My mouse is self-harming, skinny, and has breathing issues. What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about Cheese and including photos. The facial lesions appear infected, so even if caused by parasites, antibiotics are probably recommended. A veterinary visit is needed to prescribe the proper antibiotic and dose. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Scratching to the point of bleeding and wounds, is likely fur mites, which are difficult to see with the naked eye. A veterinary visit is recommended to take a skin scraping and examine under the microscope. If positive, both mice need to be treated. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Peanut and including photos. Lethargy is just a general sign of multiple illnesses. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan, even if just palliative. Offering water via a syringe could help combat dehydrate, and likewise, softened/wetted food could give calories. This sounds like a respiratory problem, whether infectious (bacterial, viral), metabolic or heart problems, needs to be determined. Good luck.

This could be local infection or trauma caused by a cagemate. Separate him if you can and see if the hair loss resolves. Use as dust free a bedding as possible to prevent sneezing. Monitor for lethargy, nasal discharge or decreased appetite. He may need to be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose respiratory infection and have antibiotics dispensed.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Hades has some hair loss, redness, and scratches on his neck and shoulders. This can be caused by fur mites, a skin infection, or a condition known as ulcerative dermatitis. A vet will be able to take a small sample of fur or skin to determine the cause. In the meantime, I recommend trimming Hade's hind nails to prevent him from scratching and causing trauma and applying SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment once daily. I hope this helps!

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!