Pocket Gofer?? Need Help

[vickyjhnsn]

Hi everyone. No baby squirrels yet this year but I got in a pocket gofer today, at least that is what I'm thinking this little one is.

I have given him a couple of cc's of water, then some diluted Fox Valley and he is eating very well. I don't know the first thing to do with this little guy and I'm it here for wild life. I was hoping you guys could help me out thinking maybe one or two of you have come across these little ones. I stimulated him and he pooped and peed. Poop is a little runny. He has a cut on his head and I put a dab on neosporin on (a cat got him). Wondering about anitbiotics for him since it was a cat but gosh, how much. I'll try and weigh him but he is so tiny.

I have him on a heating pad outside the box he is in. Have him on fleece. He is active and moves around a lot. Seems comfortable for now. Here is a picture. I'll try to get my good camera and get some better shots of him. He is as cute as can be but sooo tiny.

Any advice would be wonderful. Thanks in advance.

[stosh2010]

Any chance for a second photo ? With a little more detail?

[SammysMom]

My heavens he's so little! :thankyou for helping him!

[vickyjhnsn]

I just got some good ones. I'm posting them now. Have to make them smaller.

[vickyjhnsn]

I did not realize how bad his little head looked until the flash got a good view of it. It looks worse with the light. Any help would be sooo appreciated.

[SammysMom]

Oh poor little Bubba! Feel better soon!

[CritterMom]

Oh, bless his heart. He MUST have antibiotics for the cat bite, and ASAP. Do you have any and can you weigh him?

[vickyjhnsn]

Ok, just found my scale for the squirrels. He weighs 7 grams. Goodness he is tiny.

[vickyjhnsn]

He just had some formula. Peed really well. No poop yet. He is staying strong. Really worried about that head wound. I have the bubble gum amox for kids, (my son is on it for strep) and we can spare some for this baby. Can I give him that and how much. I have antibiotic pills of every kind. I put triple antibiotic ointment on his head. Any other ideas? So far so good.

[pappy1264]

He needs baytril or clavamox, at least for 3-4 days for cat injury (after that, you could use the amoxy.) Do you have any antibacterial/antimicrobial wash to clean the wound? Is anyone near you that you can get baytril from? Poor little guy, that is a pretty good gash on his head. (He almost looks like a baby degu.)

[vickyjhnsn]

No, no baytril. I could try the vets tomorrow. Would it hurt to give him amox tonight? Does anyone have an idea on dosage? I looked at some old stuff vet had given me months ago for one of my squirrels and its amox. Its months old though. I have new amox, just wondering if it would hurt to start him on that tonight. Its the bubble gum flavor. I also have amox pills that I could put in water and dilute.

[vickyjhnsn]

It does look like a baby degu but the ears are not big like them. I don't even know what a degu is. Up until today, never even seen a gopher if that is what he is. The thing that kills me is how little he is. Seems small even for a gopher. I see pictures of them online and they are no where near as small as this little guy.

[jo_schmoe]

omg...that is the cutest thing I have ever seen....
I still can't figure out what it is....pocket gopher....at first it struck me as a baby rat.
At this point...WHO CARES.....its soooo pickin CUTE!!!!
:Love_Icon little baby:Love_Icon
Nice save BTW....he/she looks very comfortable and at ease....:thumbsup

[pappy1264]

As long as that little dude is NOT a Pika, the amoxy should not hurt him, but he will NEED Baytril (again, if it is a Pika, Clavamox is not safe, either). Do you know what the dilution of the meds you have?

[SammysMom]

Is it Cipro that it the human equivalent of Baytril? Do you have Cipro?

[stepnstone]

What a cutie, bet that mix Jackie is using for Spicette would heal him right up. Boy, we are all such saps for these little critters aren't we... Sure hope the little dude does o.k., I'm pulling for him! (or her) :tilt

[pappy1264]

Actually with a cat involved, initially you don't want it to scab over, so it will not trap any bacteria in there. Cleaning and debriding it with an actibacterial wash is a good idea Yes, Cipro is the human equivilant of Baytril. Not really the same drug but work the same. Cheaper, too!

[SammysMom]

I know you said you have a variety of antibiotics Vicky. Do you have Cipro? And if so, what strength so someone can help dose.

[vickyjhnsn]

I have cipro just searched for two hours, can't find it. I found Levaquin which is in the cipro family. Not sure about that. The amox I have is 400mg/5ml liquid bubble gum and the levaquin I have is 500 mg pills. I know there is cipro somewhere in this house. Just getting late and wanted to know if I should wait till tomorrow or just give him the amox or leave him alone?

[vickyjhnsn]

As long as that little dude is NOT a Pika, the amoxy should not hurt him, but he will NEED Baytril (again, if it is a Pika, Clavamox is not safe, either). Do you know what the dilution of the meds you have?

what is a pika?

[vickyjhnsn]

what is a pika?

Nope not a pika, they have totally different types of paws then this little one. Different shapes when they are infants like this too. I'm pretty sure he is a pocket golpher. Just found a baby online of a pocket golpher and they are identical.

[sassysquirrel]

could this be it - a vole?????
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/pictures/showphoto.php/photo/72090/size/big/ppuser/6822

[vickyjhnsn]

I think the eyes are too different and tail is much longer. This little guy has a short tale. I found this video on You tube and it looks identical to mine except mine has a longer tale by a little bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2zRuxYZKM

Put a little more triple antibiotic ointment on him. Fed him 1 cc and he ate it all, stimulated him and he pooped and peed (black poop but firm). He might be good for a few more hours. Going to get some sleep. I'm going to let him sleep for about five hours and see how he does with that long of time. He has been eating every three hours but I let him go four hours and he gulped up his food. Not sure what he should be eating but I'm sure 1 cc is enough for him given he weighs 7 grams. Should hold him for a while.

Thanks for all your help and comments. His head looks gashed but it is not red or swollen so he seems ok with that. He did get injured early yesterday. I'll check with the vet tomorrow morning.

[pappy1264]

How is the little one this morning? You can put crushed rodent block and some old fashioned oats with him to nibble on.

[SammysMom]

Mary, did you see the AB she has? Is it something that can be used for him?:thinking

[pappy1264]

I told her she could use it (but would def. need to get either Baytril or Cipro or even Clavamox today because they are the only ones that work for cat bites.) Hoping to hear some news soon. Cat injuries are hard, they can go either way, even with meds. That is why I get upset with people who let their cats out on their own. Walk em' on a leash, or have an enclosure, so all are safe, including the cats!

[SammysMom]

Not the amoxy, she mentioned another one in a later post that is of the Cipro family. She also thinks she has Cipro somewhere.

Levaquin is what she found

[pappy1264]

That I am not sure about. Hopefully someone else will know.

[Jackie in Tampa]

oh my gosh vicki ..he is soooooo small...
cute as a button..
yes he needs ABs..If I can help PM me.
Precious is the word...:Love_Icon

[vickyjhnsn]

Thanks everyone for your help. I gave him a tiny itty bit of amox last night but it really did not make a difference because late last night and this morning he started to go into convulsions or seizures and kept having them. I think the head injury was just too much and he passed this morning. He slowly lost movement of his left side starting last night, could not open his left eye then front paw, etc. Poor baby, I kept him as comfortable as I could. I knew he was not going to make it last night.

The people that found him named him Lucky. RIP poor little Lucky.

[vickyjhnsn]

I really really HATE it when they die. This is the sucky part of taking these adorable little things in. :shakehead :shakehead

[stepnstone]

I'm sorry, at least you cared enough that it was not alone to suffer. :grouphug

[pappy1264]

I am very sorry this little one did not make it. RIP sweet baby angel.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

RIP LUCKY