This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
This article has been viewed 13,674 times.
If your pet mouse is sneezing a lot it can signal a problem with its health. In most cases of excessive sneezing, the sneezing is caused by a respiratory illness or by an allergic reaction to something in its environment. In both cases, the sneezing signals a health problem that needs to be fixed. In order to stop the mouse from sneezing, you will need to identify and address the underlying cause of the sneezing.
Steps
Identifying the Cause
-
1Identify additional symptoms of a respiratory infection. If your mouse's sneezing is a symptom of a respiratory infection then it may have other symptoms as well. These can include a runny nose and congested breathing.[1]
- To check for a runny nose, look for moisture under your mouse's nose.
- To check for congested breathing you will need to get your mouse close to your ear and listen to its breathing. Congestion in the lungs can make the mouse's breathing loud and rattly.
-
2Look for behaviors associated with illness. When a mouse is fighting off some sort of illness it can become lethargic and it may have less interest in eating.[2] If you notice one or both of these symptoms, and your mouse is sneezing a lot, then your mouse is likely ill.
- Keep track of how much your mouse eats on a regular basis so that you will be able to more easily notice if it begins to eat less.
Advertisement -
3Eliminate possible allergens. Try eliminating possible allergens from your mouse's cage to see is that is causing your mouse's sneezing. In most cases of an allergy, the mouse is allergic to its bedding. This means that when you are eliminating possible allergens you should clean the mouse's cage out and replace its bedding.
- Use a bedding that is paper based and dust free. In a pinch you can simply use shredded up paper on the floor of your mouse's cage.
- Bedding that is made of wood shavings is likely the cause of your mouse's allergies. In particular, cedar shavings are known to increase the likelihood of respiratory illness.[3]
- If your mouse was allergic to its bedding then the sneezing should clear up in a week or two after the bedding is replaced.
Treating Sneezing
-
1Get a veterinary assessment. If your mouse is repeatedly sneezing and you suspect that it has a respiratory illness, then you should have it checked out by a veterinarian. Keep track of your mouse's symptoms and how long they have been occurring so that you can tell your veterinarian this information.[4]
- It can be difficult to find a veterinarian that is experienced with treating rodents. Call around to veterinary offices in your area to see if any have experience with mice. Even if they do not, you can ask them for suggestions about veterinary practices that do.
-
2Give your mouse antibiotics. If your veterinarian thinks that your mouse has a respiratory infection they are likely to prescribe antibiotics. These are usually given orally, either just in liquid form or added into the mouse's food.[5]
- Antibiotics cannot eliminate all respiratory infections. However, even with those they do not eliminate, they can assist the mouse's immune system to keep the infection under control.
-
3Keep your mouse's cage clean. Keeping your mouse's cage clean can help your mouse fight off any illness that it has. Eliminating bacteria and viruses in your mouse's environment will help it's immune system to focus on eliminating the infection in its respiratory system.[6]
- Doing a weekly cleaning is important for your mouse's health, whether it has a respiratory illness or not.[7] When cleaning out your mouse's cage, replace all the bedding and clean all surfaces thoroughly.
References
- ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/mice/diseases_and_disorders_of_mice.html
- ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/mice/diseases_and_disorders_of_mice.html
- ↑ http://www.afrma.org/beddilemmap1.htm
- ↑ http://www.afrma.org/med_misc8.htm
- ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/mice/diseases_and_disorders_of_mice.html
- ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/mice/diseases_and_disorders_of_mice.html
- ↑ http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/mice/tips/mice_as_pets.html?credit=web_id139895614
About This Article
To stop your pet mouse from sneezing, make sure you’re using paper-based, dust-free bedding in its cage since bedding made from wood shavings can give your mouse allergies. If your mouse is still sneezing a couple of weeks after you’ve replaced its bedding, take it to a vet so they can check if it has a respiratory illness. If the vet finds this to be the case, they’ll most likely prescribe you antibiotics that you can give to your mouse to handle the infection. Remember to clean your mouse’s cage every week by replacing the bedding and cleaning all surfaces to keep your mouse healthy. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to check if your mouse has a respiratory infection, read on!
