orphaned mouse sick/dying!

Question
I found a baby mouse in my car, couldn't find mom. He appeared to be doing ok the first few days. He did seem cold and was lethargic yesterday, but was eating and then walking around. He jumped out of my hands and fell a little ways, but seemed unharmed. He was eating well and I rubbed his belly and anal area with q-tip dipped in warm water. He had yellowish stains - urine and bowel movement? I had to travel (was when I found him). He got out of the box and I didn't realize it right away. He has been having jerking spasms and has gotten very weak. Couldn't support self on back legs - now he cannot lift head and is inching along. I think he is probably suffering/dying. Do you know what is wrong - is there anything I can do? I've been feeding baby kitten milk. He has fur but eyes are closed. He keeps flipping to side and back and arms are stiff, I think he's dead but he moves again. It is really awful.

Answer
Hi Maria,

I'm so sorry that I didn't see this sooner, but when a pup is that bad off, there isn't a whole lot you can do.  Usually when a single pup is off by itself it means mom has rejected it from the nest - it could be that he was already sick and just not showing it (prey animals don't display pain until it's too much for them to handle), or that he had a developmental problem she could sense.  It's incredibly difficult to hand-rear baby mice in even the best situations.  It's heartbreaking, but it sounds like you have done everything right.  He could have been injured internally from his fall, but given how you found him by himself, I do not think that is all that was going on with him.

I would be very surprised and happy if you wrote back that he was alive and well now, but I've never personally seen a baby mouse survive being in that condition, so I'm worried I'm too late.  The best thing you could do at this point is to keep him warm, feed him if he'll accept it, and keep him comfortable.  Sometimes it helps to gently pet down their sides, like momma is grooming them.  If he is still in poor shape when you get this, you may want to consider bringing him by a vet or a wildlife rehabilitator.

I hope you are both okay,
-Tam