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Disclaimer: We here at Gray Scale Pets are not licensed veterinarians, and health testing is not a substitute for vet care when it comes to the health of your individual animal. Advice and information given here is not a substitute for proper veterinary care and is not meant to override the advice or diagnosis of an experienced exotics or small animal veterinarian.
Health Testing
Health Testing
We currently do health testing through Zoologix using their Mouse minipanel PCR screen test which covers seven of the most common transmissible diseases between rodents. We take random samples from at least two different breeding groups at the mousery to ensure better coverage of the whole population.
In addition, because we live in the San Bernardino mountains where deer mice are common, wehttps://www.zoologix.com/rodent/Datasheets/Hantavirus.htm had our mice tested for Hantavirus. Currently the Sin nombre hantavirus found in deer mice is not known to be transmissible to domesticated rodents or Mus musculus.
Q: Can I get the exact mice I am buying health tested?
A: This can get prohibitively expensive very quickly and we do not recommend it for pet owners.. Please contact Zoologix directly for quotes on the exact tests you would like run.
If requested, I can collect samples form the exact mice you wish to purchase and send them into Zoologix. The customer will pay all fees including Overnight Shipping for the samples via FedEx before samples will be sent. Zoologix should be able to copy you on the results directly, but if they do not we will ensure that your results are provided the same day that we receive them (as soon as possible). Please note that the full turnaround time on testing can be more than a week even if the time listed is shorter on the website, since there is a slight delay between the samples being received at Zoologix and the start of the testing process.
Q: Can I see the results of your latest test?
A: Please request this via email at grayscalepets@gmail.com. The test results we receive contain identifying information so we will not post them directly on the website. They are also very bare bones, so some explanation is required if you do not want to look up the exact test codes from the Zoologix website every time.
We received our last health test results on May 5, 2026 and the mice were negative (normal result) on both the Mini Panel and the Hantavirus tests.
Health Guarantee
Health Guarantee
We guarantee the health of your new pets for 7 calendar days after you take them home, provided that you quarantine them from your other pets. This entails a full refund for ill or deceased animals, with proof of illness or death being provided with the refund request.
We will guarantee that any animals we sell you will be healthy at the time of sale. After that, the circumstances of your home and their living conditions are beyond our control and we will not be held liable for health issues that may have arisen due to those factors.
It is always our intention to sell you healthy, happy pets or breeding stock and we take this responsibility very seriously. We would rather hold back an animal that may be unsuitable or unwell and sell you a different animal that will thrive.
Because of the difficulty in finding veterinarians experienced in mouse care, Gray Scale Pets works with and recommends exactly one exotics veterinarian in Southern California. Due to this, we will not be responsible for any veterinary bills which may arise. This is to protect both our company and you as a pet owner, please contact us with any questions you may have.
Please note that this guarantee covers illness or tumors, not any injuries that may have occurred in your home, due to transportation issues or cage setups. It is your responsibility to provide a secure, well ventilated, and escape proof transportation container and living enclosure for your mouse. Please do your own examination of the mice you are purchasing from us when you pick them up and notify us immediately if anything seems off, before payment exchanges hands.
Birth defects like extra toes (polydactyl) or misshapen ears are not health issues in pet animals, and are marked on each individual mouse's listing. We do not recommend breeding from these animals, as these traits are highly heritable. Please let us know if you are looking for breeding stock and we can help direct you to animals that are free of these faults.
More Health Topics
More Health Topics
Q: Can I take my mouse to the same vet that I take my cats and dogs? How do I find a vet that will see my mice?
A: No, you need to find an experienced exotics veterinarian who sees small animals and rodents. Regular veterinarians will not be used to doing examinations on animals that are as small as pet mice and likely will not be trained or have recent experience listening for respiratory infections or looking for tumors, two of the most common health issues in mice.
Often the best way to find good small animal veterinarians is to follow rat breeders in your area. A good rat vet will likely be able to treat domesticated mice, or at least will be more willing to handle the animal than an inexperienced one. Reptile or exotics veterinarians can also be a good place to look for advice on the health of your small pet.
We have personal experience with and recommend the Animal Medical Center of Corona with Dr. Bart, who has treated our animals in the past. If this location is too far for to travel to with your pets, we recommend that you research small animal veterinarians in your area before you purchase mice from any breeder.
Q: I've heard that mice can be prone to cancer. Is this true?
A: Yes, this is unfortunately the case. As breeders we do our best to select away from lines that develop cancer as best we can, but as this is a disease that frequently occurs later in life there is not always much that we can do without knowing more about our lines.
Because we care about the health of our animals, please inform us if your animals develop tumors (especially before 18 months of age). We can use that information to make more informed breeding decisions in the future. If too many mice start to develop cancer at too young of an age it is very likely that we need to evaluate if continuing that line will make good pets, or more likely if we need to discontinue that breeding program.
Q: What can I do the keep my mice healthy?
A:
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