My pet mouse has a red, open sore on its back and is losing hair.

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.

Monitor for redness, bleeding or excessive scratching. Clean and sanitize the cage and cage furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. If the bald patch increases in size or if she develops any of the above symptoms, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating pocket pets to diagnose illness or injury. If she has cagemates, monitor for barbering (over grooming by other mice).

This looks extremely painful and could be due to trauma, infection (fungal, bacterial or parasites) or even metabolic disease. Your veterinarian will be able to perform tests to properly diagnose Alexander and prescribe appropriate treatment.

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!

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.

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!

I would recommend having Peachy examined by a vet. Mice can develop tumors just like humans, and with the small size of their body, it can be some obviously large very quickly. A vet will do an exam and determine if this is the case. If it is, they can discuss treatment options and help you watch out for signs of decreasing quality of life.