I know there are a lot of mouse fans here, so... My little pet mousie, Squeaky, is not too well at the moment. I'll be taking her to see the Vet on Monday but I'm worried about her. She's such a little tiny thing. Mousies are lovely little creatures, so sweet and amiable that it breaks my heart to think that she's in pain. Your kind thoughts will be appreciated. Sorry for a totally OT post.

Well, as a fellow rodent-lover, I think this off-topic post is allwable under the circumstances. (I had 2 rats and 5 mice, all long since gone, but I still love rodents)

:( If she isn't well, maybe you should take her today? They're so tiny that everyday counts. I hope Squeaky feels better soon.

Awwww... the size of the pet doesn't matter. They become like children no matter if it's a Great Dane or a mouse. I'll keep Squeaky in my thoughts and prayers. And uhm.. I know vets cost an arm and a leg in weekends (at least they do here) but... if it looks like she's in pain.... perhaps for your own conscience.. you should take her to the vet tomorrow anyway?

Wish I could. The vet isn't open until Monday. :( There is nowhere else I can take here round here. FWIW, she is jumping around her cage at the moment, happy as anything. I gave her a chocolate covered brazil nut, which may account for it. :)

heh chocolate isn't goot for most animals, at least I know it's seriously bad for cats (too bad because most cats LOVE chocolate) Good to hear that she's looking better. Mice are cute. I wish I could have some (or actually I think I'd rater have a rat) but rodents and 3 cats aren't the best combination. We've had a guinea pig, and whenever it was out running on the floor we had all three cats sitting, staring and drooooling LOL (they never actually harmed it... they're indoor cats after all, but ... they looked like it) And I can tell you that the day I had to take that guinea pig to the vet - it hd got an abcess, which are almost incurable on rodents accordig to my vet, and I had to have it put down... I cried all the way home, and it wasn't even "my" guineapig... You DO get atached to pets, no matter their size. I even hate when one of the countless fish has to go...

Caffeine and theobromine, found in chocolate, can cause be fatal to small animals, such as cats and dogs, so I suspect it's not good for mice, either. It's a matter of body mass. Presumably, humans could die of chocolate poisoning, too, if we ate enough. (I think the fatal dose is roughly an ounce of chocolate per pound of body weight. A hundred-pound person would have to eat over six pounds of chocolate, which is unlikely.) Dark chocolate is a lot worse than milk chocolate, because it contains more theobromine, and baking chocolate is the worst.

Anyway...it's probably a good idea to remove the chocolate from her cage if there's any left.

Noted and done. Thank you for your kind thoughts and consideration. I left her the brazil nut, though. :)

I know how you feel I have a Husky that I've had for 15 years and he's dying with cancer on his face. I know that after Christmas I'll have to put him down, that will be one of the worst things I've had to do. I hope your pet gets better.

frogster, I understand how you feel. Two years ago I had to have one of my cats put to sleep. Y held her as she passed away. The little thing was 19 year old, which in cat terms is about 95 but even so, it was a terrible thing. My heart goes out to you and your Husky. May his passing be peaceful.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=1114256&Start=1&Artist=Robo2010&ByArtist=Yes

I have found out , in most of the mice and rats that I have known, if they are feeling poorly, give them a piece of apple or some apple juice. Do not leave it(apple) in the cage more than 2 hours, it will go bad. This will aid in digestion and help if there is a blockage problem. Please keep us informed. Also check the feet and make sure they age pink and warm, this is a good sign. skee

:( Me I can't hear of suffering animals. Hope she will be better soon.

well, i do know how you feel ... hang in there with the little critter. We had to put our Dane down couple of months ago. He was more like a human than a dog, and we were very very close to him. Our buddy and friend. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about the great times we had with our Great Dane...he truly was.

It's a matter of body mass. Presumably, humans could die of chocolate poisoning, too, if we ate enough. (I think the fatal dose is roughly an ounce of chocolate per pound of body weight. A hundred-pound person would have to eat over six pounds of chocolate, which is unlikely.)

So it's possible to commit suicide by devouring 7-to-21 pounds worth of M&M's, depending upon body size, eh?

Yeah......I think that you'd toss your cookies long before you'd be able to eat enough of them to do yourself in. Interesting thought, though.

As a child, I had a guinea pig that lived to be about 6-7 years old. But guinea pigs live much longer than smaller rodents do. Message edited on: 12/17/2005 22:52

Skee - it may be the acetic acid. She loves fruit. I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything untoward. ATM, she's bouncing about, seems to be very happy. :) Thank you all for your concern and advice.

I had a bunny rabbit who had to be given regular doses of dilute pineapple juice because of internal blockages. It seems to help. I can't see why it would be bad for a mousie (I've had many, many little mousie friends in my lifetime). How old is your mousie? They don't actually live all that long, as animals go. :( bonni

bonni - this I know, regarding their lifespan. She's around 9 months. I belive mousies live a couple of years at the most, averaging 18 months approx.

Little girl is only half that. A baby, it seems. :(

Message edited on: 12/17/2005 23:52

I hope Mousie recovers. I currently have 7 Guinea Pigs/Cavies. We usually adopt the hard-luck, often elderly piggies from our local rescue so we lose them more often than normal owners. It doesn't get any easier. Just as an FYI on chocolate and rodents...rats will actually drink chocolate milk until they explode. I'm not sure about mice but I know that rats and guinea pigs are physically unable to throw up--that's why poisons are REALLY dangerous for them. Even if Mousie looks better on Monday it might still be worth a trip to the vet to make sure there are no long-term effects from this episode. :)= (that's sopposed to be a rodent smilie).

At least you do not have to worry about the mouse falling on someone. I have fairly tall horse that has degerative spinal cord disorder. The vet says this will probably not kill him. He will probably have kidney failure because of being down too long on a hot day. This disorder makes it hard some days for him to stand up. I acidently knocked him down once trying to put a fly blanket on him. I am always worried that my 7 year old will get in the pen with him and he will fall on her or one of the neighbor kids.

I hope little Squeaky will recover fast ! Rodents are the best pets, they do not take much space and are just SO adorable... Good luck to you and your tiny friend :) I hope the only thing vet will have to say on Monday is that your Mousie is perfectly healthy :)

All my hamsters I ever had were just crazy about chocolate. And even thought they all ate various stuff they shouldn't, they lived as long as various smart books say hamsters should live. The long-haired brown fluffy one (he died last year just before Christmas) hated carrots and sunflower seeds, but loved sweets. Died being gray-haired, partially bald and one-eye blind 3.5 yrs old critter. The memory still makes me cry :(
Fortunately, Paluszek (= Small Finger in English) is with us now. He's a male golden-white syrian hamster, one year old, healthy, and happy with his carrot breakfast :) Edited for typos, one shouldn't watch cute pet while typing :D

Message edited on: 12/18/2005 04:56

Sorry to hear she's not too well, Paul. I hope she feels better soon.

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Mice live about 2 to 3 years max. so do rats ans guinea pigs, but a few years ago my son had a guineaa pig that died just a few months short of the longevity record for guinea pigs (8 years)

Attached Link: Squeek Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

Message edited on: 12/18/2005 17:04

I was just wondering how Mousie is doing and if the vet said he/she will be ok?

Yes, please give us an update.

is also here for an update on Squeaky