When it comes to your mice and their health, there are a few things to look out for to make sure they’re happy and healthy. Here we’ve listed the key factors to consider as your mouse enters their senior years.
Make sure you health check your mice weekly, and look out for any changes in their behaviour every day. They can be very good at hiding any health issues until they’re really suffering. If you have any concerns, act quickly and contact a mouse savvy vet.
Use some small scales, such as kitchen scales, to monitor their weight. Look out for unexpected or consistent weight loss/gain.
Eyes should be clean, clear and bright. Any damage to the eyes is an emergency and you should speak to a vet immediately.
These should be clean, free of any discharge, flaky or scabby patches. No noisy breathing.
Top and bottom incisors (front teeth) should be yellow in colour, smooth and wearing evenly against one another. Ensure they’re not curling sideways or backwards into the mouth.
The body should be free of any lumps or bumps. These often appear on the body and abdomen, so be sure to check if their abdomen looks bigger than usual.
Their posture should not be hunched or skinny in unusual areas, such as their rump (back end).
These should be clean, healthy-looking, and their fur shouldn’t be spiky.
Also look out for:
Should be clean, not swollen or red.
Should be free of any sores on both the skin and the joints.
Should be a regular length. Most will not need to have their nails clipped as they’ll naturally wear down whilst climbing and exploring. Older mice may need their nails trimmed occasionally to prevent them overgrowing and curling into their pads.
It’s really important to find a vet in your area who has lots of experience with mice. Most vets will see cats and dogs on a daily basis and will have an extensive knowledge of their needs. Other species such as mice will rarely be seen by most vets. So, finding someone who has lots of experience of seeing, diagnosing and treating these species is very important.
Unfortunately, tumours are fairly common in elderly mice and they can grow very quickly. Mammary and intestinal tumours are the most common and are the most likely to be cancerous. When you handle your mouse, check for any unusual lumps and bumps on their body and abdomen.
Parasites, such as fur mites, can also be common in mice. Incorrect bedding is one of the most common causes, as well as stress, which can make them more prone to parasites being able to take hold. Signs they might have parasites include:
If your mice show any of these symptoms, take them to your vet.
Sadly, respiratory infections can be another common illness in mice. These are caused by bacteria in the respiratory tract, which makes them unwell. Pre-existing respiratory conditions in mice can be worsened by stress, as a result of poor ventilation, dusty bedding, change in temperatures, predators in the home, bullying by other mice and old age.
As well as medical support from your vet, there are many other things you can do to help. These include choosing suitable substrate and bedding, cleaning the cage to a high standard, washing any hammocks and bars of the cage, and having a cage that is well-ventilated. These steps will help to prevent and manage this illness.
Contact your vet if you notice the following symptoms:
Mice’s front teeth will continuously grow. They are yellow in colour and may get darker as they age. Mice will wear their teeth down naturally by grinding them together, which is known as bruxing. Occasionally, they can suffer with dental issues including overgrown incisors. This can be caused by poor breeding or the mouse having an accident.
If you spot any of these signs, your mouse could have dental problems:
The following signs can indicate a number of things including damaged teeth, or food getting stuck, but often the cause can be unknown:
When your mouse reaches around 12 to 18 months old, you’ll start to notice a few changes, which are very common in mice. These include:
If you think your mice are starting to struggle with one or more of these symptoms, talk to your vet. While they’re perfectly natural signs of old age, you’ll want to make sure they’re comfortable and not in pain so they stay happy in their old age.
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