My mouse has a swollen belly and discharge. What can I do at home?

Thank you for your question. If this bump is only on one side of the abdomen I would be concerned about a tumor or an abscess (pocket of infection). With a pregnancy we would expect a symmetrical swelling of the belly. I would recommend your friend take the mouse to a vet who sees pocket pets for an examination to better determine the cause of the enlargement.

I agree that the area in question on Yolandi does appear swollen. Is she housed with any other mice? Is there any chance she could be pregnant ? If not then I would be concerned about the potential of an abscess (infection), or possibly a tumor that could be altering her hormone levels. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That particular type of mouse does not have a cheek pouch - the only mice that do have cheek pouches are deer mice (these are brown, and have a little bit more hair on the tail). This swelling can be a mass, or swelling of the lymph nodes or salivary glands which are located in that region. This can be due to a viral infection, which is very contagious. I recommend separating the mice with swellings from the mice without them as soon as possible to avoid spread of any infectious agents. The sick mice should be seen by a vet, who can prescribe antibiotic medications and supportive treatments depending on the cause. If this is caused by a virus, the affected mice may shed the virus for the rest of their lives and require life-long care and separation. I hope this helps!

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.

Thanks for reaching out an including a photo. At home for now, keeping the rectal area clean with a baby wipes or warm moistened wash clothes. Any fecal matter should be removed as soon as possible. Offering Pedialyte through a syringe, then wettened rodent pellets for calories. Diarrhea in rodents has many causes including bacteria and parasites. A visit to the veterinarian would be a better chance at least to perform a fecal exam for parasites. Store purchased products have a poorer prognosis for recovery that veterinary products and after a targeted diagnosis. Good luck.

Mice will fight viciously and can seriously injure each other. I would suggest setting up separate cages for them to avoid injury and possibly even death. If the would is deep enough he may need to see the veterinarian for antibiotics.