bad reaction dealing with mice

[liltattyprinces]

Last night i cleaned the mice cages and seperated some. I nicked myself on the wire screening i use to ensure the hoppers don't escape, and then i had one mouse scratch me up good in the same spot, Today i woke to having my hand quite swollen,(I've tried antihistimens it usally works,but not this time i guess.) the massive hives i had last night are gone, but i have very bad swelling in my left hand. It's to the point that i'm debating on going to the clinic as it's very painful. Has any one else ever experienced this? I'm also worried as i have a muscular disease and a compromised immuine system, so i heal much slower than normal and when i get an injury or illness my body actually fights against it's self. Just thought i'd see if anyone has ever had a similar reaction.

Laura-Lee L

[Linds]

People with compromised immune systems are supposed to be very careful working with animals of any kind. All animals carry their own cooties....lol.... but they don't affect people with a healthy immune, unless they have allergies. A simple scratch can lead to serious infection or disease, and in some cases, can even lead to death. I would definitely go get it checked out.

[vanderkm]

A trip to your physician or the local medical clinic is definately required - if swelling is severe and extending it would justify a trip to emergency. Bacterial contamination of wounds is a potentially serious issue even in healthy people - got medical attention today.

mary v.

[liltattyprinces]

Back from the Doc's and he's not impressed, he's warned me before about working with my critters(although it was the reptiles he was more worried about), he gave me a shot can't remember what it was though, and i'm on antibiotics they look like horse pills....lol....I was told i should get rid of the mice or get the kids to do the cleaning as it's not safe for me to do so. Man i hate this. I have to go back tomorrow he want's to keep an eye on the swelling. I think he's just over reacting, everyone does that with me. Like i told him, i was told i wouldn't walk again proved them wrong. I was told i could never have kids, wrong again...lol... So i'm not about to go living like a bubble girl....lol....I just want to enjoy what i love. But the mice may have to go. I 'll have to start ordering in bulk on line i suppose. Anyone have a good F/T source online that is reasonable?

Laura-Lee L

[jwsporty]

Laura,

You already know that answer to the F/T question, call Fern


Jim

[liltattyprinces]

Jim it would be far easier to find an on-line source, as i can't get there and back, and i'm not bussing with a bunch of F/T rats and mice....they would partly dethaw...lol.....I just think that it would be far easier than having to try to find a ride to gatineau and back.

[Auskan]

Could you not keep the mice and just wear gloves when handling them? Also, you didn't mention in your post, so I am probably stating the obvious, but after the bite, did you immediately wash in some kind of disinfecting solution? BandAid makes a cleansing foam that you use to wash any kind of bite or scrape with. When I've been bitten, I've immediately put that on and never had a problem with infection (though admittedly, I don't have a compromised immune system either).

[sapphire_moon]

rubbing alchohol (spelling?)........burns like h**l.
Also I don't know if you can get it up there, but ask a phamasist (spelling?) it's something called prid (pur-rid), it usually ocmes in a little orange round container and draws infections out in like 48 hours.
We use it here for spider bites and such (Both me and my mother have used it for brown recluse spider bites, which can eat the skin away for years if not treated, and even when treated)

[liltattyprinces]

I always have a bottle or 2 of the bandaid stuff it's a necessity when you have kids lol...I used my antibacterial soap right after, I'm currently on an antibacterial cream as well as antibiotics. The swelling has gone down some but not as much as i would of thought it would of. My problem with gloves is that i'm a tiny person and can never find any that fit well enough to be able to catch them without hurting them, or them slipping through...lol...the last time i used gloves we had one get loose..lol..but we caught him. I feel bad as one mouse is my son's pet. He is good at cleaning the cages with my help and is great at tailing the mice. I guess this was a lesson hard learned. We'll see how things go. I think we can keep them as long as i follow strict precautions i'm going out today to look at kids gloves i think a pair of winter ones would be thick enough. Well my daughter and i are off to the Dr's. At least i can kill 2 birds with one stone today ...lol...thanks for the suggestions i'll look into the suggestions i was given but don't know if some of that stuff is available here.

Laura-Lee L

[vanderkm]

Glad to hear that your doctor has dealt with this as aggressively as he has. Small wounds that produce a bigger than expected reaction in anyone (compromised immune system or not) have a possibility of being due to the bacteria that cause necrotizing fasceitis which can cause severe damage to tissues in a very short time. Not specific to injury associated with animals and definately not something to delay with - this leads to amputation or worse if it is ignored.

Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative for immediate wound cleansing - it does not damage tissues, does not sting and is very effective at killing bacteria.

Glad to hear you are doing better.

mary v.

[Lisa]

Katey also has a compromised immune system so that leaves the cleaning to me.

Though to make cleaning easier i use a shop vac, just put the rodent in adifferent cage, shop vac and then wash down the cage as needed.

[sapphire_moon]

Great idea lisa, I didn't think of that...a shop vac.....hmmm now I need to go buy one, it's about cleaning time....

also they have kids gardening gloves. Plus it may be a little costly, but if you want to clean out the cages yourself or handle the mice yourself. Then you could try going to a tailor and having custom gloves made....or have someone you know that sews EXTREMELY good make you a pair............

Just a few suggestions.

[marisa]

Here are a couple places that you can purchase feeders from and they ship:

http://www.portcreditpets.com
http://www.canadianmouseman.com/ - Very good prices here! But not sure how much shipping will effect the good price since you are in Ontario.
http://mice4you.com/ - Not open just yet but VERY soon!

Good luck with the mice.
Marisa