Baby field mouse

[keithpb]

Hi, i'm new to this site and just after a bit of advice, i found a tiny mouse about 4-5cm long (not including the tale) in the back yard, don't know how it got there! i though it was dead but when i got closer i could see it breathing... i picked it up and brought it inside, i have placed it in a large plasic box lined with newspaper and shredded some up and stuck it in there with some cotton wool, i think it may be a baby field mouse it is really tiny and a round sort of shape, it has been about 6 hours now and he has been asleep nearly all that time, not sure if he is injured or just very young as he seems to be walking around in circles and falling over when he does decide to move, i've tried dropping tiny amount of watered down milk in his mouth not sure he got any though although he did clean himself for about 5mins after... i've now placed bread, apple, carrot and water in there just incase he can eat solids.... i don't want to just let him go as i know he won't make it but i don't know what to do for the best? any suggestions please?

thanks.

[Malx]

I warn you I score about 1/10 in the 'knowledge' stakes, but I guess you'd like some kind of response before bedtime at least! [My very best suggestion is at the bottom of this page! ]
If it's 4-5cm it's not a baby, I'd have thought. How long's the fur?
Anyway.
Make absolutely sure some of that milk gets down its throat, no matter what process you use. Don't dilute it too much, maybe add a grain or two of sugar. Make sure it's warmer than fridge-temperature. I don't imagine you've got any goat's milk or colostrum in your larder? Joking, but most mammals prefer them to cow's milk.
Shavings of chocolate, rice crispies, oats (i.e. porridge-type) or any other cereal would be gratefully received when it's fitter and hungry. Also a chopped, unsalted peanut.
Ensure it's in a fairly solid box, or you'll wake up tomorrow and find a hole in the cardboard, and an unhealthy mouse somewhere in your house about to die under the floorboards, with the subsequent putrid smell etc. If you're to fix the mouse, make sure it can't escape just yet.
Put a small sock or bobble hat in there which can get filthy, as will the rest. Also a small cardboard box to act as a 'kennel'. Make sure it's somewhere dark, quiet, undisturbed by pets/kids, and not too warm - the airing cupboard would be wrong!
If it's wobbling it could be dehydration, so water and milk's correct.

Best leave it alone with all the facilities overnight or so. Don't intervene too much or it may be too panicked to eat, drink and rectify itself.

Good luck, and well done for caring! If it doesn't survive, do not take it personally!
[Hope that you'll soon get some decent advice from someone else who's less of a rookie than me!!]

EDIT: Don't put it somewhere COLD though, as it could be a bit of hypothermia. The cotton wool etc will help keep it warm, and make sure the newspaper's torn and bundled up for insulation.

[keithpb]

thanks for the reply i've done exactly what you said as it sounds like good advice, to me anyway! i think it's broke it's leg as it can't (wont put it's weight on it). it's fur looks quite long so maybe it's not a baby but one of it's eye's is closed? i don't think it's well at all! i'm gonna try again to give it some water/milk now, then leave it for the night and hope for the best... unfortunatly goats milk is out of the question! lol

again thanks for the reply i'll let you know how he's doing tomorrow, fingers crossed but it doesn't look good for the poor little thing.

[Malx]

You mean you don't keep a goat at home?!?

Calm, a warm bed, drink and food are probably its best hopes now. I have no idea what you'd do for a broken leg, but if you can do the 4, you're giving it a fighting chance! By then the Cavalry of the WAB Forum should have arrived to help you out.
The thing with mice is that everything happens quickly, so you'll get a verdict on whether it survives or not soon - at least before the weekend is out...

Good luck, Keith, and don't have nightmares!

[Malx]

Any news, Keith?

Open question to all: what can be done to help a small mouse with a broken leg?
I assume one should bother, and intervene??