These girls came to us on 5/22/21 from another shelter that didn’t have space for them.

Bellsprout appears to have Waltzing Mouse Syndrome, which means that she often walks in circles due to a neurological condition. She has been treated with antibiotics and given a clean bill of health, and will not require additional care for her circling in her forever home.

Fostered by Stacey in Sandy Hook, CT.

ADOPTED!

#2021379N, “Eevee”, Mouse, White, , Mouse, Female, DOB: 11/24/2020, Spayed/Neutered?: No

#2021380N, “Bellsprout”, Mouse, White, , Mouse, Female, DOB: 11/24/2020, Spayed/Neutered?: No

UPDATE 6/9/21:

“Both are very active. Eevee is curious and will come check out what’s going on, will climb to the top of the cage to investigate when I talk to them. Neither is happy about being handled, but they deal. Both have taken food from my hand.”

UPDATE 7/9/21:

“Bellsprout continues to circle clockwise. Speed varies; I haven’t seen the frenetic high speed racing circles, but that could be simply because their activity patterns are still changed from what they were before we started Bellsprouts meds; they rarely come out while I’m awake.

Her circles can include climbing various items in the habitat; when she first came here, she didn’t climb at all. I still haven’t seen her run on the wheel, which Eevee used with no problem. The one change I think I’m seeing is she seems more self-aware, if that makes sense. Her moving around has a bit more of a purposeful quality to it, which could be reduced stress now that she’s been here longer, has been handled a lot, and is done with the meds.

The vet had said if the meds didn’t cause a change, we could assume this is neurological, and that there’s not much more we can do about it. Eevee behaves more normally; she did start doing a little circling when I was disrupting them to give Bellsprout her meds. If they really are sisters, there could be a genetic stress-response component to this behavior as well. Given Bellsprout’s nystagmus, the extreme circling does seem to be mainly a neurological issue.

Bellsprout otherwise appears very healthy; she grooms, eats, drinks, and interacts normally with Eevee. She and Eevee sleep together in one of the hideouts in the habitat. Her coat is in great shape, there’s no evidence of any discharge from eyes, nose or ears, her poop and pee is normal in appearance.”

Eevee

Bellsprout

Together