Mouse Puffed Eye

Question
ok, so a couple of days ago a piece of my mouse's cage fell off and he was
able to get out. One of my dogs found him, but being  a bird dog, only
picked him up and put him down covered in drool. He was very frightened
but seemingly ok except for one of his eyes, which was enlarged and sticking
out of his face a little. Time has passed and he has forgotten all about the
dogs, but his eye is still big. Nothing else about him is different but i dont
know what i should do about it. I get worried when he cleans his face that he
might scrape his eye or even push it out further. I am hoping the swelling will
go down in time but ultimatley i would like to keep him healthy and not blind.
Any advice or help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer
Dear Colt,

Your mouse should go to a vet to be examined.

If you can't go to a vet (it is expensive), you can treat the mouse for infection yourself.  There may be an abscess under the eye that needs to be treated.  The vet would probably lance it and treat it, but you should not try to lance it yourself.  However, simply treating the mouse with an antibiotic often solves the problem.  Although your vet has more modern remedies, there are a few antibiotics available over the counter; the one I use is actually available in the FISH section of your pet store.  It's called Tetracycline; directions for how to use it are included in the following archive of mine:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/3/Fight-wound-hairless-mouse.htm

Hopefully the lump will subside and the eye will retract again.  Good luck and good health to the little guy!

squeaks,

Natasha