You Found a Muskrat
Muskrats are a lot like rabbits, moms do not stay with babies all day or all night. They show up a couple times a day to nurse and then they leave. If a muskrat is baseball size or larger, leave it alone. It is old enough to be on its own and needs no intervention unless injured.
Signs of Illness:
If you notice any of these, call PWRR immediately
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Cold and lethargic
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Covered in fleas, ants, ticks, or flies/flystrike (looks like small clusters of rice anywhere on the animal)
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Dehydrated
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Has been in a cat's or dog's mouth
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Broken limbs, cuts, or bruises
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Has been fed any kind of formula or food
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Head tilt
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Bleeding
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Unable to stand or move without falling over
What You Can Do
If you need to get an animal to PWRR, the most important thing is to keep them warm and quiet.
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Container:
Put in a shoebox or other small container with several air holes in the lid and a towel, fleece cloth, or tee shirt in the bottom. Tape the lid to secure. Adult animals need to be contained in a dog or cat carrier.
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Heating:
If you have a heating pad, set to low and place the box half on/off the pad so the animal can move away from the heat if needed.
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Rice Bag- Fill a sock or knee-high pantyhose with uncooked dry rice. Microwave the rice-filled sock for 30 to 60 seconds. This heat source will last around 20 to 30 minutes. Place the rice sock in the container under the towel, and place the animal on or near it, but not in direct contact with the rice sock.
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Ziploc Bag- Fill a bag with warm (not hot) water, put it inside another bag, and place under the towel next to the animal. The double bag guards against leaks and prevents the animal from getting wet and chilled.
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Food/Water:
DO NOT attempt to feed or give anything to drink. The wrong foods can quickly cause enteritis (diarrhea) and death. Keeping the animal warm is more important than feeding.
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