warmth

Question
QUESTION: Tam, last night and early this morning my community seemed fine. II came down to check up on them like 10 minuets ago and they are all sick now. I dont know what to do. The mouse that died had this exact thing and he died 7 hours later. Im worried. They are all acting like the one that passed. I think it was a virus brought in from the pet store. Please advise me. The only new thing I have put in the cage recently was timothy hay. MAby the extra fiber bound them up. Idk. Please help asap.

         Bob

ANSWER: I'm sorry Bob, I wish I'd seen this before I answered your other question!

Yes, it's probably the same thing as the first mouse, since they were all in contact with each other.  You should get them to a small animals vet ASAP if possible, as they will have a much better idea of what medication you should try.  If the vet is totally impossible, try the tetracycline instructions here:  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2009/4/mouse-injured-cat-antibiotic.htm .  In either case, I would strongly recommend getting a new group of mice to test for your experiment and isolating them for a couple of weeks (different cage, different room) before you run your experiment, as these ones should only focus on getting healthy.  :(

Give them lots of fresh, clean water and good, healthy foods.  Crackers, bananas, stale bread, baby food on crackers, and mashed up boiled eggs are all feel-better foods to try.  The timothy hay should not have had any bad effect on your mice, don't worry about that.  It's likely just something that was passed along before the other mouse died and is just now showing symptoms.  Do put them some place warm (high seventies, low eighties in Fahrenheit), as sick mice can have trouble maintaining their temperature and might get too cold, causing them to get even sicker.  Make sure they have extra bedding to burrow in, too, to keep them warm as well.  If you can get them to a vet please do; if not, they need to start an antibiotic as soon as possible to try and help them fight it off.  There is a good chance it isn't viral at all, but is bacterial, which you can help them fight.

Good luck!  :(
-Tam

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

QUESTION: Hello Tam,
  Its Bob again. I thank you for your advice. What you are saying seems right. When I pick them up they were cold to the touch. They are all huddled together and I am about to put more bedding in there. I do fear it is bacterial and I will try to get to a vet tomorrow. I dont know about you but I live in Ny and right now its too late to go to a vet, they are closed. I will explain to my parents that a vet is needed and , with their ok, I will bring one tomorrow. I will begin to feed them the foods you suggested and bring them to a warmer place in my home. It is 65 degrees where they are and I will see if there is a warmer spot in my home. One mouse will probably pass tonight. She is very week and I am focusing on making her comfortable until then. I am going to the pet store and will pick up some teracycline tonight. Thank you so much for all your help. I will be sure to contact you with any updates on their condition or any changes or improvements. I hope that is no bother. Its just as a first time owner of mice I feel it is important to have an expert guiding me. I feel so bad for my mice and I am trying to do everything I can to make them better.

Thank you for clarifying me  on your suggestion. I think it is great. But I dont think I will test this experiment. I am on a deadline for school and that is Thursday. So I dont have the time. If I do another science fair in the future I will return to this experiment. Thanks for that info on the bell I found that interesting and will defiantly research that.

So, thanks for your help and please feel free to reply at anytime with advice and info you feel would aid me. Thanks so much. I look forward to your reply. I will update you on what the vet says and how the teracycline works.
         Bob


ANSWER: Hmm, 65 degrees is very cold to a mouse.  Try the bathroom, as they usually are more insulated in the house, and you could screw in a heat producing light bulb, perhaps.  I'm sorry I didn't check this sooner in the day, I certainly hope they can hold out until tomorrow.  You're not a bother at all - I am proud to be a help to you and your mice!

Good luck!
-Tam

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

QUESTION: Tam,
Im gunna put a light on them but since they r nocturnal when should i shut it off? Since its so bright wont it screw up their nocturnal behaviors. I will keep them warm for tonight, maby by putting a blanket over the tank. A light airy one. I hope to hear from u soon.

         Bob  

Answer
Bob,

You can shut it off whenever the lights around their tank usually go off, so that it isn't much of a switch for them.  If you want, you can use a red bulb to gently heat the room at night.  Since mice cannot see colors, this should help them without disturbing them.

-Tam