Mice gasping for air?

If the spruce isn't kiln dried it can cause toxic respiratory infections.

If the babies are weaned too young they might not be eating and drinking on their own.

If the mom had an illness that is transmittable they might all have it.



GL - that sounds crappy :(

I'd try changing their bedding. Spruce is an evergreen, which can release toxic gases when cut up. It has to be kiln-dried, NOT air-dried, in order to be safe, but even then, since you're having issues I'd switch it anyway and see what happens.

Are the mice having any sneezing or nasal discharge before they die? Do they look thin or dehydrated before they die? You can check for dehydration by pulling their skin on their back upward then seeing how quickly it snaps back. If it doesn't go back in the blink of an eye, they're dehydrated.

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Originally Posted by Sita

I'd try changing their bedding. Spruce is an evergreen, which can release toxic gases when cut up. It has to be kiln-dried, NOT air-dried, in order to be safe, but even then, since you're having issues I'd switch it anyway and see what happens.

Are the mice having any sneezing or nasal discharge before they die? Do they look thin or dehydrated before they die? You can check for dehydration by pulling their skin on their back upward then seeing how quickly it snaps back. If it doesn't go back in the blink of an eye, they're dehydrated.

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Im going to switch bedding tonight, I'm going but aspen and see how it works out. Thanks for all the tips guys. Sita, I have already gotten rid if their body's but ill check that in another one if I loose anymore. I don't think I weaned them too soon. There were i think 24 days old. When I weaned.

I'd definitely check the hydration status of the animals too...
In the past when I've seen my mice die due to dehydration they have say there and gasped like that.

24 days is the perfect age to wean them; at UC Davis their weaned at 21 days, so you're good there.

To make sure there aren't any extra issues with regard to respiratory diseases, I'd take a 3x5 index card and measure the bottom of the cage with it; the number if index cards it takes I cover the bottom is the number of nice you can maximum house in the cage according to the National Institutes of Health guidelines to prevent excess ammonia buildup in their air. It will also help curb aggression and increase the likelihood of the litters surviving.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

24 days is the perfect age to wean them; at UC Davis their weaned at 21 days, so .

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Do you go to UCD? :D

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I interned at their Mouse Biology Program 2 semesters ago for my Vet Tech Program

Thread crashers^ :) thanks for the help guys. I think I have the problem solved. Thanks everyone ill update in a week.

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

I interned at their Mouse Biology Program 2 semesters ago for my Vet Tech Program

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Awesome. Ive heard good things about the Mouse Biology lab. I considered interning there too at one point, but got a different lab job at the Genome Center on campus instead.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

Thread crashers^.

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Lmao. Sorry OP!
It was just exciting to find a forum user so close. Lol:p


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