Fight wound hairless mouse

Question
I have a hairless mouse who was recently attacked by a house mouse that managed to break into his cage and attack him, he now has wounds on his face near his right eye and along his neck, I am not able to take him to a vet as there are none located near me that have been able to help at all, but it appears as though his wounds are becoming infected i have been cleaning them but it does not seem to help. Now his whole head is begining to swell fairly badly & his wounds do not appear to be getting any better. Is there anything I can possibily put on the wounds to kill infection & to help heal them without putting him in any further discomfort. I am seriously worried about him so any help at all will be very much appreciated.

Answer
Dear Mel,

If you can't get to a vet, get to your local pet store FAST.  Pick up some fish antibiotic called 'Tetracycline' in capsules.  It may well be too late but this is mousie's only chance.  Pour out 1/2 capsule  into a little bowl or even jar lid and drop about 1/2 drop of water into it.  It should form a paste.  You'll probably make a few mistakes and get too much water, or you can add more powder, but you have tons of the stuff.  You can make another solution that is more like 2 drops per half capsule as well.  

Now you are going to have to pick up mousie by the scruff of his neck.  That's pinching the loose skin right behind his skull and picking him up like that; if you are lucky his mouth will open.  This won't hurt him but it will piss him off and there may be a struggle.  With the forefinger of the other hand, put some of the paste in his mouth.  Just stuff some in and around his mouth but NOT his nose (don't suffocate him).  You'll have a lot of paste left; don't try to use all of it.  Then use the second solution to coat his wounds.  Rub in gently if he will let you.  Then put another capsule in his water bottle, or if it is a small water bottle, 1/2 a capsule.  Shake really well.  You will change this every day for a week.

Don't let him get cold!!!  Holding him in your hand for a long time IF he likes it is a good way to keep him warm and give him a reason to live.  I have held a mouse for 12 hours straight but it saved her life.  Love helps.  If your relationship to him isn't that close, though, then put him back in the nest.  Leave any other mice in the nest; he needs them and it's totally ok if they drink the medicine.

I'm not a vet, so this is just what I have done for my mice when they had infections.  I can't guarantee everything will go well, but this is a complete emergency and probably your only chance to save his life.  Maybe your per store delivers, if you can't get there.

I wish you so much luck and please tell me what happens!

squeak,

Natasha