I have found an injured wild mouse, what do i do??

Question

Yesturday i found an injured wild mouse just lying on my driveway, i think probably the cat had, had him. I picked him up, he was very cold and not very lively, so i made a little cage up with sawdust and shredded paper, a bit of my hamsters food, fresh apple and water and put him in the airing cupboard to warm him up. After a couple of hours he was much warmer and lively, the only problem is his back legs dont work, he can moove them a little but not enough to work them. I offered him water and he had a nice big drink, he has also had a nibble of apple.

I went in this morning and he is still alive but no use in his back legs still, what should i do, should i call a wild life center, if so does anyone know of any???

Answer 1

You did the right thing with the food and the cage set up.  However his injuries could be serious.  Try to find a wildlife centre but if you can't then take him to the vet.  If his back legs are beyond repair then the kindest thing is euthanasia - he would not be happy in that state in captivity.

Answer 2

Usually wild animals that we find and are easy to pick up are dying. Otherwise they would not let you touch them. You can try to save it, but I am warning you; they often don't recover.

First, protect your self. Don't handle the mouse with bare hands. An injured mouse might also be sick. Wild animals, if frightened or injured will bite. Rodents carry diseases( rabbies, Hunta virus and bubonic plague) that can be deadly to us. Also, be careful in handling the mouse f***s. I vaguely remember that was how they thought people contracted hunta virus, by breathing in fecal dust.

As soon as you can take the mouse to an animal shelter that cares for or rehabilitates wild animals. Now, keep in mind that  field mice are so common that they may not consider it worth the trouble. You can try a vet, but they are more likely to put it 'down'. Think of what is most humane, It may have painful injuries that you are unaware of.

Answer 3

his legs may be paralysed from an injury...

it'd be wise to take him to the SPCA, or even to a vet, they'd be able to help...

there isn't a lot more you can do, just keep him comfortable like you have been doing...

he may still be in a lot of shock, and he may or may not perk up in a little while...it's hard to say...

good luck...it's always nice to come across a kind person such as yourself :)

Answer 4

What a kind person you are, unlike some people in this world! This could be a serious injury and there may be nothing you can do about it. You can take it to a vet but it may get very stressed out. Don`t worry about diseases too much, you did the right thing though it can be emotional and sad. You let it live and spend it last however many days/weeks/months in a nice warm inclosure with pleanty of food and water. Well done!

Answer 5

its life should be ended but we get attached. He carries a possibility of a lot a different diseases. your hamsters could very well pick these up thru the air and in any fleas. Avoid getting bit. and quarantine him from the others. he may be happy in his new life who knows. be sure to talk to him for he is social. the nerves that create the pain should subside. too bad we humans don't have the same grace

Answer 6

Crush it's skull real humane like.

Answer 7

call a vet.  be careful handling him because he could have a disease.

Answer 8

Good job in taking care of the mouse! DO NOT humanly crush it's skull thats horrible. You should take it to a vet and get it checked out. It's bacl legs are probably broken or he's paralyzed. The vet will know what to do. Good luck!

Answer 9

keep him forever or untill he gets his back legs working

Answer 10

His lower spine may be broken.  The humane thing to do might be to ask a vet to end his life.

Contact the PDSA for advice: http://www.pdsa.org.uk/ and hit the CONTACT US link on the top bar.

Answer 11

nice that u would do that ur a nice person the legs could be broke or badly hurt take it to a vet a nd c

Answer 12

yea, call LTC, but now that you have a wild animal, you must keep it.. if u return it to the wild, other animals will kill it merely because of its scent of human or oddness.. u rly should just leave these kinds of animals alone and let nature take its course.. i know its hard to see, but it is usually the best thing to do for them.. if he is in pain we cant know; good heart though.

mitch

Answer 13

You've saved that mouse which is very good of you. However, the fact its legs are not working might mean they will never heal. It might need putting to sleep.