neglected mouse fat, noisy, sick?

Question
hi! I acquired a new mouse about two weeks ago (my first ever) and was told she is somewhere around a year old.  I know that's getting up there for a mouse.  She has a very swollen tummy and is making a chittering noise, usually only when she gets excited.  She was kept as an only mouse in a very tiny (6"wx12"Lx12"t)wire cage her whole life I believe.  I'm fairly sure the chittering is respiratory in nature and plan to treat with the tetracycline I read about in your other posts...the swollen tummy concerns me more though.  Do mice get obviously fat?  She looks pregnant to me.  She can't be though because she was housed alone.   Is there a point to treating the respiratory problem if she likely has a more serious problem? Is there a way to humanely euthanize her myself?  She is a super sweet, very friendly little girl and I don't want her to suffer if she is.  Thanks for any help you can give.  -Teresa

Answer
Dear Teresa,

The mouse should really be checked out by a vet.  It sounds like she may have been neglected, and it's hard to know exactly what is wrong.

To answer the question, though, yes, some mice are just fat.  As long a there is a wheel and the food is all healthy, there isn't much else to be done.  If she didn't have a wheel before, she may slim down now.

If she has a respiratory infection it makes sense to treat it even if she may have another problem, unless the other problem is obviously severe.  

It is almost impossible to euthanize an animal yourself.  All the humane poisons are illegal to own or purchase.  Conventional mouse poison causes severe pain and suffering.    I used to use the car exhaust but that was 25 years ago and cars are no longer poisonous.  I bring my mice to the vet now.  You may be able to find a vet who will charge for the amount of poison used-- which is minimal, only 1/2 ml-- rather than charging as though it were a cat or dog.  I hope this is not necessary.

Best of luck to the new mouse.  It isn't unusual for a mouse to live over 2 years, so you may have her for a while yet.

squeaks,

Natasha