found injured wild mouse pup

Question
My Daughter came home with a young but has his eyes open and lots of fur little wild mouse that was sitting in the middle of a pathway around the afternoon, he looked like he has been a cats play thing for a while as his leg was injured (no blood) as he was holding it to the side and one of his eye's look a little closed, he was cold and quite still when we picked him up and bought him home out of the cats harm. we had mice and had a cage at home with all he would need to be warm and more comfortable, i warmed him up on my lap with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel he gradually warmed up and started moveing a little however the leg is definatly hurt as he dragged it at times, poor little fella. when he warmed up we offered him a drink of water in a syringe and he very slowly licked at it he drank quite a lot 2.5ml, we then put him in the cage where he quickly found the soft bedding and burrowed in, we have offered him seeds and like a bird seed and broke up some peanuts, which his little shrew like nose was twitching he came out and picked up some of the broken up nut and started to eat, this was so promising we have also noticed he has some mites but we are unsure of his age, how poorly he actually is and whether or not we should wait to treat the mites, we have fallen for him already and pray he recovers even if he is a little disabled so am i. do you think he has a chance and can you give us any advise on whats best to do for our poor little fella ;(
Regards   Vanessa and family x

Answer
Dear Vanessa,

Poor little thing. First let me admit that the prognosis is not great.

What is most likely to get him is infection from the cat's saliva. Cat saliva is nasty stuff. My lovely kitten sent my mom to the hospital once with a playful nip.  

Often a mouse seems fine on day two, and does not make it through day three. This is why it is crucial to treat with an antibiotic as soon as absolutely possible. If you are truly hooked, get him to a vet immediately. As in, right now, tonight, emergency. But don't expect a mouse sized price.

However, my guess is that you aren't quite that invested yet. But there is still something, far less effective, but better than nothing, to try.

First thing in the morning (it may well be too late, though), get to a pet or aquarium shop and pick up some tetracycline meant for fish. Pick up some KMR (kitten milk) as well.

This is *extremely* inexact, but here we go. This is what I would do.

Take one capsule, or 1/4 flat teaspoon, and mix it with about a tablespoon of water. Now mix this 2:1 with the KMR.

Try to get a drop or two (depending on drop size) into him. Continue with simple 1:1  water : KMR until he is full. Keep up with the KMR every two hours, but repeat with the antibiotic formula only every 8 hours. Even though he is at least partially weaned, he needs the fluids.

If you can use pedialyte or another electrolyte solution instead of water, that is even better.

I hope this will stop an infection in its tracks.

***

In other topics, if he survives he will be fine with a broken leg. Mice adapt extremely easily to loss of a limb. You only have to worry if it begins to look infected. Hopefully the above treatment - or the antibiotic your vet gives him - will keep that from happening anyway.

Keep him warm, warm, warm.

Oh, mites? It is so funny the way I will not get a certain question for a year (if ever), and then get it several times in a row. Let me copy what I wrote about the last orphan pup with a parasite- 30 minutes ago.

**

"It's not too great that you found a flea on him. Although you would probably see if he had another one, it is a sign that he has been someplace (even in his nest) where there were parasites. That is, he may have mites as well, which you can not see.

I would not yet treat him for parasites because he is so very small. In a few weeks, get some kitten Revolution from your vet or from someone who has another animal (OK if it isn't kitten strength, I'm just trying to be careful). You will want to rub a tiny drop into the skin at the back of his neck. It is important that it be rubbed into the skin, because it will do next to nothing for him in his fur. How much? How about as much as you can get on the very tip of a toothpick. You can probably use the toothpick to rub it in.

The Revolution works by entering his bloodstream and killing anything that bites him. One application lasts a month.

There is another option which includes buying a gallon of cow parasite formula and using less than a teaspoon... the Revolution should be cheaper than that (and more effective)!

In the meantime, if you see any parasites on him, give him a little bath. This link brings you to videos made by a woman who rescues and raises feeder pups (which I disagree with). Start from number 1- I think the bath one is very early, if not even in the first one.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CreekValleyCritters/videos?query=raising

Best of luck to the little critter!"

**

And best of luck to yours as well. He will make a terrific pet.

squeaks,

Natasha