African Pygmy Dormice Health

Rapid breathing is a sign of distress, equally the Dormouse sounds for anger are very sharp and easy to recognise. Do not be concerned if a dormouse pauses for longer periods of time at once - this is part of being a prey animal since movements would attract the attention of predators. Your dormouse is may be quite lethargic in daytime, becoming more active at dusk and dawn.

They will conceal signs of illness very well, and often you will only see the very end stages of a problem. You should therefore keep an eye out for any significant changes in behaviour, coat condition, and injuries. Territory disputes can be brutal; you should always ensure you have a spare habitat to separate animals into if needed.

Make sure your chosen vet has experience with exotics, and ideally with African Pygmy Dormice. Your vet needs a decent level of expertise to counteract the stress caused to your African Pygmy Dormice by being in a strange environment. Try asking in exotic forums for recommendations near you.

Torpor

If your dormice is cold to the touch however, it may be in a state of torpor. This means that the temperature is too low for your animal, or it believes it needs to conserve its own body fat due to a lack of available food. If this is the case warm up your creature instantly - the warmth of hands is useful for this, and cupping your hands and blowing gently on its fur. Dormice can die from this state so it is important to ensure you keep their environment at a warm enough temperature and your Dormice have plenty of bedding and access to food and water.

Dormice can get stressed out very easily, which can also lead to torpor. If you have to take them on a long car journey try to break this up wherever possible and ensure they have a secure, dark place to hide.