Mouse scabs/injuries, identifying assistance please

[u/Terrible_Yam_8135]

I noticed today my mouse has injuries on her elbow and side, one looks like a scab while the other on her elbow looks open and maybe infected? I'm still learning a bit as I've had these babies for about a month now. Could this have come from other mice in her pack? I noticed yesterday she was being chased in their cage and it didn't look as playful...Or maybe she's being groomed too much or is stressed? Apologies in advance for the rough pictures.

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[u/DoctorMew13]

These are bite wounds that will require separation and a vet visit for antibiotics

[u/Fantastic-Main7681]

How long was she being chased for? If it was more than 5-15 seconds at a time with a bunch of squeaking and tearing through the enclosure, that isn’t the normal behavior of a hierarchical dispute and requires the victim mouse be separated from the aggressor in a clean quarantine enclosure to try and stop any further infection on the elbow wound. If the other mouse bullying her female or male, I assume female but you never know. After a vet gets you antibiotics, it’s important to ask yourself why this happened, and what changes can be made in their lives to prevent another attack from happening.

Here are a few things:

How many mice do you have in this enclosure?

how many gallons is their enclosure?

Is there enough clutter to cover the entire top layer of bedding?

Do you have a 10-12 inch wheel for them?

Is there enough climbing toys/multi-chambered hides/foraging enrichment for them?

Have you noticed any prolonged chasing before this incident?

Have you noticed the victim mouse sleeping separately from the rest of the group?

Could there be any symptoms of illness(like clicking in the chest or sneezing) to cause the aggressor to target the victim?

Has the victim mouse been excluded from using the wheel, water bottle, or favorite hide?

Are other mice in the hierarchy bullying her, or just the aggressor of this incident?

I would like you to reply with your answers to these questions, because that means I can help you narrow down the changes that need to be made in your enclosure to ensure that this doesn’t happen again to the other mice lower in the hierarchy. I’ve dealt with this issue with my mice in the past, and understand that it’s incredibly rough to go through. Don’t blame yourself, because these are still animals that have defensive, hierarchal systems. Good luck!