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Old 10-24-2010, 03:04 PM   #1
churchill
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Default Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

I live in a small Victorian terrace and most have mouse problems. We did not intially, and kept the house clean. Then two days ago we found mice downstairs.

I moved my two hamsters to the living room away from where the mice were found. But today when I sat on the sofa next to them a small brown mouse squeezed out of the bars from inside the cage, jumped and ran off. The hamster whose cage it was in is now acting franticly. He is moving uncoordinated, and looks anxious. I moved them both to my boyfriends house, and moved the ill one to a temporary cage which is clean.

Is there any infections mice can spread to Hamsters? Would they have attacked my hamsters? They are quite large Russian Dwarf hamsters and the mouse was very little. I am planning to go to the vets tomorrow to check but I am quite concerned at the moment.

Any help or advice anyone has would be brilliant. Thanks emma xx
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Old 10-25-2010, 12:18 AM   #2
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

There are infections that mice can pass on and the worst is Tyzzers disease spread through their urine. This can make them very ill and spreads like wildfire.
It is essential you keep the mice out of the hamster cages. I would transfer the hams to something like a bin cage with air holes that mice cannot get into until you deal with the mice.
Traditional snap traps bated with chocolate like mars bars work best. They are quick and effective and you know where the body is. At worst use poisons but make sure these are in a pet proof place. If there are two seen there are more mice about. It is the time of year they come in.
They can also carry infections that humans can get. Cute they may be but they are a health risk.
I hope you can see a vet with the sick one and yes they could attack each other.
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Old 10-25-2010, 12:24 AM   #3
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

Sorry to disagree with Souffle here, i never thought i would but please please please use a humane trap if you are thinking about using them and please dont use poision.
You can easliy get rid of the mice without casuing them harm.

I think it would be a good idea to go to the vets to have the hamster checked over to be on the safe side. Have you given him a check over yourself and made sure their is no cuts etc?

Clean the cage the mouse got in to well, to make sure the mouse's scent has gone, this will help the hamster to relex.
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Old 10-25-2010, 02:13 AM   #4
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

I echo Sarah here; please use a humane trap to get rid of them, id take the hamsters out ot the cage and completley clean and disinfect it, and everything in the cage,
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Old 10-25-2010, 02:42 AM   #5
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

Just to say I would be meshing the hamster cage to stop any further visitations from the mice, as long as they have access to a source of food (the hamsters food bowl) they will keep coming back. Male mice especially can be very territorial and could cause a hamster serious harm. I would also go down the humane trap route but if they have no access to a food source they should move on anyway, if you do manage to catch one you will have to take it for a car journey to release it as they can find their way back over a surprisingly long distance. Meshing cages is very simple btw, I use this for my mice cages Mesh Panel - Wire Fencing - Gates & Metal Fencing -Gardens - Wickes and fasten it with cable ties, it doenst look stunning but it will stop them getting in. I was trying to find a pic of the hamster heaven I did but I can only find one of the big mouse cage when Id just meshed it, it gives you an idea though.
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Old 10-25-2010, 03:11 AM   #6
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

Having tried the humane traps in our experience they never work. Even if you take them a distance more always move back in.
Having experienced what mice will eat, having all our electics go out only to discover that mice had chewed through the mains cable which was short circuiting into a wooden beam which was scorched and ready to catch fire I cannot tolerate them. Both mice and hamsters, humans, dogs and cats could well have gone up in flames that day
Be aware that also anything that has been in contact with mouse urine or faeces such as bedding, food tins etc can be a source of infection which could spread to your hamsters and yourself.

Last edited by souffle; 10-25-2010 at 03:30 AM.
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Old 10-25-2010, 03:22 AM   #7
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

i agree with either side. Of course if possible it would be best to humanely trap the mice and cause no harm, but they are wild mice and in a heavily populated area its just not possible to get them all.
Don't get me wrong, i love mice, wild or not! But if they are causing harm and danger to your hamsters, its for the best
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Old 10-25-2010, 03:29 AM   #8
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

Here is some info on Tyzzer's disease as it affects gerbils but it can also affect hamsters. I know of one breeder who lost nearly her whole hamstery a number of years ago to this disease.
Tyzzer's Disease
Also quoting from the last section there are other infections spread by mice which can infect humans too

It is important to remember that whilst Tyzzer's disease is a common cause of illness in rodents there are other conditions like Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli which can also cause serious illness and death. In many cases the symptoms of these can be similar and they should be dealt with in a similar way. These diseases have an important difference from Tyzzer's disease. All of them are potentially very dangerous for humans and can be fatal to young, ill or elderly people. For this reason no illness of rodents should be treated in a cavalier way. If disease appears it is important to review husbandry practices, treat infected animals if appropriate and to ensure that all sources of illness are destroyed or sterilised.
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Old 10-25-2010, 05:51 AM   #9
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

I agree with Souffle here, using a non-humane trap may seem mean but mice can so easily get back in. We have used humane traps in the past, and the mouse either came back or got eaten by the cat....
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Old 10-25-2010, 06:49 AM   #10
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Default Re: Wild mice got into my hamsters cage

A little trip to the vet is probably a good idea to get them checked over. You have had some good advice I see already about meshing or transfering to a bin cage. Mice only need the smallest of gaps to get through so for the time being a bin cage may be the best option.

The removal of mice is a tricky situation. In an ideal world careful catching and releasing would be the best solution. However I would use the snap shut traps which quickly kills and keeps the body in one place. I have used poision and these traps in the past. Living in a timber framed house, I don't want any animals chewing through cables, timber etc as they can cause catastrophic and very expensive damage.

The snap shut traps work but you need to try establish where they are getting in and block up all the holes to try and reduce the likelyhood of them coming back in.

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