My mouse is sneezing and breathing hard. What can I do to help it?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing can be a sign of a respiratory infection. A handful of different components can lead to respiratory infections in mice, whether viruses or bacteria. Mycoplasmal infections, for example, often occur in mice. When mice have respiratory infections, they often display cold-like clues, including problems breathing normally and runny noses. If your mouse is breathing in a manner that seems inordinately loud, a respiratory infection could be responsible. Other typical symptoms of respiratory infections in mice are weight loss, reduced desire to eat, exhaustion, barely moving around and messy looking fur. The bedding in Popcorn's enclosure could be the reason for her persistent sneezing as well. Ask your veterinarian for types of bedding that are less dusty and cause less irritation to the nostrils. If the sneezing is the result of any illness, your veterinarian can provide treatment options. Remember, mice, like other pets, require regular vet checkups regardless of the presence of signs of illness. Take your mice to the vet a minimum of once annually. If she sneezes or seems sick, go to the vet immediately, even if she just had her yearly appointment. I hope this is helpful!

Change the bedding. If you are using pine or cedar, it can cause irritation or allergies. Use aspen shavings or recycled paper pellets. If he has an open wound, he should see a veterinarian. Infection is a concern and Zeus may need antibiotics.

Hi, sorry to hear about your mouse. It is possible he has a respiratory illness that is common in rats. This needs to be treated with an antibiotic. i recommend taking him to an exotic vet or a vet than can provide such a small dose of antibiotics. You can make sure he is warm because something they get cold and try o keep his nasal passages open. Good luck, I hope this helps!

If they are sneezing but otherwise eating, drinking and acting normally I would not be too concerned. I would recommend adding a humidifier to their room to help moisten the air. This may help with their respiratory issues. If the sneezing becomes excessive, they become lethargic, or stop eating, you will have to take them to the vet because they will likely need antibiotics. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of 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.

Poor Dambo! Rats are noterious for having bacteria in their lungs that can affect them all their lives. Some rats will have more issues than others. Antibiotics help but often they cannot clear the whole infection. Any time she starts to have problems, she should see the veterinarian. Baytril and Doxycycline are commonly used for these infections. Practicing good husbandry can also help. You definitely want to use a dust free bedding such as Carefresh or Aspen pellets. Use a cage with bars and not a glass aquarium the holds all the air debris in. Run an air filter near the cage and keep the cage away from air vents and windows (as this will blow more dust). Feed lots of dark leafy greens and blueberries as well as a balanced rat food. The idea is to try to maintain a healthy immune system. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, Many animals can be seen visibly "dreaming", or moving in their sleep. If the episodes are associated with uncontrolled urination or defecation, confusion or change in behavior, then I would be concerned about possible seizure activity and recommend a vet check. If you don't notice any of those things paired with the episodes, and Urie is otherwise bright, playful, eating well, and not showing any changes in respiration, I would be more inclined to call it normal sleep activity. Upper respiratory disease is very common in mice, so you are not wrong to be concerned. If Urie begins to sneeze, wheeze, experience nasal discharge, lethargy, or unwillingness to eat, then I would recommend a vet check for him. Many mice carry the bacteria for upper respiratory infections naturally and it can flare up when the immune system is compromised by other disease or stress. These secondary bacterial infection "flare ups" require a course of antibiotics for treatment. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!