House Mouse with large opening on rear enc

Question

Mouse2 lrghole   QUESTION: Hi, I'll try to be as precise as I can.  Found a tiny house mouse in the middle of my driveway. It has fur but eyes were squinty.    Approximate age?

It would shakily walk a few steps then stop, open its mouth real wide and then rest for a few minutes.
 
I brought it inside and put it in a medium sized, clear tote lined with newspaper and shredded paper towels, a sock, things to climb and a toiletpaper roll lined with a fuzzy piece of cloth and placed container on several layers of newspaper with a heating pad underneath set on low. I had some powdered soy milk on hand and the little thing lapped it up. He/she perked up after that and the eyes were much more open and it was quite active.   

I noticed today that it had a very hard lump extending from between it's legs to it's rear-end with a large hole that has a hard brown substance stuck in the opening. The 'hole' is off to the side and not in line with it's tail.  

I realize now that it needs to be stimulated to defecate so I'm guessing either extremely constipated or this is an abcess of some sort and I don't know what to do to soften it up?

I've tried gentle rubbing with a warm, damp q-tip and had a little brown staining show up but whatever it is, it's very hard.

It's been two days since I found him/her and he/she is still  very active.  Any information you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

T.M.

ANSWER: Dear Trissa,

Thank you for the photo. It really helps to see exactly what you are talking about. That is pretty bad. First, to be very honest, I don't think this little mouse has much of a chance. If you can possibly bring it to the vet, it is an emergency right this very minute. But I'm guessing that isn't an option.

I also can't give you advice to give her antibiotics. I simply don't know what would kill her. Remember, I have no medical training. I do my best to help.

Believe it or not, it's good that this is open, and not an unidentifiable lump. An open abscess, if you can avoid secondary infection, is far better than a closed one.

My advice is to soak the little one by her lower half in warm water. Do this for five minutes at a time maybe every 4 hours. While it is important that the water not be too hot, it is also crucial that it not get cold, so the mouse doesn't get cold. Normally I never recommend getting a mouse wet. Probably the best thing to do is to have several bowls so as one gets a little cooler, you can fill the next with warm tap water. Do this in a very warm area (the easiest thing it to heat up the bathroom, if not by heater than by hot shower) and dry her off very, very thoroughly afterwards before replacing her in the warm nest.

After you soak her hind end, massage it gently. If this is a movable mass, I hope it will soften and gradually be removable, if bit by bit. If it comes out completely, you will have a mouse with a hole in it. It will be extremely crucial that it not be in contact with anything not completely sterile. Wash any cloth in hot water and dry it in a hot dryer; or use paper towels.

By the way, she was about 14 days old when you found her. If she poops at all when you are not stimulating her, you can stop with the stimulation. She should not, however, have cow's milk. The best thing (if you don't happen to have wombat milk available-- I'm serious--) is kitten milk replacement (KMR). Buy a can of the liquid and freeze small amount in an ice cube try so you can use it after the time printed on the can.

I am going to send this photo and your letter to a few people I know who know more about medicine than I do. I don't expect anyone can help, but if they do give me another idea, I will amend this answer and you will get another email. Please let me know exactly what happens, even if she doesn't make it. I'd super appreciate a daily update. I'd like to learn from this so if, hopefully never, something like this ever happens again I may be better able to help.

I really wish you and her the best of luck.

squeaks,

Natasha











---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Natasha,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back with you, and I really appreciate the information you passed along!  The little girl is doing much better and I'll explain in the next email.  

Q: Is there a way to send more than one picture at a time?  

I don't want to attach one photo without the other.  You are definately going to want to see this! I would love to know if you or anyone you know could help solve this mystery!

Thanks,

Trissa

ANSWER: Dear Trissa,

You can send me the photos to my email. I will erase my email address soon after, so you will get an email saying I changed the answer. Obviously I don't want everyone who looks at this site to email me directly : ))

mouse@lovemouse.com

I am SO glad to hear there is good news. I am so concerned about this poor little thing. Please send the photos!

squeaks,

Natasha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, this is in reply to the email you sent responding to the pics of that "thing".  Believe me, I was freaked out plenty, and sorry to be blunt but it made me gag.  When I look at the pictures I sent you of the opening and what I thought was either fecal matter or an abscess, and now knowing that it was a living creature...eeewwww.  I'm going to do a little research on my own and see if I can identify it.  

And now to a question concerning ms.mouse: Q-1.She's pooping on her own and has eaten some "regular" food-pieces of baby spinach,tiny apple bits,etc., when will I know she doesn't need formula any more?  She's so difficult to catch and she can really jump!
Q-2. I feel bad for her being alone. In my mind she looks sad and lonely. Will this affect her recovery?

She's a wild mouse and doesn't want anything to do with me and I don't blame her a bit, but I worry that I'm stressing her out everytime I clean her enclosure, and I don't know how to 'play' with her to keep her stimulated.

I'm sorry if I'm being a bother, but I'm clueless and have basically been flying by the seat of my pants on this.  You could always pass me off to someone else if you get tired of me, lol.

Sincerely,
T.Mosier

P.S. I'll go back and click on the feedback button. Thank-you so much for everything you've helped me with so far!

Answer
Dear Trissa,

yes I must say the photos freaked me out-- well, more, the idea of it. But do let me know... ewwww! Anyway I haven't been on FB so haven't had the chance to ask other people. I still can't believe it....!!

I think you are lucky it came out of its own accord and not when you were working with her.. enough said.

You aren't feeding her the formula by hand, are you? I assume she can lap it up. If not, an easy in-between food is if you soak a bit of rye crisp/ Wasa bread in the formula in a jar lid. Anyway in ten days she won't need it anymore.

Mice are lonely alone, but there's nothing you can do about it. Since she doesn't seem to want to be a pet-- that's your impression, right?-- you will want to set her free after she has been well for a month.  

She needs a wheel. She will figure it out right away. Every mouse needs a wheel. Also give her toilet paper rolls (almost as important as a wheel!), and other things to climb through and in. The toilet paper roll is also the way to get her out of the cage with the least stress. You gently shoo her in and then put your hands over the ends and lift her up. You can put it directly in the temporary container.

I had actually thought she was letting you handle her. It would have been quite a job to hold a jumpy mouse half in a bowl of water for five minutes!

Keep me posted. I wish her the best!

squeaks,

Natasha