My new Petco mice keep dying within a week. What's the problem?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing can be a sign of a respiratory infection. A handful of different components can lead to respiratory infections in mice, whether viruses or bacteria. Mycoplasmal infections, for example, often occur in mice. When mice have respiratory infections, they often display cold-like clues, including problems breathing normally and runny noses. If your mouse is breathing in a manner that seems inordinately loud, a respiratory infection could be responsible. Other typical symptoms of respiratory infections in mice are weight loss, reduced desire to eat, exhaustion, barely moving around and messy looking fur. The bedding in Popcorn's enclosure could be the reason for her persistent sneezing as well. Ask your veterinarian for types of bedding that are less dusty and cause less irritation to the nostrils. If the sneezing is the result of any illness, your veterinarian can provide treatment options. Remember, mice, like other pets, require regular vet checkups regardless of the presence of signs of illness. Take your mice to the vet a minimum of once annually. If she sneezes or seems sick, go to the vet immediately, even if she just had her yearly appointment. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Mice just have a natural ability to escape. The cage you get should be able to be closed securely. Any good quality commercial cage should be fine to keep your mice safe. Good luck and have a nice day!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like you are already taking great care of them. Just continue to keep them warm but be sure not to over heat them. If your room is cold in general you can place a heating pad underneath one side of the cage or cover the cage with a heavy blanket at night (leave just an inch or so on ones side uncovered so some air can go in. Unfortunately, if they get sick from being too cold they will need to see a vet. That is not something you can treat at home. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I'm sorry to hear little Sox is sneezing. I'm not positive of the process but I believe you would first need to call Petco and speak with the manager. They may have a veterinarian on staff who sees all their pets. Otherwise ask what the process is and how you would be reimbursed. Call them asap! Best of luck!

I am sorry for the loss of little Dolores. Unfortunately, without a post mortem exam, the cause of her passing is difficult to determine. She may have been ill at purchase or suffered a trauma or toxicity in the time between purchase and her passing. I would suggest you contact PetSmart and inquire about their health guarantee and what to do next.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would definitely avoid any product that says it is not animal safe. Mice are fastidious groomers, & will consume anything left on their bodies. You must clean the cage & replace any bedding that is soiled immediately to control odors. If the cage is clean, the mice will not smell too bad. If the cage granules indicate they can be used with mice, then by all means use it. Otherwise, use a rodent friendly substrate to keep your mice happy & healthy. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry!! It is very hard when puppies are this young. The most common cause of illness and death in puppies are infections and congenital issues. Common infections that can affect the respiratory system and or the neurologic system are: Herpes, distemper, bordatella, influenza. Sadly I recommend doing special testing on the next puppy that dies to find out the cause. I would request PCR swabs to send off for a respiratory panel and biopsy any abnormal tissues on autopsy. Sometime we can not save them when we do not know what the disease is. If you can not get to the Vet in town go to a specialist or local Veterinary school. It is important to know what is going on. I hope this helps and I am very sorry this is happening. I suggest that the 3 currently ill puppies be seen at a more specialized hospital. I wish you the best!