My mouse won't take Metacam. How can I give her the medicine?

Thank for reaching out about Daisy. Self inducted (scratching the head) can be caused by mites, bacterial dermatitis, fungal skin infections, ear infections, auto-immune diseases, just to name a few. Antibiotics are usually included in the treatment plan, as secondary bacterial infections from scratching are common. But is another of above mentioned causes, that has to be treated also. A skin scrape and examination under the microscope, might help with answers. As for getting the oral medication in, can you mix it with something palpatable that can be then ingested (bread, apple sauce)? Good luck.

Hello. Yes, if you think you can get him to take it in ketchup, this is one I have not thought to try. Mostly, if I can not get them to take their medication in fruit juices, fig newtons have worked well. But whatever you can think of that Dimounds might take the medicine please feel free to try. You wont hurt the medicine at all by mixing it with various things. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Hasbrown! I can see where he has some healing wounds on his rump, which is a common place that mice attack each other. The good news is that the wounds seem to be healing and there does not appear to be any sign of infection. You can gently trim his nails to prevent any further trauma and apply SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to the area once a day.

Hi there! Fur mites are relatively common in mice, especially if they are from a pet store. There are other conditions that can cause hair loss and skin lesions, but many times the most damage done is self-inflicted. I strongly suggest trimming little Rosy's rear toenails if you can, especially if the skin lesion is at a location that she can scratch at (like the back of her neck, or between the shoulder blades). A tiny scissor or a human fingernail trimmer is good for this. In albino mice, you should be able to see the small, pink vein in the nail - avoid cutting past this. If you do accidentally nick a toenail, don't worry - a small bit of corn starch should stop this up. In a pinch, scratching a bleeding nail on a bar of soap can help, too. Usually, simply putting pressure on it for a minute or so is enough to stop the bleeding, too. Once her nails are trimmed, I suggest cleaning up any skin lesions with a mild soap and water solution, then placing a protective ointment (like the antibiotic ointment you have) on the lesion before applying the mite spray. Most rodent mites live in the fur, so protecting the skin lesions shouldn't decrease the effectiveness of the mite treatment. Do avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth, and follow the directions on the box or bottle carefully. If the toenail trim and mite treatment doesn't help, it might be time to visit the vet to check for ringworm. This is unlikely, but possible, especially if the skin lesions have a crusty or flaky center. Be sure to practice good handwashing after handling Rosy as ringworm is contagious to humans. Good luck, and I do hope that Rosy recovers quickly!

The main stay of treatment is to keep the wound clean and dry. Make sure the bedding is cleaned regularly. With rodents, I recommend a dust free bedding called Carefresh. Rodents are very sensitive to dust in the environment. Also make sure that you are feeding a balanced diet approved for rodents and supplementing with healthy fruits and vegetables. Especially the leafy greens. Most healthy animals will be able to heal wounds on their own. Watch it every day for redness, swelling or discharge. If your mouse begins to lick at it too much, you may need to create a small cone to keep her from doing that. This is not generally a problem however. If it gets infected, there are veterinarians who treat rodents and this will generally resolve with antibiotics. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for reaching out about Galya. You can clean the abscess are with a warm, moistened cloth or cotton tipped applicator. Topical medications are often ingested and can cause gastrointestinal upset, so not recommended. Try clipping the fur around the open lesion to lessen contamination. Continue with the oral antibiotics if hamster appropriate. Providing heat support in the 75 F range could give some aid, not letting it get too cold. If this veterinarian can't help you, find one who can. Good luck.

Ask your veterinarian if the medication can be compounded or flavored. This could make administration easier. When done properly, scruffing the neck is an acceptable, safe and painless way to restrain a small pet such as a mouse.