Bleeding ear

Question
  I have one male white mouse.  I noticed yesterday that he is bleeding "on" his ear.  There is a dark red spot where it has bled and is still bleeding on his ear right behind his head.  I also noticed that he scratches that place a lot.  What should I do?

Answer
Dear Laura,

There could be many causes; the best bet is to go to the vet.  The vet can examine a skin specimen under a microscope and identify the problem.

It could be mites or another parasite, in which case you can treat the mouse with 8 in 1 bird flea and tick spray (the bird version is not as strong as the rodent version, which can cause their skin to be painful). Follow the directions carefully, clean the cage at the same time (throw out paper, wood items), and repeat ten days later.  Don't put it on the wound, though; that would hurt a lot.  

It could be a fungus such as ringworm.  That's hard to treat at home.  You can try a little neosporin or a very small amount of athlete's foot powder mixed in a light oil.  The vet has far more remedies at her or his disposal.

It could be a wound from bedding or another object, though if the scratching is prevalent, that's unlikely.

Good luck with your mousie!

squeaks,

Natasha