Help

by Mouse friend Sun 18 Feb 2018, 5:34 pm

Has lost 9g over a week- weighed this time last week and fine until yesterday night - didn't come out. Checked throughout day, seen only once moving behind something as returned to nest - nowhere near food or water
Very disorientated
Don't think she's eating or drinking
So skinny can feel rib cage, tail bone and see hips
Back feet nails have grown very long Very Quickly.
Saw a vet 2 weeks ago and weight and condition monitored since. Been eating, drinking and excercising. Nails appeared fine. Droppings fine even tonight.
What's happened to my baby? Do you think she's dying? I'm calling emergency vet but no idea what's wrong?! Also emergency vet is at least 20 min drive ( which will be in taxi in the cold)if she's passing, would it be kinder to let her go in her warm nest with her friends rather than stress and cold? No vet will come to my house. Will pay whatever it takes just don't want her to suffer!

by Mouse friend Sun 18 Feb 2018, 8:12 pm

So emergency vet gave her vitamin b12 injection and started her on antibiotic. Told me to call her tomorrow with an update. Since then she's become a little more active and has had a drink and moved around a little but she's obviously exhausted because she has to keep stopping. She came and sat on my hand for about half an hour and then went to look at the fresh food I'd put in their bowl. Had a little tiny nibble but not eaten much. Please keep hope for her. She is such a kind, gentle, loving little girl. Has now gone to bed in one of the smaller nest boxes near food and drink.I am exhausted but relieved and hopeful.

by Rodents rock! Sun 18 Feb 2018, 8:24 pm

Hi Mouse Friend,
I'm so sorry to hear about your girl. I hope she will be alright. I will be keeping her and you in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted. Take care. Hugs.

by scaredymouse Sun 18 Feb 2018, 11:17 pm

Sorry to hear about your girl, I'm glad to hear she's on antibiotics. It's impossible to say what's wrong but antibiotics are your best bet at saving her. You didn't say how old she was... But i didn't get the impression that she was old. I hope she improves. Just keep her comfortable, warm, give her anything she wants and enjoy your time. Keep us updated.

by Mouse friend Mon 19 Feb 2018, 8:41 am

Thank you so much for your hope, thoughts and prayers guys. They are so much appreciated x
I'm so sorry for my garbled posts and for the title of "Help"on my first post. If anyone can tell me how to edit that I will, as I realise it's not helpful to anyone else using/searching the site, I was just in such a panic last night (I'm in the UK) I did read the bit about "Read this before posting".
Scaredymouse: my girls are coming up to a year ( I need to check for the exact dates) I am keeping her warm and in a dim room. She doesn't seem to want anything except comfort so she is with her sisters with nesting options so she can choose a bed with or without them. I am going to wake her to get some water down her soon and try and get her to take some baby food ( just butternut squash,broccali and carrot- no other ingredients and all organic) then leave her in peace until thisevening and administer her antibiotic. Will keep you updated

by Rodents rock! Mon 19 Feb 2018, 8:54 am

You are doing a wonderful job taking care of her. She is lucky to have you.

by MerciToujoursMaPetiteBoop Mon 19 Feb 2018, 9:29 am

Since vegetables alone break down to a lot of non-caloric fiber and water, and since Little Miss Mouse has apparently lost a lot of weight, a good way to build up the nutritional value of what you're feeding her would be to stir in some baby porridge powder. It doesn't have to be prepared according to package directions -- just sprinkle the powder into the vegetable puree and stir it up. You can test to see if she prefers it thinner (still a puree), thicker (like a paste), or even in a ball form (rolled in porridge powder for less mess in handling) that she can pick up and nibble.

The vegetable puree, however, is a good way to keep her hydrated if she's ignoring her water. Whatever works, do it!

Just in case, however, and for your peace of mind -- anorexia* can be very difficult to overcome. Sometimes, no matter what you try, once the body has decided it has no interest in food, there is no recourse to turn that tide around, other than hospitalization with mechanical feeding interventions (which I do not know of being done for mice). So don't feel that you are failing your little one if you cannot get her to eat. If it happens that way, it is not your fault. You are trying everything you can think of, but sometimes there just isn't any way out of it. (* By "anorexia", I mean the straight biologic definition as "loss of appetite", not shorthand for "anorexia nervosa", which is extreme dieting amounting to self-imposed starvation.)

Hoping for the best ...
or even better than that --

by Mouse friend Mon 19 Feb 2018, 12:08 pm

Thank you so much Rodents Rock I hope so, I am doing my best xx
MerciTouhoursMaPetitieBoop: thankyou so much that is incredibly helpful advice. I will get some baby porridge powder. You explained everything so helpfully and clearly xx
Latest update is positive. At just before 3pm I saw her tucking in to the food bowl and then have a long drink! Fortunately I thought to put one of the bottles a little lower for her and that seems to be at a good height for her at the moment as she's so weak.
I know we're nowhere near out of the woods and still prepared in case.
But she's fighting whatever it is.
Thankyou so much for your kind thoughts and words

by Mouse friend Mon 19 Feb 2018, 3:19 pm

So anti biotic did not go well I tried the tortilla method but not sure she got it and a drop went on the top of her open eye but hopefully on the lid. I wiped it off and dripped a drop of water on her head to get her to wash her face which she did briefly. I'm hoping one of her sisters has given her a good wash and leaving them in peace for a bit before I go and do routine stuff later to give her time to get over being taken out of bed and ( hopefully!) medicated.

by River Mon 19 Feb 2018, 9:29 pm

As a last resort, putting some medicine on the paws and letting the mouse sit in a playpen or carrier alone for ten minutes after works. Recently I've been putting small drops of medicine into several different treats for her to eat, if you have one you're sure she'd take.

It's frowned upon sometimes, but if it's absorbent, then hey, it's better than nothing! The bottles carry extra for you to make sure you get it right and experiment, so trial and error. Good luck!

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