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Baby mouse... hand rearing

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yyoung

yyoung

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I sent my OH out to clear out the outbuildings today and after he'd cleared it all out this tiny baby mouse (at least I think its a mouse) was left on the floor. I picked it up and it was so icy cold. I put it down my top to warm it up. Obviously this poor creature is orphaned now. Any ideas what I should do ? Been trying to give it a tiny amount of lactol and some evap milk mixed with water. Stimulated it to make it pee and poo....although got it to poo there's been no pee yet ! Keeping it warm.

Any ideas ?
 
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what a lovely little creature. I found some when I was younger and took them to the nearest place I thought could help (the chemist's) and they advised to put it is a box, like match box type (large if you have) with cotton wool to keep them warm and also advised to keep a ticking watch or alarm clock by the box which would simulate mum's heart-beat. They said to feed flour but they never touched it.

So I would say ask the vet surgery? Good luck anyway.x>>
 
Was at the vets today anyway as it happened and I did take it along..... believe it or not they couldn't decide whether or not it was a rat or a mouse baby. Now that I've looked up a few things I can see why.
They think I am completely bonkers and that it will die anyway (although concede that I am trying to be kind !) as does my OH and all my friends apart from the ones who think it is disgusting and that I should 'throw it out'. Could anyone just throw out a baby animal. It was so cold it was unbelievable....how could you not try to warm it up ?
 
Oh ... forgot to mention that I rang the local wildlife trust and their advice was to kill it .... probably best to drown it !
WHAT ?
 
I can't hlp but giggle at people's ignorance or lack of sympathy... So maybe the family's been chewing at your electrics for weeks but you can't hold it against the little fellow. If it survives will you keep it as a pet?
 
Actually .... and now don't all get freaked out... we've had a mouse (?) helping itself to our dogs biscuits for months now.Whilst my OH has been desperate to trap it/them I've threatened divorce proceedings if such were to happen. I'm actually not that bothered about the mouse. My friends all think I'm bonkers and bang on an on about disease etc etc. I've had mice before...we live near fields... what do you expect ?

Anyway I'd noticed we'd not had a 'visit' from our little friend for a few days...noticeable by the dogs biscuits remaining overnight. I thought nows a good time to clear out the outbuildings now that our 'friend' has left. What an error on my part. She hasn't been visiting us because she's been giving birth...poor lamb.

I feel really terrible. I hope the poor little things survives although it is so tiny I have my doubts.
If it survives I will def keep it....even though 'HE' says I can't.
 
I can only wish you all the best on this crazy but very honourabe venture. Keep us posted about the little guy's progress... Have you thought about a name yet?
 
Ahhhh its soo cute!
If you go into a pet shop and just get some advice I'm sure they'd be happy to help you.
I'll ask my mum and auntie for advice and post more but I'm at school at the moment so theres no one to ask.
Don't forget to keep us informed with his progress.
Good Luck!

x
 
oh my goodness,that mouse (or i think vole),is THE most innocent,sweetest thing. i cant believe people say to kill it. like any species comes above any other? i think not. do you see mice saying "its a tiny new born human,may not survive,so let's drown the thing"?! NO grrrrgrrrrgrrrrgrrrrgrrrrgrrrr
 
Have you tried maybe looking on mice/rat forums for advice? As I'm sure there will be folk there that have plenty of advice for you. It is an incredibly cute wee bubba.

I found this webpage for you http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm hopefully it will help.

However, I must say I do agree with the wildlife centre that killing it would've been the best option. A baby rat or mouse would've been properly hidden somewhere like the walls of your shed or in an underground burrow. If it was cold as well it suggests it had probably been adandoned by it's mother for a reason. Also the wee bubba will probably never be properly tame like a domesticated beastie, you may find it more vicious and distrusting. However, there is a chance it won't if it manages to survive, so best of luck! Do keep us updated.
 
Aww it's so cute. It probably would have been best if it was killed but i know even if was the best thing i definately wouldn't be able to kill any animal, so i say good for you looking after it. I'd do the same.

I think it's a mouse. If you type in baby mouse to google it comes up on images with one that looks exactly the same as yours. I don't think it's very very young as i think mice are born naked, with eyes shut etc. Their eyes open at about 2 weeks and they get hair around 1 weekish so it's not a new born.

It's very cute :)
 
Well done you.

I had mice in my old house and we used to catch them humanely and let them go on the moors. My ex caught one once under a mug and accidently chopped half his tail off :)>>>. I decided to keep him because he would certainly have died if I'd let him go, not having his tail to balance and all. I had him about a year before he died. I couldn't handle him but he had a mouse ball to play in which he loved and seemed very happy.

I could never kill a "pest". It's not their fault they've come into your house, they need to keep warm and eat like anything else. Just because humans don't particularly like them doesn't give us the right to kill them. I hate cats coming into my garden, but people would think it was wrong if I started killing them. I think the whole thing is very species-ist.

I'm sorry I have no idea how to hand rear a baby mouse. i'm sure you're doing a fab job though. If he survives, don't release him without thinking if he has the ability to fend for himself. I think I personally would hang on to him.:(|)
 
I don't know why the wildlife place told you to kill it. They could've at least offered some advice to keep it warm etc as it will probably pass away anyway without mum around.

I would've done the same as you, how can people just kill animals or throw them out?!
 
Well my little mouse is still here..... quite active and very sweet. I am struggling to get milk/food into him as all the syringes/teats etc are way too big for his little mouth....he does lap a little off my hand and I hope he is getting enough that way.

I can't get him to wee or poo..... he did poo yesterday but nothing today and I've read thats really quite bad for him.

Any suggestions ?

I am pretty certain he wont make it although as every passing hour goes I am more hopeful (maybe that should read stupid !)
 
Wrong milk can cause constipation problems,puppy or kitten milk is supposed to be a good formula to use - I have read puppy is closer to rodent milk than kitten.
Watered down evaporated milk, or milk sugar +water can be used in an emargency, but they don't tolerate cows milk and it increases constipation.

Since he is too small for your dropper
You could try using bread liberally soaked in puppy milk, or a paper towel rolled to a point and soaked in milk so he can sup from it,some will sup from a drop suspended from a dropper.

Keep stimmulating genitals after every feed, with a damp cotton ball or a damp cotton bud. Feed hourly during waking hours and two hourly at night. If some night feeds are difficult try leaving bread liberally soaked in milk very close by. They will smell it and may try to suckle from it in your absence.
As a child I recall my fathers gentle persistence payoff on a number of occassions.
If you have a little furry mouse toy, or a scrap of fur fabric this may help to give the little guy a sense of familiarity and comfort.
What a lucky wee thing to have found you. he will either give you much joy in the future, or will pass away in a loving and comfortable place.
My best wishes to you and your wee guy.
Pam
 
Well he is still with me .... he is just lovely. He kind of laps the milk off my hand and he is at last peeing and pooping.

I am hoping for the best but am fully prepared for what might be the inevitable.

Thought you might like to see him today......
 
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OMG he's so cute! It's good to hear he's giving it a go too...
Fingers crossed.
 
It's a really good sign that he's lasted as long as he has, especially if he's peeing and pooing now. Best of luck... I love little mousies, they're just so cute.
 
Well done for doing all this - he looks the sweetest little chap, and if he's weeing and pooing o.k., that is a good sign. He deserves every chance, and I know he'll get that with you.
 
He is good.... I think ! He is lapping milk from my hand really well and is peeing and pooing almost immediately afterwards. He is lively and friendly.

A small couple of things.... his fur around the edges if you like seems to be thinning or maybe falling out or just changing but as I'm not too familiar with baby mice I'm not sure if this is normal. His belly seems to be getting white fur on whereas before it was pink skin so I reckon thats a good thing. He was squeaking this morning a bit and I couldn't settle him (sounds like a baby eh ?). I thought he may have a pain so I did a little side massage (read it on the net) and he did a massive wee and then alsmost immediately settled so I reckon he must have had a pain.

Other than that he is doing well....will try and get some more pictures so you can see is progress
 
You are wonderful the way you are looking after this little mousie - looking forward to more pictures, but he is such a sweetie.
 
He may be losing his baby fur and growing in his permanent coat, if mice do such a thing. I know voles do, and mice are really similiar. It's great that you rescued what most people would consider a pest. I had a pet mouse years ago, named Gidget. She was so cute, but they do pee a lot, and the smell can be pretty strong, especially considering how small they are.
 
Aw, you're doing a really good job
 
I'm hooked ont he little guy's story.

All the best! And keep us updated.

maybe he's losing fur because he now lives indoors? or maybe he's losing his baby fur...
 
I hope you are right about the fur...

I went out tonight for a couple of hours to the cinema and I honestly thought he would be dead when I returned as he didn't look good when I left. Maybe its a good thing my friend had already booked the tickets otherwise I probably wouldn't have gone and left him. When I got home I raced up to see him and he's still here...looking a little better.
He is twitching a lot and squeaking a bit....does anybody know what this means ? Is this the 'flea' stage I keep reading about although thats not supposed to start until after the eyes open and his havent yet.
 
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