If you have decided that you want a pet mouse, you should heed the advice below.
Get into the habit of handling your pet mouse regularly
If you have never had a pet mouse before and have very little experience with handling small animals, then you might feel a bit hesitant to pick up and hold your new mouse, as you may be concerned that they will bite you or that you will frighten them.
However, it is important to do this regularly, even if you experience some apprehension at first. If your mouse never gets used to being held, it will be a lot more difficult for both you and your vet to examine them if or when they get ill. A mouse that has hardly ever been picked up may panic, squirm and bite on the rare occasions that someone tries to handle them, simply because this is an unfamiliar and frightening experience for them. This could complicate the process of getting them any medical procedures they need to have in the future.
Also, handling your mouse regularly will allow you to bond with them. Mice who have owners that routinely let them out of their cages, hold them, stroke them and allow them to scurry around are more likely to form a strong attachment to those people. Forming a bond with your pet could make the experience of owning and caring for them a lot more fulfilling.
If you pick up and hold your mouse on a daily basis, it will be easier to notice changes in their body that might not be visible when you look at them through the bars of their cage and which might be indicative of a medical issue. For example, if whilst holding them in your hand, you notice that there is a lump under their skin, this could mean that there is a cyst or tumour in this area that your vet will have to remove.
Get your mouse examined regularly by a vet who provides small animal services
It is important to have your mouse get examined regularly by a vet who provides small animal services. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that because mice have a fairly short lifespan (most do not live more than three years), your pet will start to suffer the conditions associated with ageing at quite a rapid pace. However, if you're getting them examined by their vet very frequently, the vet will be able to treat your mouse's health issues soon after they develop and thus help to maximise the quality of their (very brief) life.
Secondly, these regular visits to the vet will also ensure that any signs of sickness that you failed to spot because you have never owned a pet mouse before can be addressed before they seriously compromise your pet's health.
