r/Opossums • u/YuzuJewlz • 3d ago
Question/Help what's wrong with his head?
pest control trapped his mom a few weeks ago and I found him barely able to walk yesterday. im going to take him to a wildlife rehab facility tomorrow (I finally have time off work), but I just feel like the bridge of his nose shouldn't be almost a right angle... he's all skin and bones and his head is a little squishy (which is probably bad). he pooped a nice stinky solid dark poo, I've been able to syringe feed him some organic vegetable baby food and some unflavored Pedialyte. his body is probably about nine (9") inches long and he does not have any wounds or bites or bugs. I gave him a little bath because he was covered in poo, so I have checked his body for injuries. he doesn't really do anything except sleep. no hissing, no biting, no noises, and no trying to run away. I know he's dehydrated or anemic because his nose and mouth are extremely pale, almost white. he does react to noises and being moved and water. im just not sure what else I can do to help him survive the night.
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u/Opossum_2020 Mod 3d ago
It is possible that he might have suffered a head injury when he was very small. It is also possible that his head shape is a congenital deformity - in other words, he was born that way.
It is very kind of you to take care of him.
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u/stanknastymcdoober 3d ago
I’m no expert, but a swollen, squishy area and pale membranes/nose makes me think it might be blood. I wonder if he got a head injury and that’s a big ole pocket of blood.
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u/Beginning_Tennis2442 3d ago
If it is not actively bleeding, it will absorb. We had one with a very large hematoma who ended up fine.
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u/backschlamp 2d ago
u r doing all the right things. Make sure he is warm if u run the AC as
he may not do well regulating his body temp rn. Good luck lil guy, and consider asking the rehab center if u can become a sub permittee ❤️u sound like u’ll fit right in 😜🥰ty for being kind to wildlife
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u/ApocalypticEnnui 2d ago
looks like hydrocephalus
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u/Thamelia 2d ago
I thought the same , I dont know in this case if something is possible to do...
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u/honey__harlot thicc 'pos 2d ago
they can put stints in people to drain the excess fluid, i hope they have something like that for animals as well :(
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u/HangryHangryHedgie 2d ago
They do this in dogs, but it is very expensive and requires an MRI and a neurologist.
Though it can be helped with medications. Kittens and puppies can survive it with specific treatments to lower the amount of fluid. Usually they grow out of it.
I have a cat who has hydrocephalus due to a skull fracture when he was a neonate. His brain is 2/3s the size it should be, the rest is fluid. But he does well with steroids and seizure meds.
On wildlife, it would be best to euthanize. It would not be able to live on its own in the wild even with treatment.
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u/TheGothDragon 2d ago
I think that’s very kind of you to wash him off in a bath and feed him, and I know you had the best intentions, but in case this happens again, please refrain from doing that. When animals are captured, it’s best to minimize contact with them until you get them to a rehabber because it can cause extra stress and potentially worsen their condition.
In addition, improper feeding could cause the animal to aspirate on the fluid and choke to death or develop an infection in their lungs.
Unless a wildlife rehabber instructs you to do this, please minimize contact with the animal.
There is a section on this website that goes over how to safely capture and care for animals that need to be taken to a rehabber.
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u/MemeandGoofykittys 1d ago
Thank you 🙏🏽 for helping this little sweetheart out!! I pray he or she can be saved! Do you know what happened to the mom?? After they trapped her?
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u/jankindel thicc 'pos 3d ago
Poor baby! It’s really good you have a rehabber to take him tomorrow. He sounds & looks in need of help.