Mouse mystery illness

My 11 month old mouse, Quattro, has something wrong with her, and even after
taking her to the vet we still don't know what is wrong. About a month ago
she developed and eye infection, and her fur started looking "separated" as
opposed to smooth. We took her to the vet and she got antibiotic eye
ointment and a treatment for mites (which all 5 of my mice got). She needed
2 courses of the eye ointment to get her eye looking better, but it still
doesn't look "right". Her fur never really did get smooth again.

For a couple of days I've noticed a small amount of blood coming from her
vaginal area (I am sure that's the right place) but I thought maybe it was
menstrual? Tonight it seems to be more significant - not gushing or
anything but still, leaving small streaks of blood around the wooden toys in
the cage (not splattered).

I am very concerned. We travel full-time and we are now 600 miles away from
the vet who saw her last. She is eating and drinking fine, although seems
more sluggish than her usual self. She has lived in the same cage her whole
life with her sisters, and never has had contact with a male.

I also noticed that about 2 months ago she "bulked up" practically overnight
and now is a whopping 50 grams (my other mice are 30). She has also been
over-groomed by her sisters and now has quite a bald spot on her head, but
there is never any fighting in that cage.

Does anyone know what's going on? It cost us $50 at the vet the last time,
and while money isn't the primary concern, she didn't even get better after
we spent that money (and it was an "exotics" vet).

Advice appreciated.
Thanks, Meghan

"Meghan" <meghanNO1112.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:MvDWb.1260$W74.581@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> My 11 month old mouse, Quattro, has something wrong with her, and even
after
> taking her to the vet we still don't know what is wrong. About a month
ago
> she developed and eye infection, and her fur started looking "separated"
as
> opposed to smooth. We took her to the vet and she got antibiotic eye
> ointment and a treatment for mites (which all 5 of my mice got). She
needed
> 2 courses of the eye ointment to get her eye looking better, but it still
> doesn't look "right". Her fur never really did get smooth again.
>
> For a couple of days I've noticed a small amount of blood coming from her
> vaginal area (I am sure that's the right place) but I thought maybe it was
> menstrual? Tonight it seems to be more significant - not gushing or
> anything but still, leaving small streaks of blood around the wooden toys
in
> the cage (not splattered).
>
> I am very concerned. We travel full-time and we are now 600 miles away
from
> the vet who saw her last. She is eating and drinking fine, although seems
> more sluggish than her usual self. She has lived in the same cage her
whole
> life with her sisters, and never has had contact with a male.
>
> I also noticed that about 2 months ago she "bulked up" practically
overnight
> and now is a whopping 50 grams (my other mice are 30). She has also been
> over-groomed by her sisters and now has quite a bald spot on her head, but
> there is never any fighting in that cage.
>
> Does anyone know what's going on? It cost us $50 at the vet the last
time,
> and while money isn't the primary concern, she didn't even get better
after
> we spent that money (and it was an "exotics" vet).
>
> Advice appreciated.
> Thanks, Meghan
>
>

Has your mouse been eating and drinking more? Is she urinating more? If
she drinks more water than usual, then that usually indicates either
diabetes or a urinary tract infection or a kidney infection or even all 3.
Diabetes symptoms also include dramatic weight gain or loss or a yo yoing of
weight.

Diabetic rodents tend to get a 'greasy' look to their fur. I'm not sure if
that is what you mean by 'separated fur. As well, it could also indicate
that your mouse is not grooming herself properly--an indication that she is
not well.

You can purchase Diastix (to check glucose in the urine) OR Ketodiastix (to
check glucose and ketones in the urine) to diagnose if she has sugar and
ketones in her urine--I recommend the Ketodiastix. The strips are cheap and
are usually available behind the counter at your local pharmacy.

Just dip the strip into fresh urine that has not been contaminated. Wait
for the results and follow the package instructions.

If she is diabetic, you will need to change her diet. Let us know what the
results are and then I'm sure someone here on this ng can help you--myself
included.

Diabetics usually also get other types of infections easily--perhaps the eye
infection is a complication.