19 Ryde Road, Pymble, NSW 2073
A Tilted View of the World
By Helen Burns | Dated May 2, 2019
Little Anastasia was just 6 months old when her family noticed that she was holding her head to the side, and walking around in circles. She was still bright and happy, eating and drinking, and generally enjoying herself. She was just looking at the world a little differently.
Pet mice (and indeed rats) are commonly affected by diseases of the respiratory tract. At times they may sniffle, sneeze, chatter their teeth and have laboured breathing. Others however, will present just as little Anastasia did, with signs of a middle ear infection. Mice are commonly infected with both a virus, and a bacteria called Mycoplasma pulmonis. This bacteria is an unusual one, in that it doesn’t have a cell wall. That may sound entirely academic, however many antibiotic s work by stopping bacteria reproducing or by killing bacteria by disrupting the bacterial cell wall. So, for Mycoplasma, many antibiotics are ineffective. Fortunately though, we have a liquid antibiotic in a berry flavour that is perfect for dosing little mice, and is also effective against Mycoplasma. Now it’s just up to Anastasia’s family to give their little mouse 0.01ml of medicine twice daily!
Mice are incredibly affectionate and very intelligent pets.
Written by Helen Burns
Helen graduated from Sydney Uni in 1997 with First Class Honours and worked in a practice on the Northern Beaches for 16 years. Helen joined the Gordon Vet team early in 2014 and our clients have really enjoyed getting to know her. She loves being a vet and takes a keen interest in all of her patients. Her gentle, friendly nature helps pets to feel relaxed when they visit the vet. Helen lives locally and has 3 children. At least one of her children seems destined to be a vet! When not ferrying her children around, Helen cares for her menagerie of pets. These include Chloe the dog, Obi and Leia the cats, Little Cocky the galah and Rosie the very tame eclectus parrot who all happily coexist at her house. In her spare time, Helen likes to be active outdoors, running, kayaking, camping or playing any manner of sport with her children.
