wild mouse with Mites?

Question
Hi,

My cat brought me a gift mouse. It appears very young but its eyes are open. It is responsive and has no obvious injuries but I want to keep it a day or two to check. It isn't very active right now but maybe that's because it's so late. I have it in a food container with airholes, shredded kitchen paper, parrot seed and water and in the dark. It has tiny mites on it, especially around it's bumhole, which worries me. Are these dangerous at all? It seems quite friendly and quite happy to sit in my hand.

Any help is appreciated, thank you.
Lisa

Answer
Dear Lisa,

Both the fact that it is friendly and that it doesn't want to move at night (mice are nocturnal) make me worry about its health.

Mites can easily kill a mouse.  The fact that you can see them suggests it's a pretty bad infestation-- or it could be lice.  Make sure you don't let it be around any other animals and do wash your hands (before and) after you hold it.

It is possible that this mouse is used to this kind of parasite, though I doubt it.  Probably the reason it got caught was it wasn't as well as the other mice.  

If it is still alive, go to a pet store and get a bottle of 8-in-1 bird flea and tick spray, or something similar.  It should be the smallest concentration possible, which is why I recommend the bird spray and not the small mammal spray.  Also get a bottle of capsules of fish Tetracycline.  

Before you spray the mouse, try to get rid of as many of the parasites as you can by hand or with a damp paper towel or Q-tip.  Then shake up the bottle well and spray it onto a bowl or other clean, non-porous surface, and rub it thoroughly into the mouse's fur and around its bum with your fingers.  Avoid the face.  Make sure it gets dry fast in a warm location like under a  light.

As for the Tetracycline, mix up the contents of one pellet with a drop of water so you have a thick liquid.  Hold the mouse by the scruff (back) of its neck (it doesn't hurt it-- that's how its mom used to carry it) and feed it (easiest with an eyedropper, but your finger is ok) a tiny bit of the mixture.  Put a bit more of the powder in its water dish and mix it well.

It should have the Tetracycline-infused water for a week and also be sprayed again in a week if you still have it.  Of course if it gets better and is ready to go out in the wild, don't worry about it.

I certainly wish the little thing luck!

squeaks,

Natasha