Why is my mouse breathing fast, unresponsive, and has frozen hair?

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!

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!

Hello, I'm sorry to hear your mouse is unwell. Unfortunately this sounds like an emergency if he cannot breathe. Is it possible he aspirated water into his lungs during the bath? Does he seem more calm after some time has passed after his bath? Will he take treats from you? If he is still having trouble breathing, or is getting more lethargic, I would encourage you to take him to the vet now. Bundle him up with a blanket in his carrier to keep him warm and dry. I hope this helps, and that Ghost is feeling better soon.

Poor peanut. IT is not common for a mouse to over heat unless they are left outside. I would recommend taking him to a vet because he might have an underlying issue which caused this episode. Mice can get heart disease, bacterial ,viral and fungal disease which can cause them to have increased breathing rates. Hope peanut feels better

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.

Thanks for your question about Bouncy. You are right, sometimes respiratory problems can cause them to squeak a lot, but there are other things that can do this as well. With a decrease in appetite and his hiding behaviors that suggests that he doesn’t feel well. These, paired with his age, would make me concerned that something serious is going on. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for evaluation. They can prescribe medications if it is a respiratory problem, or they can make other recommendations if it isn’t. Please don’t give him any human medications, as many medications can be harmful to mice.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It sounds like Bueller may have an upper respiratory tract infection, which is very common in rats. I would recommend taking him to the vet within the next 24 hours, especially since he is so lethargic. They can prescribe appropriate antibiotic medication, and offer other supportive medications if necessary. In the meantime, you can try using a humidifier to help ease his congestion. I would also ensure you are not using pine or cedar based bedding as the fumes from this type of bedding can worsen respiratory issues. Carefresh is a reliable alternative. I hope this helps, and that Bueller is feeling better soon.