Mouse is cold

Question
My pet fancy mouse that I've had for a few months was quite cold yesterday, and asleep, seemingly unmoving. I gave her food, which at first she was tentative to eat, and then some sugar water. By night, she was back to normal, running around her cage, but this morning, she's back to the same state. I put her on a heating pad which she is now sleeping on, but she still seems very sleepy. She's not coughing or sneezing. She recently got a scratch from my cat after she escaped, but I've checked it everyday and it doesn't seem to be swelled or infected. Is she just cold, or is there an illness about her?

Answer
Dear Hanna,

It's very bad for a mouse to be cold. Keeping her warm with the heating pad was a good idea. Mice have a hard time staying warm because they are so tiny and have so much surface area to lose heat.  As soon as something is wrong, they often don't have the energy to stay warm and deal with the illness at the same time. Then they get cold, and they can die very quickly. Keeping a mouse warm often allows it to use its energy to fight an illness and survive something that would have killed it otherwise.

Something is definitely very wrong. It is quite likely that she is suffering from an infection from the cat scratch. She needs to get to the vet right away. If you want to save her that is the best way and might be the only way.  Keep her very warm until then.

If you absolutely can't get to the vet, here are the instructions for giving her an antibiotic you can get at a pet store packaged for fish:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2009/4/mouse-injured-cat-antibiotic.htm

I have learned since I wrote that answer that for the best effect the water bottle should be covered in tin foil to prevent the Tetracycline from reacting with the light.

Again, keeping her warm is crucial.  If she is a very friendly mouse and loves to be held, holding her in your hands for several hours can help as well. I've saved a few mouse lives that way. They do know love.

I wish your mouse the very best of health and luck.

squeaks,

Natasha