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A good diet, a clean environment and lots of exercise will help keep your
mice in tip-top condition throughout their lives. But if any of these needs are
not fully met, your sensitive little guys can become ill. Knowing what to look
out for can help you to help your pets should a problem arise.
Pet Mice Health Care & Allergies
It's not at all uncommon for mice to suffer from ALLERGIES. Symptoms include
red, irritated eyes, sneezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. You may need
to do a little sleuthing to determine the culprit. In some cases, the bedding
in the cage may be the problem; try another brand and try to stay away from
sawdust and hay. Ammonia from your pet's urine can also set off allergic
symptoms, so be sure to clean the cage more often.
Allergies can also manifest themselves in DRY, RASHY, SCALY SKIN. This
condition is usually triggered by a food allergy, and is often accompanied by
diarrhea. Again, you'll need to figure out what food your pet is sensitive to. Some
mice do not tolerate wheat, and many owners have found that fruits and green
veggies such as lettuce, kale and broccoli are problematic. Your first move is
to eliminate the suspected food. If you've correctly identified the
troublemaking substance, you should notice improvement in a couple of days.
How to Care for a Pet Mouse with Skin Problems
Skin conditions are also the most obvious symptoms of external parasites.
These unwelcome visitors have bugged many a mouse. LICE tend to hang out on areas
of the body where a mouse cannot reach--behind the ears or on the neck, for
example. If you look closely at an animal infested with lice, you can see tiny
dark spots moving on the skin. A trip to the veterinarian is in order to clear
up the infestation, and you'll have to treat not only the affected
individuals, but the cage and surrounding area, too.
Mice can get internal parasites, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Animals infested with WORMS will have a coarse, dull coat, and will lose weight
despite eating an adequate amount of food. Prevention is the key here, so it's
smart to talk to your pets' veterinarian about regular worming.
How to Care for a Pet Mouse with Respiratory Problems
Like rats, mice are prone to RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, ranging in severity from
the common cold to the serious mycoplasma pneoumonia. Symptoms of the latter
disease include sneezing, coughing, a red, runny nose, lethargy and labored
breathing accompanied by rattling in the chest. Unless the disease is extremely
advanced, yet can be controlled with antibiotics. Please note that respiratory
illnesses are highly contagious, so you'll need to quarantine the infected
individual from the rest of the community until he or she is better.
As they get older, mice are particularly prone to developing TUMORS. It's
smart to regularly check your pets for lumps. If you find anything, have it
checked by a veterinarian.
As a rule of thumb, don't wait until a regularly scheduled check-up to
consult the vet if your pets exhibit any unusual symptoms. If you think one of your
mice is sick, seek medical attention immediately.
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