Dose nursing mouse with antibiotic?

Question
QUESTION: Maizy,  the mouse that had sounded like she was sneezing, now sounds like she is like whispering or whistling when I hold her and I thought it was weird so I held her to my ear so I could hear it exactly and it sounded like she was, you no, whispering or whistling!  I don't know what the problem is, but I hope you can help and that shell be OK.

ANSWER: Dear Molly,

A mouse who sneezes or whistles has a respiratory infection.  I can't find your post about the sneezing so I don't know if you have treated her for that yet or not.  
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If she has not been treated, she should be.  The vet is always the best bet; I can only give you a home remedy:  

The over-the-counter antibiotic that I use-- and I stress that the vet has more modern ones which they can tailor to the problem-- is Tetracycline, which is available in the FISH section of the pet store.  It either comes in powder, tablet, or capsule form.  If it is a tablet, you will need to crush it into fine powder, which you can do with the back of one spoon against the front of another.  If it is a capsule you will empty the powder out of the capsule.  One capsule is the same as 1/4 flat teaspoon.

Put that amount in her large water bottle, or half that in her small water bottle, and that should be her only source of water.  If she has companions they should be drinking it too.

Now mix a small amount (again, about 1/4 tsp, or 1 capsule) with about 2 drops of water to form a liquid paste about like mustard. You have plenty to play with, so if the mixture is too watery, try again.  

Pick her up by the scruff of the neck and, holding her gently but firmly,  gently place a small amount into her now open mouth.  Be careful of her nose!  Wipe a bit more onto her whiskers and chin.  She will ingest that when she washes herself.    Put her back into the cage right away so she will wash herself and not wipe it off while being held.
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If she still  makes sounds after being treated, she will probably always make them.  After a respiratory infection, mouse vocal systems often change and you can hear them 'talk' to you, which they usually do in a high pitch that we can't hear. Usually this noise is a chattering or chirping sound.

Best of luck for Maizy!

Squeaks,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: Ok.  I have the Tetracycline.  She is nursing and the babys are two weeks old but I guess once you think this out, I don't think it would matter to give the tetracycline to her because the babys and the nanny have been exposed and the babys are almost done nursing.  Is that the right thing to do you think?

Answer
Dear Molly,

As a reminder, a vet can give you the best answer.  

If it were my mice, I would put the Tetracycline in the water but not physically dose little Maizy.

Still, I'd feel better if you called a vet.

best of luck,

squeaks

Natasha