Against all odds: Help me save this animal!!!?

Question

I just witnessed a female possum get hit. I thought it was a cat, so I went to see what I could do. Now, I need help to keep one of the possums small babies alive. Ive got it on a heating pad, but I don't know what to do past this (food, water, ect.) past this point, and its fading fast! Please help. My mom told me it won't make it, but I can't live with myself if I don't try!!!

Sorry guys, I lost it. It was too tiny to make it. Way to tiny. It had no fur and its eyes were still closed over. It warmed up, but it had some damage to its face from hitting the road. Thanks for everyones help for helping me try!!! I appretiate it.

Answer 1

keep reading i think i copies and pasted a number you can call

possumrescue.com

If you CANNOT find anyone to help, then you need to take matters into your own hands to try and save the baby. Go to a pet store and buy a can of POWDERED Esbilac puppy's milk replacer (no other brand). Get as small a nipple and bottle or syringe as you can find. Mix 1 scoop powder with 4 scoops WARM water, stir well. Nurse baby at least 4-6 times per day.

After baby eats, you need to stimulate baby with a tissue or Q-tip (damp) to make him/her potty. They should urinate and poop at least every other time you feed. This is very important because they can get an intestinal blockage and die if they do not. ( NOTE: IF they start to look like they are very swollen, they have a problem with a blockage, try and stimulate them to potty. If they do not, put them in a SHALLOW tray of WARM water to walk around in, that usually helps stimulate them to potty. )

Once their eyes are open and they are fuzzy and walking well , you can put their milk mix in a shallow lid and put them around the food so they can lap it by themselves. Make sure everyone does eat. You can sweeten the milk with applesauce. Then make sure you help them potty or watch them potty on their own.

IF BABY HAS EYES OPEN WITH SPIKY HAIR AND LITTLE TEETH:

If baby is fuzzy with eyes open and tiny teeth...Fix a small house box with tissues or something soft for bedding, then fix two little dishes...one put the milk formula mentioned above , in the second lid you can put applesauce or grapes or Purina Cat Chow (no other brand). An aquarium is a good house for small fuzzies. Will need to get a bigger home as they grow. make sure you put a screen lid on top of what ever you use. They are master escape artists.

Eventually the fuzzies can be weaned off the milk formula to just water. Then they can eat cooked eggs, yogurt, frozen crickets, along with the Purina Cat Chow . NO PURE MEAT, EVER. Pure meat such as hot dogs, fish sticks, nuggets...will cause deformities due to too much protein.

You can tell if the fuzzy baby still needs artificial heat to keep warm by seeing if when he/she is in the nest do they feel warm ?? If yes, heat is not needed. If no, provide another source of heat until they start to feel warm on their own.

Baby should poop and eat on his/her own, if fuzzy. But just to make sure, watch for the first day or two. You may have to set baby by the food or help poop until they get the hang of it.

REMEMBER:

These suggestions are to help you SAVE the baby. I strongly recommend you do your best to try and get the baby to a licensed possum rehabber in your area. They will know what is truly best for baby.

This information is just for temporary help, until you find a rehabber in your area. If you need me, I'll be glad to help you further. It is very important baby possums get the proper nutrition and medications. The information I provided will get you through the short term. More has to be done for the long term health of baby.

Please feel free to call me at 336-217-5765 (day- EST). Good Luck and thank you for helping the baby !!!



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Answer 2

That's tough, but what I will say is this. If the baby possum is still young enough to feed. Possums are mammals to milk would be a good idea. For the injuries I would not try to move it too much. If it were to have internal injuries you would see blood from the nostrils, ears possibly eyes if it were critical. At that point it's prolonging death. If that is not the case, try to note where it's injured. If you can effectively localize the injury, you might be able to force feed it milk. Watch for breathing irregularities and hope for the best. Good luck.

Or listen to the person above me...

Answer 3

I raised a baby possum before. What is the baby doing???? Is it hurt, ect? Contact me and I will help u. Also, the heating pad may be too hot, hold it against your body somewhere. Mommy possums hold their babies all of the time. Give the baby a stuffed animal on the heating pad to cling to, that will keep it warm.

Answer 4

You need to look up a wildlife rehabilitator in your area immediately.

Did the mother opossum get too? Or just one of the babies?

Do not, please do not, attempt to feed or water it. Regular milk is not good for wild animals at all; it causes digestive issues and can kill them.

It is very possible that it is shock from the trauma. Keep it on the heating pad, in a container that it cannot get out of. The container should be 1/2 on 1/2 off the heating pad so the oppossum can move off if it gets too hot. Please do not handle the babies either if it is the mother that is injured. Seek help.

www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

Answer 5

Get some kitten milk replacer, and a medicine dropper, and feed it a drop or 2 at a time. Cows milk will do in a pinch. also try water. Get it through the first night and go to a library, or call the Department of natural Resources. They will help you.

Answer 6

Don't overheat it. Overheating it causes stress and overexertion. Try giving it milk mixed with Karo syrup. the added sugar will give it an energy boost. Other than this, I don't know anything else to help. Good luck, best wishes, and remember, some things are meant to happen for a reason.

Answer 7

i'd help the animal, purely because it is already alive and it ought to experience soreness. That and human beings are way overpopulated. So no, no longer quite, because I purely imagine it is better significant for the mother to settle on no matter if to have the toddler or no longer. See, if she will't take care of the toddler because of a unexpected challenge (or if she became raped), or she realized that if she had the toddler it may have a terrible ailment and be in soreness for its short existence then die, it is better for her to get an abortion, in spite of the indisputable fact that it is nevertheless her determination. If she couldn't take care of the toddler yet became compelled to have it, it may finally end up in an adoption employer and be worse off for it (or contained in the 2d case, purely have a painful existence than die). it is the female's determination.

Answer 8

Call a vetrinarian clinic and see if the number has a doctor on call. In the meantime, feed it and give it plenty of water. Keep it warm and try to stay calm. I hope this information helped. Good luck.

Answer 9

I am proud of you for trying to help this poor defensless creature.
*** APPLAUDES*** TO YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!!
the world would be a better place if more people like you were out there. Good job.
Even though it didn't make it remember that what you did at least gave it a little time to die nicley rather than on the side of the road and you did all you could. :)

Answer 10

check this out it might help gl PossumRescue.com - Promoting the Gentleness of 'PossumsThese suggestions are to help you SAVE the baby. I strongly recommend you do your best to try and get the baby to a licensed possum rehabber in your area. ...
www.possumrescue.com/foundababy.htm - 11k - Cached - Similar pages