Why is my mouse tearing herself, bleeding, and constantly sneezing?

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.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Cheddar and including photos. These cases are difficult to treat but require systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and topical treatments. Unfortunately, the prognosis on these is not good but worth a try. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Gypsy! We can see mites of the skin in mice which can cause the symptoms you are describing. I would recommend bringing Gypsy in to the vet for an examination of her skin, and they can prescribe medication to treat this issue if needed.

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).

Oh my. Bleeding that is uncontrolled and won't stop should be addressed by your local pet pocket vet asap. He is squeaking likely because he is in pain and distress. Poor guy. : ( Here is a website link to help you find one in the area if you don't already have one. https://www.petcha.com/directory-of-veterinarians-for-exotic-small-mammals/ The vet will do a thorough exam of your mouse and determine the source of bleeding. If there is an injury or cut the vet will need to ligate and close the area and then get Coconut on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication at the very least. I wish you all the best with your mouse and hope that he has a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.

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!