in case that's making it more difficult to treat.

Lastly, since the mites are clearly not going anywhere and that's the problem, I would spray both of the girls so that Lucy can't give them back to Veronica each time you treat her.  I would also consider using something stronger like diluted bleach to rinse the toys and tank in (of course, rinse away all bleach before putting the mice back in).  Also, are you shaking the spray very well before using it?  Apparently it isn't very effective otherwise.

If none of this helps, please let me know, and I'll start asking around for more advice.  :)

-Tam

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

QUESTION: Hi Tam,

Thank you for the towel idea & the pumpkin seed!  We will definitely try this.  

Veronica may have a lowered immune system.  I don't know the answer to that.  But as far as some sort of stress factor - nope.  The two of them have a wonderful life!  Lucy doesn't groom Veronica too much when I watch them.  But once they go into their igloo to hide I can't see anymore.  So I wonder if maybe she is being over-groomed and I just haven't noticed.

We didn't know to shake the spray before using it.  We will start doing that from now on!  

Thank you so much.  We will definitely work with all of this advice.
Jules

Answer
I'm glad they're not stressed!  :D  Sometimes these things can just be a mystery, so I try to think up as many things as can possibly go wrong to try and fix.  :)  I'm willing to bet shaking it will do the trick - if it hasn't corrected itself in two treatments from now, write me back or maybe call your vet and we'll try and figure out even more possibilities, so we can get her itching stopped as soon as possible.  I hope she starts to feel better soon!

-Tam