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KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 01:30 PM Oct 2012

I have a baby mouse that I think is in shock right now 1:30 EST

shivering, eyes opening mostly as slits, low body temp

One of my dogs found it just now so I brought it in to see if we could help it. It wasn't moving very fast, may be injured but is not bleeding and seemed able to use all four legs, just not very fast. May have been dropped by a bird because we found him in the middle of a small parking lot.

The mouse is about the size of my thumb, although fatter. Gray coat with a white belly.

Any advice?

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I have a baby mouse that I think is in shock right now 1:30 EST (Original Post) KurtNYC Oct 2012 OP
Try swaddling it to get it warm. Although if it is only thumb size Fla Dem Oct 2012 #1
i microwaved a piece of cotton clothing and put that in with him KurtNYC Oct 2012 #2
Yes, I thought she might need water too and was going to suggest it by eyedropper. Fla Dem Oct 2012 #4
she is more active now and aside from a little mottle in the fur KurtNYC Oct 2012 #6
Umm i dont want to be cruel, but if you have a cat around, they usually take care of that darkangel218 Oct 2012 #3
She is eating baby spinach now KurtNYC Oct 2012 #5
Is it an adult? Mojorabbit Oct 2012 #14
do cute Liberal_in_LA Oct 2012 #31
If you are sure it is an adult Mojorabbit Oct 2012 #29
Yeah, give your dog a medal! Taverner Oct 2012 #7
Thanks. I call him 'Doctor Riley' and 'Mister A Plus' KurtNYC Oct 2012 #9
Have you named it yet? avebury Oct 2012 #8
I'm trying to avoid that level of attachment but she is curled up and sleeping on one KurtNYC Oct 2012 #10
as my kids were growing up handmade34 Oct 2012 #13
They are adorable, but they also carry diseases. Be careful. GreenPartyVoter Oct 2012 #11
they are irresistable! myshofer Oct 2012 #16
If the mouse is infected the people are already at risk. Also, not sure if GreenPartyVoter Oct 2012 #17
How's your little baby mouse today? Did she survive the night? n/t Fla Dem Oct 2012 #12
she is alive but not real active KurtNYC Oct 2012 #18
"get well soon" to the cuttest mouse ever. myshofer Oct 2012 #15
the pic upthread is not my mouse KurtNYC Oct 2012 #19
peanut butter Kali Oct 2012 #20
Before I was aware of hantavirus, I once kept a little mouse TwilightGardener Oct 2012 #21
I am being careful but haven't heard of hantavirus in this area KurtNYC Oct 2012 #23
If you are not in the west (I'm assuming you're in NY) you probably TwilightGardener Oct 2012 #27
um, we got some news on Hanta virus last week: hedgehog Oct 2012 #32
Yikes. Well, I stand corrected. TwilightGardener Oct 2012 #33
Puppy formula TuxedoKat Oct 2012 #22
She has water but seems more interested in the spinach KurtNYC Oct 2012 #24
Ah, that sounds good TuxedoKat Oct 2012 #26
Best wishes to your little friend. Joe Shlabotnik Oct 2012 #25
sounds like an adult mouse TorchTheWitch Oct 2012 #28
why not call a vet who can take care of mice or a wildlife place that takes in the injured orleans Oct 2012 #30

Fla Dem

(23,668 posts)
1. Try swaddling it to get it warm. Although if it is only thumb size
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 01:39 PM
Oct 2012

there probably isn't much you can do for it.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
2. i microwaved a piece of cotton clothing and put that in with him
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 01:44 PM
Oct 2012

I have her in a large glass jar with leaves across the bottom so that I can observe without poking around in the nesting. I think I want to try some carrot shavings to see if she will eat. In my quick study it says they get water through food mostly and for shock I think water is needed.

Fla Dem

(23,668 posts)
4. Yes, I thought she might need water too and was going to suggest it by eyedropper.
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 01:56 PM
Oct 2012

Or wet your pinkie and see if she will lick it. Sounds like you're doing everything you can. If she was dropped by a bird, there are probably internal injuries. I'm surprised she has survived this long.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
6. she is more active now and aside from a little mottle in the fur
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 02:03 PM
Oct 2012

I don't see injuries. I have seen hawks kill and eat rodents by dropping them on asphalt then picking them back up so it kind of looked like that scenario but it is possible that she wandered away from the nest and isn't really injured just young and not used to daylight.

She ate some spinach.

 

darkangel218

(13,985 posts)
3. Umm i dont want to be cruel, but if you have a cat around, they usually take care of that
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 01:55 PM
Oct 2012

PS: Im sorry, im scared of live mice

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
5. She is eating baby spinach now
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 02:00 PM
Oct 2012

She is adorable. When she sits up she looks her head and body are the same size. She went inside the cotton sock.

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
14. Is it an adult?
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 01:15 PM
Oct 2012

If not it might need formula, ie esbilac. I have raised many litters of mice over the years. People bring them in thinking they are baby squirrels.
Best of luck
Here is a photo of one
[IMG][/IMG]

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
29. If you are sure it is an adult
Thu Oct 25, 2012, 01:35 AM
Oct 2012

the pet store has pet rodent food that might be more palatable. I do wildlife rehab and keep an assortment of foods here for anything that might come in.
I specialize in cottontails these days. If it does not perk up there are a lot of good wildlife rehabilitators in New York than can help.
PM me if you need some names.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
9. Thanks. I call him 'Doctor Riley' and 'Mister A Plus'
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 02:28 PM
Oct 2012

He brought me this bird's nest in his mouth without crushing it when he was about 3 months old. He just set it down at my feet and titled his head, like 'what is this?'

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
10. I'm trying to avoid that level of attachment but she is curled up and sleeping on one
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 02:30 PM
Oct 2012

of my socks.

handmade34

(22,756 posts)
13. as my kids were growing up
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 12:09 PM
Oct 2012

we always had pet mice... they are awesome pets, friendly and easy to handle once they get used to you...

the last pet mouse we had as my kids were older, did get loose but continued to live in my kitchen and would come sit on the counter when we were working in there...

...now, on the other hand... wild mice I cannot tolerate and continue to set traps and work to rid my house of them

myshofer

(10 posts)
16. they are irresistable!
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 02:00 PM
Oct 2012

aren't there any vaccinations for the pet mouse so that we can be safe from the diseases.

GreenPartyVoter

(72,377 posts)
17. If the mouse is infected the people are already at risk. Also, not sure if
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 02:28 PM
Oct 2012

there are vaccinations for mice (or people) for things like Hanta virus, which is really, really nasty.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
18. she is alive but not real active
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 02:32 PM
Oct 2012

curled up in a cotton sock last time I checked. When I lift up the sock she just looks at me.

Kali

(55,008 posts)
20. peanut butter
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 02:41 PM
Oct 2012

better nutrition than spinach for a rodent (are you sure it is a mouse and not a shrew - nevermind that would probably be dead by now, they need to eat a LOT)

if it isn't really an infant, dog or cat kibble is fine to feed them too - healthy mice will eat just about anything but nuts and grains are best.


never pick up a small rodent, it really is better to let nature take its course (or to humanely dispose of it) but having done that enough times to be a real hypocrite for giving that advice I certainly understand.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
21. Before I was aware of hantavirus, I once kept a little mouse
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 02:47 PM
Oct 2012

that had invaded our kitchen. She'd made a nest in an oven mitt that I had hanging near the stove but didn't use very often--caught her peeping out from the wrist opening at us one morning. It was a bitter cold South Dakota winter, snow on the ground, and I didn't have the heart to kill her or release her outside. So we got a little cage and kept her in it for about 6 weeks, until it was closer to spring, then let her go, out on the prairie. I wouldn't do that now, but I'm not sorry to have helped her out. Those beady little eyes watching us from the oven mitt...

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
23. I am being careful but haven't heard of hantavirus in this area
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 04:00 PM
Oct 2012

we have Lyme disease carried by ticks though. I have handled her only once and only by the tail.

I will probably release her soon as long as she is healthy but I may have to shoot some pictures first.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
27. If you are not in the west (I'm assuming you're in NY) you probably
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 05:56 PM
Oct 2012

needn't fear hantavirus, plague, tularemia etc. like I do. I would minimize contact, definitely, get a box of disposable gloves when you deal with her or her surroundings, wash your hands, keep her isolated (garage? Laundry room?), watch out for fleas, etc. Poor little thing! Hope she gets better and on her merry mouse way. Edit to add--dispose of whatever you use with her, too.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)
32. um, we got some news on Hanta virus last week:
Thu Oct 25, 2012, 04:25 PM
Oct 2012

ALBANY- The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has received laboratory confirmation of a hantavirus case in New York State.

The individual reports that on Aug. 26 he was bitten by a rodent while camping in a lean-to shelter in the Adirondacks. According to the man, he did not experience symptoms until late September; he was hospitalized for nearly a week before recovering.

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2012/10/24/ny_hantavirus/



More Info here:

http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/pdf/HPS_Brochure.pdf

TuxedoKat

(3,818 posts)
22. Puppy formula
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 03:58 PM
Oct 2012

is given to baby squirrels. Be sure to give water as dehydration is a big danger to small rodents.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
24. She has water but seems more interested in the spinach
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 04:46 PM
Oct 2012

read one thing that said they get most of their water from food, but I am trying both.

TuxedoKat

(3,818 posts)
26. Ah, that sounds good
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 05:08 PM
Oct 2012

if you've resarched it. Spinach should have water in it, or you could wet the spinach too before you give it to her. If they have had shock, I remember the animal rescuers I've brought various animals to help, were always concerned about hydration. Sweet of you to help her and take an interest. Hope she continues to improve.

Just thought of something, they like little things to crawl in, like a used toilet paper tube. Since they are nocturnal, they like to get away from the light. Shredded newspaper they would like as well, to burrow in.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
28. sounds like an adult mouse
Wed Oct 24, 2012, 10:49 PM
Oct 2012

Field mice are much smaller than pet mice and also have bigger eyes and ears. If it's thumb sized it sounds like an adult.


orleans

(34,051 posts)
30. why not call a vet who can take care of mice or a wildlife place that takes in the injured
Thu Oct 25, 2012, 05:07 AM
Oct 2012

and ask some questions--see what they say and what to do for the mouse. we've had pet mice for years. get a mousie water bottle. good luck. i know how cute they are!

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