red skin, hair loss by ears

Question
My mouse has a red, hairless area seemingly coming out of her ear, down her face, behind her jawbone.  The other ear seems to be showing signs of the same malady.  I noticed it at the beginning of the week (Sunday or Monday)and it seems to be worsening.  Blancita will be two years old in the spring.  

What could be causing these spots?

Is a trip to the vet essential or can I purchase some ointment/treatment on my own?

Would a photo be helpful?

What is the life expectancy of an albino mouse?

Thank you for your help.  I love her so much and hope it isn't something I have done.  I thought you should know that we did have to take her with us for evacuation from IKE, we live in Galveston.  She remained in her same cage but was not in the same environment that she was used to.  She did experience temperature fluctuations because we had no electricity for a little over two weeks.

Thanks,
Michelle Puig

Answer
Dear Michelle,

Albino mice do not have a shorter life expectancy than colored ones.  A mouse who is well cared-for and doesn't develop disease or cancer lives to be an average of two years old.  2 1/2 years is a gift and 3 years is about the maximum.  

The changes in Blancita's environment may-- and they may not-- have made her slightly more susceptible to the parasites that most mice carry in small quantities.  These mites can make her itch, causing her to scratch the fur and skin off.  Especially if she has no companion mouse to clean her fur, it is easy for mites to become too numerous when a mouse's health is influenced.  Her age is also a factor.

If you bring Blancita to the vet, they can examine a skin sample and determine if her problem is mites or some other skin ailment.  Then they can give you treatment for her.  

If you want to avoid a vet visit, you can use a conventional method.  But let me stress that the vet knows best; I am simply giving you a second option (which usually works).  Of course, if the mite treatment doesn't help, you would reconsider going to the vet.

To remove the mites, I use the flea and tick sprays from 8-in-1.  For an older mouse I recommend the spray for BIRDS and not for rodents.  The bird spray is half as strong.

After reading the directions carefully, shake the can well.  Spray it on the mouse until her fur is wet, avoiding her face.  You will want to hold her over a bed because some mice panic when wet and might jump.  Massage the formula in with your fingers. Keep her out and in a warm place at least until she is dry.  Put her back dry, in a completely clean cage, after throwing away anything made of cloth or paper.  Put only clean toys and objects in, having washed them well.   You must also treat any other mice in the cage.  If you see no difference at all in 2-3 days, mites were not the problem, and she should go to the vet.  If there is improvement, repeat the entire process ten days later to kill the mites which were in egg form when you last sprayed.  This will usually solve the problem.

In the meantime you can put a little Neosporin on the wounds to keep them from getting infected.

If after this treatment the problem is ameliorated, but not solved (she is still scratching), you would need to go to the stronger, rodent version of the 8-in-1 spray.  I recommend starting with the less potent one because some mice have very sensitive skin and can have pain to the touch for a period of time (less than a day) shortly after being sprayed.

Good luck to little Blancita!

squeaks,

Natasha