My mouse's face is swollen?

Something wrong with pet mouse's face?

• My mouse is a little over a year old. She has been very resilient and active throughout her life. Recently, though, I was shocked when I looked at her and her face and body were completely different. The fur around her eyes is very light (she's black-furred) and she's squinting a lot. Her whole face and nose seem to be structured differently, as though it's sunken or something. Her body is hunched, her tail less responsive, and her fur seems scraggly. I have owned many mice and understand that it may be her time to go, but I have never before seen a case where the face took on such a strange appearance. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

• Answer:

  She sounds sick. I had a mouse get the same way before. She may be hunched over because she is cold, or sick, or in pain. Its really hard to tell exactly what a mouse is feeling. The squinted eyes may be a sign of sickness (if they are cloudy or "gunky" or a sign of dehydration. If she looks sunken in she is too thin. An unresponsive tail means that nerves are effected. Try giving her water, it WORKED when my mouse was in this state. My mouse had all the signs that your mouse had, and then she had seizures. She also couldn't seem to stand up straight. What I did was get a water bottle and put it in front of her mouth. If she wont drink dip her face in the water briefly. She will sneeze, and probably be upset with you but she most likely got some water in her system. I also used a baby spoon to tip some water into her mouth. I spent three long hours when my mice came down with this mysterious sickness...just keep watering her and see if that helps. It was a miracle for my mice because they perked right up and were fine. Also, make sure your mouse is in a warmish room.