My pet mouse's hind legs are weak. Could it be degeneration?

This could be commonly due to a spinal cord problem (slipped disc with nerve compression, or spinal cord stroke). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry to hear about your rat! There are numerous possible causes for this issue, including trauma resulting in skeletal injury or injury to a nerve or the spine. Degenerative disease as well as some tumors can also cause paralysis of the limbs. I would recommend having Falicity examined by a veterinarian to ensure she isn't in pain and to see if something may be done to help (for example, some tumors may be surgically removed). Best of luck to you and Falicity!

Poor Princess! It's important to determine why this is happening in order to be able to treat it effectively. Muscle atrophy in the rear legs can occur due to arthritis, neurologic disease, an injury of some kind, or a metabolic disorder such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism. I would recommend taking Princess to the vet for an exam - he/she can do x-rays, blood work, or other testing if needed to help determine what is causing the muscle loss. Many of these issues are treatable once a diagnosis is made.

Spinal injury is possible especially if Nefarix cannot move his hindlimbs. Hopefully, he is experiencing weakness and not paralysis. Take the wheel out of his cage so he can rest. Monitor his ability to urinate and defecate. If he cannot urinate or defecate, you must get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Thanks for reaching out about Cookie and including photos. Placing in a small cage would help prevent complications. Rear limb paresis (weakness) is not uncommon in aging rats. Providing soft substrate such as old towels/T-shirts works well. Allowing time out for exercise is still important. Anti-inflammatory medications could prevent progression of paresis, but a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe. Good luck.

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Marvin is having some health troubles. The lip and the leg issue are probably unrelated, but depending on the age of your mouse, several things may be going on. If he's a young dude, I strongly suggest checking the length of his teeth, as overgrown teeth can poke into the lip and cause swelling and abscesses. The lump could still be an abscess even if he's older, and especially if he lives with other mice that may have bitten him. It is also possible that the lump is a cancerous tumor. While the location is uncommon, older mice can develop cancers anywhere. The best thing for him is to visit a vet to determine the cause. They will likely palpate the mass, and may take a small sample of cells from within the mass using a very small needle. These cells may then be examined under the microscope, which may help determine what is causing the mass (bacteria, cancer, etc). Treatment will depend on the cause - he may need antibiotics, or the vet may recommend removal of the mass. Limping in mice is usually caused by injury. Take a look at his foot pad to check for redness or lesions, especially if he's housed on a grate or wire mesh as these can cause pododermatitis (a skin infection of the foot). This should also be evaluated by the vet to determine the cause and to get him some pain medication, if needed. Good luck, and I sure do hope that Marvin the mouse recovers!

I'm worried about Biggens. Two years old is actually pretty old for a rat. I would be worried about a blood clot or tumor causing damage. Unfortunately there's not likely many treatment options for him. If he is not improving within 12- 24 hours, take him into the veterinarian for an exam and to find out what the next steps are. You definitely want to make sure he's not in pain. Best of luck with Biggens.