sooner
Posted : 7/11/2006 7:34:47 PM
http://www.possumrescue.com/foundababy.htm
"If you have found a baby possum, KEEP IT WARM with a heating pad set on LOW or a warm water bottle or put in your shirt. Baby possums cannot make their own body heat so they need you, especially if they have little to no hair. An aquarium makes a good home. Make baby a nest out of tissues and or something soft. A toboggan/ or sweatshirt sleeve works great for a nest, fill it with the soft stuff and set on the heat. make sure baby is not getting too hot. If so, raise off heat by putting a towel between the nest and the heat.
If your baby is without hair, keep it warm and try to keep hydrated by giving it some type of liquid (warm Pedialyte, Gatorade, or worst case scenario watered down milk) applesauce does well too, if you do not have anything else (but only for a day , maximum two days).
Try to find a licensed possum rehabilitator in your area to take the baby ASAP. Call your vets, any natural science center or zoo. Also look in the phone book under wildlife. If you cannot find a rehabber, call or e-mail me as to what State, County and Area Codes are around you, and I may can get you someone to help.
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."