7 replies to this topic

[A~HM]

Bit of a rant. I work at a certain vet in a certain pet store. We've been seeing this mouse for 6 months and he has this horrible skin problem. Possibly ulcerative dermatitis? I'd say more than half of his body is red, scabby and hairless. We don't see exotics and with his problems we told the store to take him to an exotics vet nearby. They have done this a few times, and he last went in Jan. He's been back to us twice since then. Now they want to possibly euthanize him. I feel really bad for the mouse, and as much as I'd like to adopt him myself, I can't afford whatever crazy vet bills he would need. I feel like the store is doing him wrong because they haven't taken him to the exotics vet like they should, and keep bringing him to us (cat and dog vet) instead. Now they want to euthanize due to not doing what they should. What do you guys think?

Edited by A~HM, 08 March 2022 - 08:00 PM.

[Kikya]

Bit of a rant. I work at a certain vet in a certain pet store. We've been seeing this mouse for 6 months and he has this horrible skin problem. Possibly ulcerative dermatitis? I'd say more than half of his body is red, scabby and hairless. We don't see exotics and with his problems we told the store to take him to an exotics vet nearby. They have done this a few times, and he last went in Jan. He's been back to us twice since then. Now they want to possibly euthanize him. I feel really bad for the mouse, and as much as I'd like to adopt him myself, I can't afford whatever crazy vet bills he would need. I feel like the store is doing him wrong because they haven't taken him to the exotics vet like they should, and keep bringing him to us (cat and dog vet) instead. Now they want to euthanize due to not doing what they should. What do you guys think?

I have never researched this in mice before but it sounds like cushings disease to me or possibly a tumor of some kind affecting his thyroid. Though it's annoying difficult to get vets to try the medication for it. Perhaps you could suggest a trial of Trilostane to see if it helps. What do they have to lose? He'll be dead anyway if they euthanize.

 

I just refilled Dipper's prescription, an oil suspension was around 75 dollars with a shipping fee. That's a 100 days worth of medicine so it's not all that expensive.

 

Has he been examined for mites/ringworm?

[A~HM]

Yes they have treated him for mites and so on, used Revolution and some other antibiotics I can't recall. He's also had a UTI at some point. Idk how far they would go for him. He's already 7 months old.

[Silktail]

Since it is a petsmart mouse, I know it is being fed a lab block that is 21% protein. Pet store mice should eat more like 12-14% protein. Too much protein is known to cause hot spots in mice. This could be contributing to the issue possibly?

[A~HM]

Since it is a petsmart mouse, I know it is being fed a lab block that is 21% protein. Pet store mice should eat more like 12-14% protein. Too much protein is known to cause hot spots in mice. This could be contributing to the issue possibly?

Yeah I'm assuming it's the getting the Full Cheeks blocks that have 21% protein. We never saw him the other day, since our doctor declined seeing him and told the store he needs to return to the exotics doctor if they want to discuss euthanasia. So hopefully they'll take him back and give him a chance. I just wish I could take him and bring him to my exotics vet - I know they'd be able to get him better.

Edited by A~HM, 10 March 2022 - 07:58 PM.

[Kikya]

Since it is a petsmart mouse, I know it is being fed a lab block that is 21% protein. Pet store mice should eat more like 12-14% protein. Too much protein is known to cause hot spots in mice. This could be contributing to the issue possibly?

It's true an excessively high protein diet could have some bad effects, though more on the kidneys but it's possible there could be tumors or something. It's crazy how bad the pet store diets are...

 

Hamsters get rabbit food, mice get hamster food, etc...

Edited by Kikya, 10 March 2022 - 10:13 PM.

[Silktail]

It's true an excessively high protein diet could have some bad effects, though more on the kidneys but it's possible there could be tumors or something. It's crazy how bad the pet store diets are...

Hamsters get rabbit food, mice get hamster food, etc...

At my petsmart, I recently got my assistant store leader on board with me to stop feeding hamsters and gerbils the hamster lab block, and instead the mouse one. We are banking on corporate/district not knowing the color difference between the two. Plus, if they do notice, petsmart is willing to hear you out on why you violated policy.

That is how they changed policy for ball pythons to be on a tropical substrate rather than aspen. Stores with employees that knew better just boycotted the policy until petsmart got the message.

So, all the small animals (minus guinea pigs of course, which actually I think petsmart's guinea pig food is better than oxbow because it's sugar free) get 21% protein lab block + veggies every day. Not ideal, but it's better. Hamsters at my store also get freeze dried mealworms as treats, everyone gets millet, and if my department shapes up a bit more, I'll buy some Nature's Salad for us to use too.

[Kikya]

At my petsmart, I recently got my assistant store leader on board with me to stop feeding hamsters and gerbils the hamster lab block, and instead the mouse one. We are banking on corporate/district not knowing the color difference between the two. Plus, if they do notice, petsmart is willing to hear you out on why you violated policy.

That is how they changed policy for ball pythons to be on a tropical substrate rather than aspen. Stores with employees that knew better just boycotted the policy until petsmart got the message.

So, all the small animals (minus guinea pigs of course, which actually I think petsmart's guinea pig food is better than oxbow because it's sugar free) get 21% protein lab block + veggies every day. Not ideal, but it's better. Hamsters at my store also get freeze dried mealworms as treats, everyone gets millet, and if my department shapes up a bit more, I'll buy some Nature's Salad for us to use too.

Those animals are very lucky to have an educated person like you taking care of them!