How long do mice survive without food and water? - briefly
Mice generally endure roughly 2–4 days without water and up to about 7 days without food, with mortality increasing sharply after the first 48 hours of dehydration. Survival time varies with age, strain, ambient temperature, and health status.
How long do mice survive without food and water? - in detail
Mice can endure a limited period without nourishment or hydration, the length of which depends on environmental temperature, age, body condition and strain.
When water is unavailable, dehydration progresses rapidly. Typical laboratory mice lose 10 % of body mass within 24 hours and reach a lethal state after 48–72 hours at room temperature (≈22 °C). Cooler environments (≈4 °C) extend survival to roughly 96 hours, while higher temperatures (≈30 °C) shorten it to 36 hours.
In the absence of food but with access to water, metabolic reserves sustain life longer. Young adult mice survive 10–14 days, with the median lethal point around 12 days under standard housing conditions. Starvation induces three physiological phases:
- Glycogen depletion – first 12–24 hours; blood glucose falls, glycogen stores in liver are exhausted.
- Gluconeogenesis and fat oxidation – days 2–7; protein catabolism begins, ketone bodies appear, body weight declines 15–20 %.
- Protein catabolism – after day 7; muscle and organ tissue breakdown accelerates, leading to organ failure.
When both food and water are withheld, the combined stress accelerates mortality. Laboratory data indicate a median survival of 48 hours, with a maximum of 72 hours under optimal ambient temperature. Wild‑caught mice, accustomed to intermittent resource availability, may survive slightly longer, up to 96 hours, but exhibit increased morbidity such as hypothermia and renal failure.
Key factors influencing these intervals:
- Ambient temperature: lower temperatures reduce water loss, extending survival; higher temperatures increase evaporative loss and metabolic demand.
- Body mass and fat reserves: larger or obese individuals possess greater energy stores, delaying the onset of critical protein catabolism.
- Age: neonates lack sufficient glycogen and fat, succumbing within 24 hours without nourishment; older mice experience slower metabolic decline but increased susceptibility to organ dysfunction.
- Strain differences: certain inbred strains (e.g., C57BL/6) display distinct metabolic rates compared to outbred strains, altering survival thresholds.
Overall, mice deprived of hydration survive only a few days, while deprivation of food alone permits up to two weeks of life, contingent on supportive water intake and moderate environmental conditions. The simultaneous lack of both nutrients results in a rapid decline, typically not exceeding three days.