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Old 04-15-2014, 06:39 PM   #1
Thrifty Hamster
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Exclamation Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

So today I was at Petco, I saw a mouse that had open wounds from causing a fight with another mouse (several mice in the cage, probably.) His testosterone levels are extremely high and he's super smelly!

I immediately called over a clerk and she said he would be put into the back and used as a feeder mouse, which I respect the fact that snakes have to eat mice in order to survive but I can't let the mouse be eaten after he has all these open wounds! (He prolly wont even taste good to the snake anyway >_<!)(Being bloody and wounded and all...)

So, I begged my mom (which didn't take much begging, considering she felt sorry for the lil' guy too!) to let me 'buy' AKA: rescue him. Yes. They made me PURCHASE an INJURED mouse. However we get to the cashier, a different woman and she's applaud upon hearing the other woman's story that we have to pay so she docks off 80 cents for the mouse which is originally priced at 3.90 something. She can only dock off a little bit because she's afraid she'll get in trouble, but we understand this and thank her for her help and say that "every bit counts,".

Years ago mom and I rescued an Evening Bat that was flopping around on the side-walk and see we knew he was going to die, but we didn't want him to die in shame by getting killed by some cat or something. So better for him to die comfortably then dying like... that.

Anyway, so I took the mouse and he's actually doing better then he was in the pet store, and I have seen him eat and run on his wheel and sleep a bit and burrow, etc.

But he still has open wounds so I don't know if they'll heal on their own or if I should take action and eventually find some sort of home remedy for him? My mom refuses to take him to the vet, and I respect this as we took my hamster to the vet as you all probably remember and she died the day after.

I hope he makes it through tonight. -crosses fingers-.
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Old 04-15-2014, 06:47 PM   #2
Colby and the Dwarfs
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

How serious are they? This may sound horrible, but if they're bad the snake could of been better than making him suffer. I would have taken him too though!

However, I think you did the right thing and I would advise emailing or calling a vet maybe?

Also, Pictures would be nice.
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Old 04-15-2014, 06:55 PM   #3
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

The vet'll probably prescribe an oral antibiotic or something.
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Old 04-16-2014, 01:07 AM   #4
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

Hi Thrifty Hamster. If you can give a little more information on where the wounds are on the mouse and if they are bite wounds from fighting I suspect. Male mice should be separated if fights break out and no doubt this pet store don`t give a damn as they have already said what they do with mice that get injured. I wouldn`t set foot in there again personally.

But back to your little fella. Saline (add one teaspoon of salt to one pint of boiled, cooled water) and sterilise a small bottle to store the saline in. Gently wipe any cuts or scabby wounds with a wetted cotton ball in the saline, but only apply where necessary. If his wounds are scabbing over, they will be healing up, but any that bleed or are open, I would bathe a few times and leave him to settle.

Male mice do well on their own and most end up this way due to fall outs with other males. He should be happy now with his own cage, wheel and peace to do what he wants.

Add some dry porridge oats to his dry mix and give him a little piece of apple, sweet corn, garden peas and millet sold for birds. Only feed the veg is very small pieces though as you don`t want to upset his tummy.

How is he now?
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Old 04-16-2014, 05:07 AM   #5
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

Hi Racing, thanks for the advice. Though when you say bathe do you mean bathe him in some sort of Tupperware container (with low amounts of water, of course) or in the sink?

He's currently on Vita Prima Rat, Mouse & Gerbil Sunseed mix. It truly was an emergency situation as I had nothing to give him at home. No 'special mouse food' only hamster food and I didn't even have a cage set up for him!

So, therefore I panicked and choose the best looking food on the shelf in my opinion and took him home with me and fled the store >_<! I'll try to update his food to something higher quality ASAP, and I'll be on that Saline formula.

He's doing fine by the way, he hasn't shown much signs of pain and I've been watching him closely... He's been cleaning himself, which I assume most likely his wounds have been bothering him a tadbit (though that hasn't been like, screaming in pain or anything because if he'd done that I'd take immediate action...) He has been eating his new food just fine, and he drank A LOT my guess was they never changed the water properly in the store and/or they didn't have any water at all, so that's why I'm guessing he was so thirsty.

OR he must've fought to the death with other mice to get to the water? Submissive or dominance? I think he's the dominant one, because his testicles are HUGE! Already his cage is smelly from him spraying and he's tried to bite me through the box while on the drive home. He's feisty! But I'm hoping for him because he made through the first night!

I hope little Mortie-cakes is here to stay!
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Old 04-16-2014, 05:14 AM   #6
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

I think she means add the saline solution to those open wounds, not an actual water bath. I hope he heals up well!!
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Old 04-16-2014, 06:27 AM   #7
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

Hello again, yes, I meant just dip a cotton ball or pad into the saline and gently squeeze the cotton out so that it isn`t soaking. You only really need to apply saline if any of his wounds seem bleeding or open. Otherwise, he should heal up himself. Sometimes trying to apply lotions and potions just makes things worse with mice and in males in particular, they can become prone to something we call OCD (obsessive compulsive scratching) if they get mites caused by stress or by carrying a gene that can trigger this response. But don`t worry about that unless he ever seems really itchy and obsessive about scratching himself.

If he is active, eating, drinking and seems happy in his new home, you can slowly allow him to gain your trust. Mice, especially single males, can get really tame and friendly if they have a routine. Most will sleep during the day but they will be active also when waking for food, a drink and to toilet. Males will scent mark a lot, so the smell you observe is normal. I would advise spot cleaning and only do a full cage/tank clean every month, but always keep back a good amount of his old bedding and substrate as this will keep his habitat smelling like him.

Keep his diet as natural as you can and try to avoid colorants or additives. Mice love seeds like millets and oats. Mouse foods are not easily available, so mixes made for rats are very good for mice, but in my opinion, as long as you can throw caution to the wind and mix up a good variety for him, including little pieces of fresh veggies and apple, he will thrive. x

Edited to add: Don`t allow him to bite you. If he`s prone to nip, don`t try to scoop him in your hands as he`s likely to leap off. Try lowering your arm wearing a long sleeved t.shirt and allow him to put his pawn on your sleeved arm. This is a nice way to let him smell you and get used to you.

Also, I`m a member on here, so please feel free to read the topics and learn everything mouse!

http://www.micearenice.co.uk/new/index.php/forum
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Last edited by racinghamster; 04-16-2014 at 06:33 AM.
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Old 04-16-2014, 09:43 AM   #8
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

I don't have any advice on the wounds other then what you've already been told. As food I've always bought a low fat rat mix. I would suggest no higher then 18% protein and 12% fat. I have also fed a lab chow block. Small amounts of seed and grains and some meat every couple days. I have found that mice become fat very easily. Good luck with your little guy. Sounds like a fighter!
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Old 04-16-2014, 09:54 AM   #9
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

This mouse/rat mix has 14% protein & 5% fat. I'm not going to be buying this mix anymore because it's from Petco as I'm no longer supporting them. Yeah. I'm angry with them >_<!

Though there's this mix that I'm interested in. What do you think about it?
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Old 04-16-2014, 10:24 AM   #10
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Default Re: Emergency Mouse Rescue! A bit of an impulse buy...

I managed to get a picture of Mortimer, but its a bit dark so I hope you all can see >_<!
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