[moustress]

Could be an allergy to bedding or something the mousies eats. It also could be an ectopic (skin parasite) thing like mange..I use. Revolution for Puppies and Kittens very sparingly (I treat about 12-15 meeces with one tube but drawing it into the skinniest syringe and dispensing from that.)

Unfortunately, it also could be a self sustaining irritation started by something that is not present any more. Benadryll liquid might help if that's the problem. I've seen this sort of thing get worse and worse regardless of what I try, and end up having to put the dear mousies down...and I hate when I have to do that. The best outcomes have used both antibiotics and Benadryll orally along with an an antibacterial ointment used very sparingly (I get the first aid cream that has a mild anaesthetic agent of some sort )

 

[moustress]

You know, it is infectious, but it's like a lot of other diseases that tend to infect critters that are, for one reason or another, susceptible. The problem usually only spreads if you have other healthy meeces in close contact with the scabby one. There are a lot of diseases and conditions that are just waiting to get a start, and when one meece has enough concentration of whatever it is, then the mousie can become a Typhoid Mary. Mycoplasma is like that too, only a lot harder to get rid of as the fungus is always there in small quantities. Mange is more managable. there is one other skin problem that is called cold tissue disease which starts when there's too little humidity, which dried out the skin on 'cold' parts like the tail, the ears, sometimes the feet. The thing starts as an irritation from dry air, is aggravated by scratching and licking skin that cracks and get infected. Broad spectrum antibiotics and Revolution worked for me in half the case I've seen. In some others the problem resulted in amputation of part of the tail, or sorse, it spread to the base of the tail onto the torso, and in those cases euthanzsia was the only option.

Many breeders don't treat anything like this, but isolate the affected individual, and let nature takes it's course. All other things being equal, half the time the problem will rectify itself, and the other half, the poor dear has to put down. It's a judgement call, and you might want to see a vet, although, in my experience most vets don't know diddly squat about mousie illnesses. Things might be different where you are, what with the mouse fancy being wider spread in Britain.

Good luck, and let me know how things turn out, OK?

 

[moustress]

I've had problems with Ivermectin causing seizures or organ failure. On the other hand, I've used Revolution repeatedly, and the only problems I had was stepping down to a dose small enough for a baby mousie. I've used it on pregnant females with no ill effect. Ivermectin is a good, effective product 95 % of the time, when used on meeces; I use it on my nonbreeding meeces in liquid injectable form, diluted greatly in distilled water. There's also a product call Pet Relief, or Reptile Relief (I could hardly believe when a shop owner recommended a product for mites on reptiles; who knew they even got mites!!) And that works well on mousies, but you have to saturate the fur, and then keep the critter warm until it is dry. I use that product on bedding and cleaning cages where mites have been a problem. Sevin Powder is another relatively safe product, but has no effect on internal or ectopic problems.

I still prefer Revolution for puppies and kittens. I decant the tube into the cap, and dip with a toothpick to apply on babies, and then draw the remainder into a very skinny syringe (minus the needle) and try to make as small a wet spot on the back of the mousies neck. You have to watch them for about the ten minutes it takes to be absorbed/dry so cagemates don't lick it off.

 

[moustress]

The small animal technician at our local Humane Society recommended Revolution for Puppies and Kittens to me while I was filling out forms to adopt a couple of mousies. It works great on mites and everything else as well. I've been using it for about five years now, and i mentioned it to the vet that sees our kitties, and she approved its use on my meeces, with the caveat that I had be careful about the dosing. I use it twice with an one month interval and it works very well indeed.

 

[moustress]

Are we having fun yet?

*whiplash*

whatever...where's the love?

(...discussion is good...fun is good...discussion=fun....and now we are so much better than we were before...)

 

[moustress]

Spazz, I pm'ed you.