Deer mouse help

[Sara in NW MS]

Little girl isn't doing well... She's 9g and feels cold to the touch. She was minding her own business when aunt Lulu spotted her getting into the wild squirrel food. She tried to take a pic of her in the box and accidentally closed the flap of the box on her. There wasn't much pressure put on her and she was very active after that happened but she was spinning like a corkscrew. At first we thought it was her front legs but she is moving them. We offered a Henry's block and a couple pieces of oxbow block. No sign that she touched either of them. I took some of TW's soaked block and put it in a half cc syringe and she licks it right off the tip of the nipple. Her eyes stay mostly closed and if she opens them it's just a tiny slit.
How old is she? What else can we do for her?

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[Nancy in New York]

Akkkkkkkkkkk let me direct CritterMom to this thread.
Poor little peanut. :(

[lukaslolamaus]

Poor little mouse, I hope she'll be ok :hug

[SammysMom]

:Love_Icon

[TubeDriver]

That is a fairly young mouse.

The circling behavior could be a result of head trauma so ordinarily heat is not recommended. But if she is cold then I think you have to provide a heat source to warm her up despite the risks.

You can offer some formula and water. Is she wet, she looks soaking wet in that photo?

[Sara in NW MS]

She looked wet when I went to get her out to feed her. Her belly and chest were wet and it went up one side. I wrapped her in my hand and kept her surrounded by my fingers while I fed her the soaked block. She managed to get it on her so I used a warm baby wipe to clean her up. That's when I took the picture. She's lifeless when she's in the blankets but gets more active if you warm her up in your hands.
I thought about using a heating pad but wasn't sure if she had a head trauma. All I know is she ran towards Lauri at the same moment she pushed the flap down on the box and she was under it. Lauri said it happened so fast.
I did give her some formula, she took .15 cc.

[SammysMom]

A small rice buddy that she can sort of drape over might help. IMO she needs warmth even though there is a risk due to head trauma. I am NOT a mousie person though so I defer to those far more qualified.

[TubeDriver]

That mouse looks ~3-4 weeks old.

[Sara in NW MS]

I wondered if she was really young. I feel so terrible for her, Lauri has been distraught that she caused this to happen. We just want her to get well so we can release her... She just looks so puny and weak.

[SammysMom]

Did you offer heat? She has to be warm to digest food.

[Sara in NW MS]

Yes, I've made sure she was warm before feeding her. She has a heating pad under half the container. Her little hands got caught on the rice buddy... I wrapped a Tw blanket around it but it's not as warm. She's definitely more active and lively when she's warm. Just being in my hands for a few minutes is enough to bring her around.

[Nancy in New York]

Poor little mouse, poor Auntie Lulu.
Prayers that a full recovery is made.:hug

[Chickenlegs]

Oh little sweetheart. They're so tiny and move so fast. Us big clunkers don't need to do much to damage one of these little guys. Sure hope he makes a 100% recovery. I know that just tore up Aunti Lulu's heart.

[CritterMom]

Aw. I wouldn't worry about neuro issues and the heat - they are so frail that is this is the case it likely won't make it anyway. Put it on heat and just try for the supportive care of hydration and formula and some dry food too and hope.

[TubeDriver]

Any updates on the little mousie? Where you able to warm her up?

[Sara in NW MS]

Little girl is still alive. She seems to be doing better with the heat but something isn't right with her. She's not walking around or sitting up, she crawls around on her tummy. She was definitely running around on her own before this happened and now she can't even walk. This is so heartbreaking!
It takes forever to feed her, kind of like feeding TW. By the time I finish feeding one of them and I go to feed the other... it feels like it's time to go back and start all over again. Lol, I know it's not funny and I shouldn't be laughing but it's better than crying. Having two critters as disabled as this is going to catch up to us. I pray she improves for all our sake.

[TubeDriver]

:( So you can see her moving all her limbs? If so, that is encouraging. Maybe she can heal if given some time? I would keep her warm, offer formula and a little bit of block, plenty of water and keep your fingers crossed. Thank you for helping this little one, mousies are the least among us but are clever little characters with lots of personality. :grouphug

They are very much nocturnal so give her a little hut or something so she can hide herself during the day. Mice HATE being exposed, out in any open space is against their nature/instincts and will cause a lot of anxiety.

[TubeDriver]

You know, as I looked back at her photo, I noticed her really large ears, feet and tail. I wonder if there is a chance that this is a very young rat? It is hard to tell them apart sometimes and with her being all wet in that photo it is even harder.

[Chickenlegs]

Rat or mousie, she fell into heaven. Rats are the SWEETEST pets. Not fond of the ones the cat brings in tho. Heal little baby. HEAL :Love_Icon

[Jenny H]

Did you offer heat? She has to be warm to digest food.

Agree totally with you SammysMom.

[Sara in NW MS]

I'm not really equipped for a mouse. I have been keeping her inside a small critter carrier with blankets to hide under. I keep that carrier inside one of my plastic incubator tubs that we've used on all the baby squirrels so far. The critter carrier has dark sides and the holes are more towards the top and that's clear plastic. I've tried to make sure it stays dark for her.
Her hands and feet do look big in the pic but they are so very tiny. She really has the cutest little hands and feet, it's hard to imagine fingers as small as hers being useful.

Dang it the pics are sideways!

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[Nancy in New York]

I think I have seen where people use a small art brush and dip
the formula in. The little one will lick it off.
Let me see if I can find a video.

[Nancy in New York]

Here's a video.
Go to around the 55 second mark. :klunk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4_mFLcLBio

Here you go.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9LbT5Q8/0/O/i-9LbT5Q8.jpg

[TubeDriver]

Mousies do not need a whole lot, they are more self sufficient in some ways than squirrels. Just a little container with a hut or some type of hiding place and some wood blocks or sticks for entertainment/chewing is probably fine for now. Keep her warm but once she can maintain her body heat by herself it will not be needed. In fact, mice can overheat but no temps in your home will be too cold (this is assuming she can maintain her own body heat independently).

She will not really like being handled much, wanting more to hide and watch you carefully from her hiding place. Once she starts to recover, watch out for her escaping. We hand fed our mice with a syringe but at about 6-7 weeks old they starting jumping and running away and were almost impossible to re-catch. Make sure door is closed, towel covers the space at the bottom of the door and that you do not have any opening in the room (large vents, holes etc). this all not be a problem yet but it will occur as she recovers and gets a little older.

Hopefully, she will recover and you can release her soon.

[Sara in NW MS]

:boohoo she's gone. I am not cut out for this... The hurt from losing her feels like an elephant is on my chest. Poor little girl, I just can't believe she's gone.

[TubeDriver]

:( Gods speed little mousie.



:grouphug You tried your best to help this little one, it was just not meant to be.:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

I'm so terribly sorry to read this. :grouphug
Rest in Peace
Little Mouse 284768

[SammysMom]

Godspeed precious little mousie...:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

So very sorry, Sara...they leave holes in our hearts that are far larger than their little bodies...:sad

[lukaslolamaus]

R.I.P. little Mousie:Love_Icon:sad

[Jenny H]

I feel so sad to hear the little mouse has passed. I've had mice and rats and it's always a great loss. Rest in peace little one. You did your best for her. :grouphug:Love_Icon

[CritterMom]

I am so sorry. They are such delicate little things it doesn't take much. And you don't need to tell me how fast you can fall for them...

My little Nate never had a girlfriend...maybe now he does...:grouphug:grouphug

[Sara in NW MS]

I never expected to feel the way I felt when I found her and she was gone. After all, I'm one of those people that will jump and scream if I see a mouse. I'm ashamed to admit that but it's true.
I'm so sorry for what happened to her just because she ended up in my garage looking for food and warmth.
I buried her this morning and gave her a proper send off. Little girl is free of her broken body but we aren't free of our broken hearts.
I packed up the paint brushes I bought to feed her with. If I ever have another mouse I'll be better equipped.

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[Nancy in New York]

What a beautiful tribute to your little one. :Love_Icon

[Scott]

Sarah that's beautiful in front of the tree. I'm sorry about the mouse that is gone, but just maybe you learned something that can help another. lvusarah

[TubeDriver]

Mousies are tiny but their spirits burn bright. :grouphug

[KarmaKay]

:grouphug Sara her marker and resting place is so beautiful. Just know that you did your best, and that's all any of us could've done. She's not suffering anymore.

[lennysmom]

Oh Sara I'm so sorry the little sweet mousie didn't make it.:sadness
I know you tried so hard to save her.:grouphug Godspeed little one.:sad

[Jenny H]

So very sorry for the little mouse. :hug

[Jenny H]

I never expected to feel the way I felt when I found her and she was gone. After all, I'm one of those people that will jump and scream if I see a mouse. I'm ashamed to admit that but it's true.
I'm so sorry for what happened to her just because she ended up in my garage looking for food and warmth.
I buried her this morning and gave her a proper send off. Little girl is free of her broken body but we aren't free of our broken hearts.
I packed up the paint brushes I bought to feed her with. If I ever have another mouse I'll be better equipped.

284783

So sorry Sara, we've had many mice and rats, mostly unwanted or abandoned babies, or ones rescued from non-caring owners, and it doesn't matter how small they are or how short a time they are with us, they surely know they are loved and they always leave us with both experience that we've gained and also a sadness in our hearts. You did all you could for her and what you've done with her little grave is lovely. You are indeed a sweet person. :hug

[Jen413]

So sorry to hear this. :grouphug

What a beautiful resting spot you made for her.