Help on a baby wild mouse?

Question
Natasha,

I am in need of much help, as when I came home, my family had a baby mouse put into a flowerpot, and, as I was told, the mouse was found by my 2 dogs.  The dogs didn't bite it or anything, they just sniffed it and rolled it over, apparently.

The flowerpot includes a small amount of old hamster bedding, birdseed spread out on the bottom, a milk-cap of water, a smaller cap with cow's milk, and a slice of butter, which has recently been included.

The mouse is gray, has her eyes closed, and is squeaking a whole lot. She has been pooing, not sure about urine.  I can't drive right now to go get KMR or and milk replacement. I have a very large syringe and she will not put his mouth to it.  I tried stimuting pee with a damp cottonball and she is not peeing.


Help! What should I do????

Also... any sickness or disease I can catch?  It's nearly impossible for me to get hantavirus or rabies (she would be sucked dry if she had rabies)

Answer
Dear Kerry Ann,

It sounds like the syringe is too big.  If you can't get an eyedropper, try a very small paintbrush.  She is definitely far too young for the food or the caps of milk and water. Get the KMR as quickly as possible, because cow's milk is definitely not good for her (better than nothing though).

If she is pooing don't worry about peeing.  She needs to be kept very warm.  Put her in something very soft and on a hot water bottle (don't burn her though). I hope the squeaking is crying for her mother and not from pain.  

I calculated the chances of catching hantavirus once as less likely than being struck by lightning.  Of course it is far more if a person is cleaning out an old barn or something, since you get it from the dried urine.  I would definitely not worry at all.  The other few possible mouse-spread illnesses (such as the bubonic plague!) are probably as likely as getting struck by lightning several times : ).

I wish the best of luck and health to the little baby.

squeaks,

Natasha