Help! Baby possum found in mom's pouch!

[Twi_prime]

Hi guys. I'll post these pics. Mommy possum is deceased, as are at least 3, maybe 4 babies *that I could see*. I did feel around the opening. There seemed to be a dead one in there. I'm a coward. I think I should go back and make absolutely sure? Please have a look and try to age this (girl, I think?) for me? I'm wondering if she's at a stage where she can be hydrated with a syringe (does that happen with babies?) or will she need a tube? I think she needs a rehabber regardless. I've left a message for Anne. Hate to bug her again in any case though. Anyone around Northern, but not panhandle FL who could take her? I have a heating pad on low under half her box. The box is *cardboard* as someone was warning against for squirrels recently. Is that gonna be a detriment to her hydration here? I'll look for something else. I did put a wet paper towel in a lid in the box with her, along with some cut up t-shirts. Here's pics...144827

[Jackie in Tampa]

hoping someone comes on soon..I have no clue to possie care...Please PM djarenspace for immediate care info, she comes to mind immediately..
although she is not near north florida..
I have heard, but do not go with this as I am not certain, if they are found in dead mothers pouch, they need ABs..
I would try a syringe...pedialyte..
what the girls recently taught me was touch their lower lip and their nose with the syringe and then put a drop on their lower lip and they will lick...maybe slow, but it may save her life...
thank you..for helping her!
Anne too will know!

[pappy1264]

Really need to get a weight, but from pics, I would say around 9 weeks give or take (opposums grow slowly at first). Fluids, then fv, diluted, working up to 3/1 (they can't handle the 2/1). You need to stimulate to potty still (lots of tissues, they are messy. Wet the tissue and flick fast, don't stop when they start to go, you have to keep pottying until done.) Yes, if you can check, I would. Opposums don't 'suck' like squirrels, so you will have to go very slowly (if you know how to tube, that is much easier and quicker and safer.) Heat, obviously. Once they are on the formula, you can start putting in mashed bananas, a little yogurt, in small dishes to lap. Rule of thumb is to put on amoxy since they were in moms pouch for goodness knows how long. I am sure others will chime in, but try to get a weight and be sure to check every day. Good luck. they are precious!

[pappy1264]

Yes, carboard is bad, put them in a rubbermaid container or plastic critter keeper, with some fleece to snuggle into.

[pappy1264]

Yes, that is a girl (I misread thought you had more then one). If you hcave a little stuffie, put it in with her to snuggle up to, as well.

[stepnstone]

Thank you for trying to save this little possie, I hope you find the help and or info you need. She looks like she could really have a chance to survive, good luck with her. :grouphug

[Twi_prime]

I've actually made her a little rice buddy and should reheat it now. No pee yet. Thanks Pappy for the details on that. If I can't get fv today, will Jackie's goat's milk formula work? Thanks Jackie and Stepnstone too. She does seem to have some strength. She's very wiggly and when I turned mommy over, this one had his head out trying to make his way out. Going to check the pouch again. bbs

[Rescue04]

feeding the homemade pedilyte wont be bad for her. she is really skinny. you have to be careful...depending on how long she was on the dead mom...the bacteria can harm or kill them. i never tube feed unless they flat out refuse to eat. it may take long...but a syringe with a nipple works for me. keep her warm and maybe keep the cage covered. she is going to be stressed out and may not eat very well for the first day. but keep trying. i have 9 possums in my care right.....if you need any help...let me know. good luck.

[Twi_prime]

feeding the homemade pedilyte wont be bad for her. she is really skinny. you have to be careful...depending on how long she was on the dead mom...the bacteria can harm or kill them. i never tube feed unless they flat out refuse to eat. it may take long...but a syringe with a nipple works for me. keep her warm and maybe keep the cage covered. she is going to be stressed out and may not eat very well for the first day. but keep trying. i have 9 possums in my care right.....if you need any help...let me know. good luck.

Thanks Rescue and thanks for the offer of help, but I'm sorry to tell everyone, she has passed. I left for 10 minutes (leaving her in her box with t-shirt pieces and rice buddy) to check for more babies. No more alive. There were six dead. When I got back, she seemed to be cuddled up in a corner by the rice buddy and maybe I should have checked her closely then, but I had not peed since 5 o'clock this morning and I finally had an emergency.

When I found her, there was a little urine on her tail and/or legs. Could that mean the bladder did rupture? Her belly does look smaller to me now, but I guess that could just be because she's not being a wiggle worm now. Just as I'm about to post this, my bf is holding her and there seems to be lots of pee pooling in his hand. Think that points to rupture?

Thanks so much for the help everyone. Again, sorry to have to give you bad news. :(

[scoobysnack]

When animals die they let go of their bowels and bladder. She was probably just too debilitated to be saved. You did all you could and she was comfortable and warm. So wonderful of you to help this baby.

[Rhapsody]

Where in Florida are you located....... I am in Lakeland (and presently have 1 possum) --I am going over to Jackie's today at 3:00 PM if you are closer to her you can bring the little ones to me there.

Just let me know some thing..... I am baby sitting and the kids are swimming so I going to be outside more than inside until I leave to go over to Jackie's -- so leave your message here and I will check back in as I come inside for drinks & food.

P.S.
Jackie IF you are reading.... I will be bringing 1 extra with me today when I bring Marven over for his teeth trimming (my 8 yr old neice) - hope thats ok. :D

[pappy1264]

I am so sorry to hear this little one did not make it. RIP sweet baby. They may have been there a very long time (given all the others had passed already). At least she was not alone, and was loved.

[Twi_prime]

When animals die they let go of their bowels and bladder. She was probably just too debilitated to be saved. You did all you could and she was comfortable and warm. So wonderful of you to help this baby.

Thanks for your kind words, Scooby.

Well, I knew about the releasing at death, but I was wondering if it could have been a rupture since, when I first found her dead, there was a little bit of pee, but as Danny held her, a lot more seemed to seep out. So I thought maybe pee inside her from a rupture, seeping out due to gravity?

[Twi_prime]

Where in Florida are you located....... I am in Lakeland (and presently have 1 possum) --I am going over to Jackie's today at 3:00 PM if you are closer to her you can bring the little ones to me there.

Just let me know some thing..... I am baby sitting and the kids are swimming so I going to be outside more than inside until I leave to go over to Jackie's -- so leave your message here and I will check back in as I come inside for drinks & food.

P.S.
Jackie IF you are reading.... I will be bringing 1 extra with me today when I bring Marven over for his teeth trimming (my 8 yr old neice) - hope thats ok. :D

Thanks for the offer, Rhapsody. Sorry it didn't work out though.

[Twi_prime]

I am so sorry to hear this little one did not make it. RIP sweet baby. They may have been there a very long time (given all the others had passed already). At least she was not alone, and was loved.

We definitely love(d) her. Thanks for helping us do it. :grouphug

[Scooterzmom]

R.I.P. little angel. Go join your brothers and sisters with your momma now. Be free and happy sweetie... all of you.

Thank you for offering love and taking care of this little soul, Twi. :grouphug

[stepnstone]

So sorry Twi, you tried and and gave it love to cross over with. :grouphug

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

She looked pretty pale in the pictures, my guess is she was just too far gone when you found her. Poor little girl :sad.

[Chickenlegs]

Poor little girl. I bet it was hot too. If mama had been dead awhile that baby was most likely poisoned from her milk. She was a tiny thing and looked emaciated. You took care of her and got her to safety. Sometimes that's as much as a mortal can do. She's in the best hands now--and healed. Sweet sleep baby girl. :Love_Icon

[Twi_prime]

Thanks everyone, for your wisdom and for sharing our grief. We were figuring she must have been there since sometime Saturday night. Like I mentioned, when I turned mommy over, she was really trying to make her way out and she did look miserable, pale and traumatized, although I thought her color got at least a little better after that.

Here's a question. If I had been able to get her weight right away (as Pappy pointed out the need for--I have to get a little scale, like, now) and get her on amoxicillin, would that have greatly increased her chances? Would it have helped even if she was poisoned from the milk as Chickenlegs pointed out? I have capsules of people-amoxicillin, which I would have been happy to carefully divide up if possible. Would those have worked if I could have gotten the weight to figure out the dosage? Thanks again everybody. As is pointed often, TSB is the greatest. :o