Mouse might have upper respitory infection

[Thrifty Hamster]

Little Prince Mortimer has an upper respitory infection? He wont eat, he wont drink really, he barely moves around, he breathes rapdily and he just sits there dormant really really stupor.

I've never been able to handle him and he's never been affectionate though so I dont expect much response from him but he really seems unhappy lately. I havent heard him run in his wheel the past couple of nights either so I took it out so he could get some rest (recommended by the Mice Are Nice Forums).

They said to give him also cooked rice. But should it be brown or white? Or both? Can I give him sesame seeds? They also said give him porriadge oats, here in America it's just oatmeal or 'quaker' oats. Depending on the brand, we have flavored and plain of course I eat the flavored and he eats the plain.

Should I change his diet from Sunseed Geribl, Mouse & Rat to something else? Or would that be too stressful on his body? He's sickly so I dont want to stress him out. It's what he's been on his entire time with me since I got him from Petco though and he's just stopped eating all of a sudden.

Is a ten gallon tank fine for a hospital cage? Or a plastic cage from the shop better? I dont like plastic cages very much, and i dont want to hang his water bottle, I might even hand feed him and give him water by hand (of course leaving it always avaible with easy acess as possible) - just so he can eat with knowing its okay.

Like, almost force-feeding him.

Man, this mouse is gonna run me dry money-wise. But you know its worth it because its going to save his life.

Just make it to tomrrow. Please...

[cowgirlskipper]

I would say he needs to see a vet asap. I'm sorry I'm not a mouse person, but I do know a few things about stressed animals and such, so I will try to be of help.

1) don't change his cage. Take out only the things that he may fall off of and/or hurt himself on in his weakened state. Make sure food and water are close to him so he doesn't have to move far.

2) I would most likely go with the brown rice, no seasonings at all. Its more natural, not bleached like the white stuff. Have you tried giving him baby food? Just no stuff with onion, garlic, or leeks and similar products. The unflavored oats should be okay for him.

3) I wouldn't change his diet right now, the change could stress him even more and if he has been on it his entire life, its probably not the problem.

How old is he? I'm not sure how long mice live for, but those also sound like signs of old age. Best wishes, I'm thinking of you and Prince!

[Thrifty Hamster]

There's been an amazing change in his behavior since I moved him to a ten gallon hospital cage. He's started burrowing, romping around and even eating a bit. I talked to a friend whose on Skype and she's getting three foster rats soon and when I told her it seems that she diagnosed him with (though not a vet) Respitory Failure, something that can go throughout the rest of his life.

I also talked to the Mice Are Nice fourms and I want to put some fleece liners and items in his cage to make things more cozy for him to lie in. There's a 'cuddle cup' at Petco I can pick up immdieately while I'm browsing through the bedding. I'm not going to change his hospital cage except for cleaning it out, since it does have the remains of my hamster's poo in it when she was there and I'm sure it stresses him out a bit.

He has no toys, just a hay house and a timothy shed teepee and his food bowl and water bottle. Though tomorrow I'm getting baby food (chicken, no garlic and no dangerous stuff for rodents like you said), brown rice, pasta - (I think he'd like that too if it was cut up), and quaker/oatmeal oats. Fresh ones. We have some but their stale. I put them in his dish and he started eating though I dont know, dunno if he likes them too much.

I know I wouldnt like stale oats >_>!

Any other veg or fruit I can give him in the meantime? Boosts of vitamin Cs or Ds that would be good for him? Veggies & fruits that are good in that for mice? Thank you for looking out for Mort!

[JBH316]

If he has an infection then he really needs antibiotics.

I hope he is doing a bit better today

[Thrifty Hamster]

Thanks for the tips, I'll take him to the vet for a quote after my day of training tomorrow and I'll request some Baytril for him. Yeah, it seems overnight while watching him he has decreased a bit. Not by much but well? He just is slowing down so the medicine would improve his quality of life. I'll tell my parents later this morning when they wake up.