from pregnancy through infancy

Question
QUESTION: a week and a half ago my dad finally said i could get a mouse because ive been studying for 3 months but i thought i was getting a boy so i didnt study about the pregnancy. i went to this store and when i looked at all the male mouse i had a strange feeling the a girl would be better so i went across the street boaght everything and picked out a beaughtiful girl her name is micheal-riley and she was the youngest one there.i got to hold her in the store and she got out of my hands because it was the first time ive held one she jumped to the ground and she didnt seem hurt. they told us that there were boys in the cage and they showed us the pregnant one. its been a week and she was fine she after the first day she wasnt scared of me but i make sher we keep my dog locked up.hes a toy (small dog) and he likes her a lot. he use to babysit her all day (normal?) then he licked her nose and she started to be pull his furr ut when he went near her (normal?) for about 4 days she seems like shes getting a lil round on the sides. today she started punching the toobs and spreading bedding near her eatible store baught bed. she barely drinks her water wich i change 2 a day and shes starting to eat more and exersize (like a husky lady trying exersize her way to skinny.) yesterday she ra in her wheel for 4 hours straight and she jut stopped and fell a sleep on the wheel now if i go near her she runs in a tube or on the wheel and try to get away. she is also building up a pile of bedding near a tube bend and was trying to bite a whole right where she piled dust ??? sorry for long question.

shes acting verry verry wierd plz help...im scared.

ANSWER: Dear Jessie,

Well, your question is first off easy to answer.  If she was with any male after age 4 1/2 weeks, she is pregnant!  One could say mice are promiscuous...

And she really sounds pregnant.  You've noticed all the details.  Becoming a little fat pear, right?  Slightly bad mood (so would you if you had between 4-14 babies inside of you!), and especially spreading bedding around.  

Make sure she has a lovely, dark, warm, private place to make her nest.  If in a house, make sure she has bits of cloth and kleenex to keep her warm and protected.  If not, make sure she has plenty of space to make a nice thick nest and give her plenty of cloth strips (old T-shirt or one of those ubiquitous unmatched socks).  Don't be stingy with bedding and litter.  She should have a good two inches of chips to work with.  Make sure there is plenty of food at all times.

The two things that concern me are drinking less water and running so much that she 'fell asleep at the wheel' (hee hee).  If she has a water bottle, don't replace the water twice a day; more like every other day.  She may resent your intrusion.  If it is a bowl of water, once a day is fine.  If she can learn to drink from a water bottle (which she probably did in the pet store), think of switching to that.  As always, keep the water in a place where, if it leaked, it would not get the nest wet; I usually place it over the food dish.  If she is running too much in the wheel (an hour at a time is enough), take it out for a half hour.  

When the babies have been born, do not disturb the nest for the first week (only if it is easy to do so without disruption, you may peek quickly just to see the little things!  They are funny-looking pink wiggly blobs).  You may hold her when she comes out to run in the wheel or if she makes it easy to pick her up, and then only for a few minutes.  She has a tough job to do.  If she gets upset she may try to move them out of the nest; this is dangerous.  If it happens, gently return the babies to the nest and return her to it as well.

After a week, the babies will have fur.  With someone else helping, begin to gently hold them (warm hands!) once or twice a day for perhaps 5 minutes.  You may have a tough time getting them out because she may disapprove!  When she is on the wheel, take it out with her in it (I hope it is a stand-alone; otherwise you have to scoop her out of it) and let someone watch her while you take out the handful of pups.  Let them get used to your smell (hold both your hands closed and very gently breathe into them).  Make sure they don't jump and hold them over the bed, not the floor.  

At two weeks they will begin to open their eyes and go nuts!  The whole world suddenly becomes a terrifying place.  They will be afraid of you.  They still need to be held once a day for at least five minutes to get tame. This phase is often called the 'flea' stage, or I call it the 'popcorn' stage.  They weigh almost nothing and have strong hind legs, so they can jump up to two feet in the air!  To get them out, try opening the nest and scooping them out before they have a chance to run.  If you need to catch them (don't chase them around the cage if you can help it), you may grab the base of the tail (near the butt) and then immediately place the mouse on the palm of the other hand, keeping a gentle hold on the tail until the baby is calm enough not to jump.  As soon as I get them out I wrap them in the bottom of my T-shirt (pulling it up towards my face) until they are calmer.  Then I let them out carefully one by one into my gently closed hand.  When they are calm in my hand I hold them for another minute or two, then put them back.  

Be prepared at any stage for the babies or mom (if you upset her) to nip you.  Don't throw them up in the air!  Most likely it will not break the skin and not really hurt, just surprise you.  If the skin is ever broken (a real bite), wash it thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic and watch carefully for signs of infection.  You might want to let your doctor know but it will probably be fine.  If a mouse bites you it means she is terrified, hurt, startled, or defending her nest.  Try not to repeat the mistake, but if a mouse bites several times, you may need to change your relationship with her.

At 3 to 3 1/2 weeks they will eat real food (mouse seed) and a week later will begin to become sexually mature.  At 4 1/2 weeks separate the girls from the boys (girls stay with mom) so you don't have any more unexpected pregnancies.  The boys may begin to fight after a while, so have a contingency plan for them!  You pet store or vet may be able to suggest a way to give some away to happy homes so you do not end up with too many mice. Do keep at least two girl babies for mom to have as friends.  It's a pity to keep a single mouse because they need each other.  

Let me know how things progress and if you have any more questions!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

PS as for the dog-- omg that is so cute!  Usually one doesn't mix mice with larger animals but if this seems ok, just be careful.  I had a mouse once who was close friends with a St Bernard!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you i justy read it. its verry nice it helps alot. she hasnt gotten bigger or had her babies yet but im indeed sher that she is pregnant. i gave her nesting materials and a bowl of water and water bottle. i also made her a safe insalated nesting box. that she stuffes with bedding and she hasnt had a mood change exept for being scared. when i go to check on her
(i listen for squeaks first) ik walkverry gentaly to her cag and i softly call out her name , wich she may come out or not. she is big all over but not to big.the only things that are still the same are her face and paws. but i still think she is pregnant and if she is she is do this weekend.

thank you.

Answer
Dear Jessie,

It sounds to me like you are doing a terrific job preparing little Micheal-Riley for her babies!  

She probably doesn't need the dish of water.  

If your wheel is one with bars, I think the cutest thing is to watch from above as she runs in it.  A little pear with feet darting out!  I love pregnant mice.  They are so full of life.  A teeny miracle in your hand.

I wish Micheal-Riley a successful motherhood and life!  No worries about the actual birth, mice do just great.

Good luck to you and great fun ahead!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha