Hello and "Murphy" mouse

Condici · #1 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 02:30 PM

Hi folks. I just wanted to say hello and also to get any advice about little "Murphy"
I was in my garden last night and realised my cat was upto something. I rescued from him a tiny little mouse - think he is a field mouse but anyway I got him in the house and put him in a cardboard box with hay, a bottle top with water in and another cap with bird seed in it. He cannot walk properly - it's like he is taking his first steps and last night he kept falling onto his side like he was giving up and dying! I propped him up a couple of times and he seemed to acknowledge that it's not time to give up.
I expected him to die through the night but I have come down this morning and he is alive. So I transferred him to a clear portable small pet carrier with newspaper in it, the seed and water. I also made him a little house out of a cardboard box so he can hide. He is making efforts to eat and is currently eating (or trying to) a raisin but he still is extremely wobbly when walking.
I have decided to keep him only until he is more steady on his feet - I fear if I release him, he will get eaten (we have buzzards here too in the fields out the back) or will not be strong enough to find food. I have no intentions of keeping him. He is in a dark corner in his box and doesn't seem particularly phased by me.
Can anybody suggest any other food that may be better for him? I am not so sure that he can digest or chew the bird seed yet.
I would like this to be a success story as everything else I have rescued so far has died of shock or injury but he seems okay, just weak.
Sorry to blab on - but I am glad to have found this site - it's brill!

Cazzie · #2 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 03:48 PM

First off, Welcome to WAB!

Secondly... oh dear, poor thing

Murphy 'could' have a back injury which is why he's so wobbly. Be sure to keep him warm by perhaps putting the carry case onto a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. As for food, bird seed is good, chopped peanuts, sunflower seeds. If you think he's struggling a bit then just chop it up smaller for him

You may also want to try a little cooled scrambled egg (no butter or milk) just plain as it's a good energy boost for him and will give him some fluid too. I too am suprised that he made it through the night, so mabe you have a little fighter there!

Keep us posted ok

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 03:55 PM

Hi welcome from me too. I hope your mouse survives. There was a tread a while back similar to yours and someone recommended porridge oates. But Cazzies advice sounds good to me

Goodluck to you both

.

stirling · #4 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 04:02 PM

Hi and welcome from me.
Best from mike.

Condici · #5 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 04:22 PM

Thanks folks for all your kind messages. OOhh I really hope he isn't injured? I have checked him over thoroughly and couldn't see anything but then if it was internal how would I know??
Well, an update on his condition - he is still unsteady on his feet but when I changed him into his clear box so I could monitor him, he tottered over to the bottle top with bird seed in it and sat chewing a raisin! How cute is that! He is currently fast asleep in the middle of his food! Not drank as yet but I assume he will get moisture from the raisins? Gonna do him some egg in a bit - see if he does well with that and going to do a warm hot water bottle for him as well.
Don't want to get attached to him but if he is older than I thought and has a back injury, there is no way I can put him outside to his death! Will just have to monitor for a couple of days.
Thanks again folks.Keep y'all posted with Murphy's progress.

Cazzie · #6 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 04:26 PM

There's not much else you can do other than take him to a local rescue centre. But don't be suprised if he doesn't make it as it's possible that your cat punctured his skin somewhere and he may get an infection. It would be worth you ringing a rescue centre for advice methinks, just to be safe

Got my fingers crossed for the little fella!

naturelover · #7 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 04:36 PM

hi and welcome to wab,glad to hear you managed to save him from your cats mouth,even if he dosnt make it its still better than being eaten alive,i did just the same thing a few years ago,he lived and it was me that sugested porrage oats,my little mouse was a harvest mouse he would sit on his haunches with one porrage oat in his tiny hands and chew on it,we had him for about two weeks then i let him free in tha garden.

Condici · #8 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 04:57 PM

Silly question - do the oats just need to be left raw or mix them with water/milk? I don't eat porridge (but do have some in the cupboard).
Just done him a hot water bottle and some egg too. Spoilt thing won't want to leave!

naturelover · #9 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 05:00 PM

depends how old he is,i fed my mouse on dry porrage oats he took it from my hand.

Condici · #10 (**permalink**) 28-10-2007, 06:05 PM

Not sure of age but a friend has just had a look at him and he is definately a baby. I will try the scrambled egg and dry oats for now - when he wakes up - still asleep, lazy little thing.