My Pet Mouse Is Barely Moving, Why and What to Do

There are a lot of reasons why your pet mouse might not be moving around much. It might be sick, injured, or just tired. If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, take it to the vet. Otherwise, here are some common reasons why your pet mouse might not be moving much, and what you can do about it.

Your pet mouse is sick.

If your pet mouse is sick, it might not have the energy to move around much. If you think your pet might be sick, take it to the vet for a checkup.

There are so many ways a delicate little mouse can wind up with an infection or disease, from exposure to a new environment to eating contaminated food. If your mouse isn’t responding to its usual environment and seems lethargic, it’s time for a vet visit.

Tumors are quite common in certain pet mice breeds, such as fancy mice, and can also lead to a loss of energy and mobility.

This is due to genetic defects that are often passed down from parents to offspring.

Often there is nothing that can be feasibly done for a mouse that has developed a tumor, but your vet will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Your pet mouse has injured himself in some way

Injuries can happen to the best of us, and your pet mouse is no exception.

If your pet mouse has recently hurt himself, he might not be moving around much because it hurts.

Injuries can happen in a number of ways, from falling off a high perch to being stepped on.

Bumping his head can often lead to a mouse concussion, which can be serious and cause the mouse to not want to move about very much.

Your pet mouse has become anemic

Injuries come in the form of blunt force trauma and cut to the skin. Both of these types of injuries can cause anemia weather from internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma, or blood loss from external lacerations.

It can also happen due to a variety of illnesses such as kidney disease or cancer.

The best way to determine if your pet mouse is anemic is to take him to the vet for a blood test.

If you suspect it’s an external injury, Look around for blood or missing fur.

If your pet mouse is obese, he could have become hypoglycemic

Diabetes isn’t just a human illness, obese mice can develop diabetes too.

This can lead to a condition called hypoglycemia, which is when the blood sugar level drops too low.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia in mice include lethargy, weakness, and tremors.

If your pet mouse is shaking and moving slowly and you think he might be hypoglycemic, he may need to be put on special medication or have his diet changed.

Pregnant mice might not move much before labor

If your female pet mouse is pregnant, she might not move around much in the days leading up to labor.

This is because the developing embryos take up a lot of space and make it difficult for the mother to move about.

As labor approaches, the mother mouse will start nesting and preparing for her babies.

You can help your pregnant mouse by giving her a nesting box filled with soft bedding material such as shredded paper or cotton wool.

Your pet mouse is just tired and lazy

It happens to the best of us, we just don’t feel like moving sometimes.

The same goes for your pet mouse.

Mice are naturally active creatures, but they do have their lazy days.

If your pet mouse is normally active and suddenly starts sleeping a lot or not moving around much, it might be sick. However, if your pet mouse has always been on the lazy side, there’s probably nothing to worry about.

When in doubt, speak to a veterinarian who treats small rodents

We know it’s not always possible for everyone to have a small rodent veterinarian on speed dial, but if you’re really worried about your pet mouse’s health, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and speak to a professional.

Your local vet might not be able to help you, but they should be able to point you in the right direction of someone who can.

We also know it’s not always financially wise to run to the vet every time a pet mouse doesn’t feel like running on his wheel, but sometimes it’s necessary to ensure a mouse’s health and wellbeing.

If you’re ever unsure, the best thing to do is give your vet a call, they will know what’s up and hopefully how to treat it.