This page is intended for vets and wildlife rehabilitation centres treating dormice but facing a lack of information in veterinary textbooks. It aims to provide information which can be used in emergencies and links to underlying sources. It contains images to aid in diagnosis which are highly disturbing.
In emergencies, veterinary medicine for squirrels (family Sciuridae) – the closest relatives of dormice (family Gliridae) – can be used where specific information about Gliridae isn’t available. The same treatments are assumed for all European dormice – Myomimus roachi, Muscardinus avellanarius, Eliomys quercinus, Dryomys nitedula, Glis glis – although as of autumn 2025 a literature review found no information in the research literature on this.
Anticoagulant Poisoning
Dormice like this Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) are frequently victims of poisoning by anticoagulants (including Warfarin and subsequent anticoagulants with much longer elimination half-lives) in rat poison and other rodenticides.
Where anticoagulant poisoning is suspected, emergency Vitamin K1 – phylloquinone – is indicated – Vitamin K1 counteracts the effects of anticoagulants.
Stefanie Kruse recommends oral Vitamin K1 or Vitamin K1 by subcutaneous injection for dormice (pers. comm.) while for pet animals Susan McKay suggests slow intravenous injection. Where Vitamin K1 by injection in animals suffering from anticoagulant poisoning is considered, the risk of haemorrhage at the point of injection should be considered – oral administration or using the finest needle available (G24/25 or G27) may reduce this risk (pers. comm.) .
“Onset of clinical signs can take anywhere between one and 12 days (average 3-4 days) after ingestion of the anticoagulant. This can make diagnosis difficult. The signs include haemorrhages in various locations – nose, gingival tissues and eyes. Haematomas, haematuria or haemorrhagic diarrhoea, lethargy, depression, dyspnoea, anaemia, hypothermia, anorexia, blindness”
Susan McKay – Improve Veterinary Practice
https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/vitamin-k-and-anticoagulant-poisoning
“They neutralize K vitamins and provoke death by spontaneous internal hemorrhage, a few days after ingestion. (…) Warfarin (trade name: Coumafène) used to work against rats and mice but they started being resistant (…) Coumatétralyl is still used against rats and mice (…) Chlorophacinone is used against rats, mice, garden dormice, deer mice, voles, and muskrats. (…) Second generation anticoagulants are derivatives of hydroxycoumarine and are much more toxic than previous ones; there is bromadiolone, brodifacoum, difénacoum, diféthialone and flocoumafen and are characterized by a strong liposolubility correlated with a longer half-life in the liver. (…) Rats and mice are now resistant to bromadiolone and difénacoum.”
Pages 101-102 Les rongeurs de France by JP Quéré & H Le Louarn
Translated by Tobyas Ben Amar
https://www.instagram.com/gliridarium/
Posology:
“Vitamin K1 (2.5 mg/kg, per oral, every 12 hours for 28 days, or 5 mg/kg, per oral, every 24 hours for 28 days)” D. Tauer, Anticoagulant Rodenticide Poisoning in Animals https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/rodenticide-poisoning/anticoagulant-rodenticide-poisoning-in-animals citing Peterson ME & Talcott PA eds. Small Animal Toxicology. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2013:435-445 and Gupta RC, ed, Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2025:597-609.
“Vitamin K1 Chinchilla (Chinchillidae): 1 to 10 mg/kg oral or intramuscular Hamster (Cricetidae): 1 to 10 mg/kg intramuscular once per day. “(Wilfried Kraft, Ilka U Emmerich & Jutta Hein – Dosierungsvorschläge für Arzneimittel bei Kleinnagern, Kaninchen und Frettchen: MemoVet ISBN-13 978-3794528387)
The pharmacokinetics of Vitamin K1 and the high doses recommended above appear to be dominated by its short metabolic half life – of of the order of 1 to 2 hours in Homo sapiens (Mladěnka at al. Vitamin K – sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, detection, therapeutic use), and toxicity) and 1 to 4 hours is Rodentia (Determination of pharmacokinetic parameters of vitamin K1 in rats after an intravenous infusion https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1440-1681.13314)
In contrast to the short metabolic half life of Vitamin K1, some modern anticoagulant rodenticides have a much longer metabolic half-life than 1st generation anticoagulant rodenticides – justifying the 28 day duration of Vitamin K1 treatment recommended by Tauer.
Mladěnka et al. discuss dietary sources of Vitamin K1 which may be helpful but which appear unlikely to provide sufficient doses of bioavailable Vitamin K1 to treat acute anticoagulant poisoning.
Outside plant cells, Vitamin K1 is photolabile and supplied in amber vials which should be protected from daylight.
Acute poisoning by poisons other than anticoagulants and α-Chloralose (see below) appears to be very rare – Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.)
Parasites
Ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks are often found on dormice – with incidence varying depending on species, time of year and other factors. Goedele Verbeylen (pers. comm.), Libois 2016, Büchner et al. 2025, Stubbe et al. 2025.
As of autumn 2025, a literature review found no information in the research literature about the toxicity of antiparasitic drugs to family Gliridae however information is available on family Sciuridae:
“stronghold kitten (active ingredient Selamectin) and sometimes Permethrin biomo”
Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.), Idstein, Germany https://www.instagram.com/fleder.frau/ https://www.facebook.com/Flederfrau/
Susan Kerwin successfully uses F10 Germicidal Wound Spray with Insecticide (active insecticide and acaricide Cypermethrin) as a topical treatment for myiasis (fly strike) with bats (family Vespertilionidae) (pers. comm.)
“Medication: None, because almost all anti-flea treatments are toxic and usually have fatal effects (sometimes delayed due to organ damage)! Only pick them off and crush them!
The only product that may be used in an emergency is Stronghold® for kitten cats (pink). This should only be used if the animal is healthy and at least 7 weeks old, with a maximum of 1 drop on the neck.”
Sabine Gallenberger, München, Germany
https://eichhoernchen-infos.de/aufzucht/krankheiten-und-verletzungen/parasiten/
Problems due to endoparasites appear to be relatively uncommon in dormouse species – Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.)
Cat Attack
Stefanie Kruse recommends antibiotic – Enrofloxacin Baytril flavour by oral administration – where a dormouse has open wounds from a cat attack. (pers. comm.)
Susan Kerwin recommends antibiotics as a precautionary measure when bats (family Vespertilionidae) are attacked by a cat (Felis catus) (pers. comm.) .
Paralysis of Rear Legs
As of autumn 2025, the causes of this remain unclear however calcium deficiency is suspected – Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.).
Spinning around in circles is observed in some Glis glis arriving for rehabilitation but as of autumn 2025, the cause remains unclear – Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.).
Untreated Spirochaetes infections (Borreliosis or Lyme disease) causes serious long-term neurological and rheumatic problems in European forestry workers and as of autumn 2025 this is being discussed as a possible cause – Stefanie Kruse and Will Robertson (pers. comm.).
This is the subject of research by the University of Gießen and Stefanie Kruse.
A Case of Suspected Calcium Deficiency in a Hand-reared Garden Dormouse Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Gliridae)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378698171_A_Case_of_Suspected_Calcium_Deficiency_in_a_Hand-reared_Garden_Dormouse_Eliomys_quercinus_Linnaeus_1766_Rodentia_Gliridae
α-Chloralose (Alpha Chloralos) Poisoning
Stefanie Kruse recommends “It might be that some dormice are poisoned with α-Chloralose also, but it’s difficult to diagnose. So I always offer warmth when they arrived cold and apathetic and with no apparent injuries.” (pers. comm.)
Severed Tail and Fractures
“Often happens, the right treatment would be to do nothing. Just desinfect and observe that nothing becomes infected. It will dry up and they bite off the bones.” Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.)
Fractures in dormouse species seem rare and in rehabilitation they usually make a full recovery. Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.)
Work by Susan Kerwin has shown that bats with even severely fractured wings have good prospects of making a full recovery in care. Susan Kerwin (pers. comm.)
Euthanasia Contraindications
Dormice over all species (Muscardinus avellanarius, Eliomys quercinus, Glis glis) who cannot make a sufficiently strong recovery to be returned to the wild have a strong history of living happily with humans and of contributing to captive breeding programmes – Goedele Verbeylen (pers. comm.), Stefanie Kruse (pers. comm.), Tobyas Ben Amar (pers. comm).
First Aid for Dormice
July 2019
https://www.instagram.com/ika.the.dormouse (pers. comm.)
NAKED, EYES CLOSED
The baby is in critical condition.
1 HYPOTHERMIA
It needs 37°C to survive. Act immediatly.
Do: Put it close to your body. Search for a box, put some paper towel and a towel inside. Put the box on a heat source (i.e. hot water bottle). Keep an eye on it.
Don’t: No red light. Not directly on heat source. Temperate it like a nest, not an oven. Don’t let the box cool down, refresh every few hours.
–
NAKED, EYES CLOSED
The baby is in critical condition.
2 PROBABLY DEHYDRATION
barely moves, will not be able to digest the food. Act immediatly.
Do: The first feeding should be max 0.5 ml fennel tea with half a tea spoon dextrose. It’s sunday? Try honey and water or surgar and water instead. Give it hand warm, drop by drop with a tiny syringe or similar.
Don’t: Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No hot tea. Not for permanent feeding. No other tea types.
–
NAKED, EYES CLOSED
The baby is in critical condition.
CONTACT SPECIALIST
At this stage, it is best to contact a vet, wildlife association or animal clinic.
If no one can help you, continue with 3.
–
NAKED, EYES CLOSED
The baby is in critical condition.
3 MALNUTRITION
Needs mother’s milk to survive. Act immediatly.
Do: Buy kitten grow-up-milk within the first hour. On Sundays try to get some from an animal clinic, shelter or cat breeder nearby.
Give about 2ml hand warm kitten milk drop by drop with a tiny syringe. Feed every 1.5 hours, every 3 hours at night.
After 15 minutes, use a qtip or similar and stroke the genital softly (not the belly), so it can pee.
Don’t: No force. Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No cow milk. No cat milk. No hot or cold milk.
–
FIRST FUR, BLINKING
The baby is in critical condition.
GENERAL TREATMENT
They are used to dark, soft, warm places.
Do not pull on the tail, it will break.
If it is too agile (which is a good sign) to feed, wrap it in a flannel or towel to fix it.
Keep it dark, soft and warm to calm it down.
They hate water. If it gets dirty, use baby cleaning tissues.
Treat gently.
–
FIRST FUR, BLINKING
The baby is in critical condition.
1 HYPOTHERMIA
It needs 37°C to survive. Act immediatly.
Do: Put it close to your body. Search for a box, put some paper towel and a towel inside. Put the box on a heat source (i.e. hot water bottle). Keep an eye on it.
Don’t: No red light. Not directly on heat source. Temperate it like a nest, not an oven. Don’t let the box cool down, refresh every few hours.
–
FIRST FUR, BLINKING
The baby is in critical condition.
2 PROBABLY DEHYDRATION
barely moves, will not be able to digest the food. Act immediatly.
Do: The first feeding should be max 0.5 ml fennel tea with half a tea spoon dextrose. It’s sunday? Try honey and water or surgar and water instead. Give it hand warm, drop by drop with a tiny syringe or similar.
Don’t: Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No hot tea. Not for permanent feeding. No other tea types.
–
FIRST FUR, BLINKING
The baby is in critical condition.
CONTACT SPECIALIST
At this stage, it is best to contact a vet, wildlife association or animal clinic.
If no one can help you, continue with 3.
–
FIRST FUR, BLINKING
The baby is in critical condition.
3 MALNUTRITION
Needs mother’s milk to survive. Act immediatly.
Do: Buy kitten grow-up-milk within the first hour. On Sundays try to get some from an animal clinic, shelter or cat breeder nearby.
Give about 2ml hand warm kitten milk drop by drop with a tiny syringe. Feed every 1.5 hours, every 3 hours at night.
After 15 minutes, use a qtip or similar and stroke the genital softly (not the belly), so it can pee.
Don’t: No force. Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No cow milk. No cat milk. No hot or cold milk.
–
EYES OPEN, OVAL EARS
The baby is in bad condition.
GENERAL TREATMENT
They are used to dark, soft, warm places.
Do not pull on the tail, it will break.
They hate water. If it gets dirty, use baby cleaning tissues until it shows signs of grooming.
Treat gently.
Once recovered, it will start exploring its surroundings. Keep dangerous items away from it.
–
EYES OPEN, OVAL EARS
The baby is in bad condition.
1 HYPOTHERMIA
It needs 37°C to survive. Act immediatly.
Do: Put it close to your body. Search for a BIG box, put some paper towel and a towel inside. Put the box on a heat source (i.e. hot water bottle). The box must be closable with ventilation
Don’t: No red light. Not directly on heat source. Temperate it like a nest, not an oven. Don’t let the box cool down, refresh every few hours.
—
EYES OPEN, OVAL EARS
The baby is in bad condition.
2 PROBABLY DEHYDRATION
barely moves, will not be able to digest the food. Act immediatly.
Do: The first feeding should be max 0.5 ml fennel tea with half a tea spoon dextrose. It’s sunday? Try honey and water or surgar and water instead. Give it hand warm, drop by drop with a tiny syringe or similar.
Don’t: Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No hot tea. Not for permanent feeding. No other tea types.
–
EYES OPEN, OVAL EARS
The baby is in bad condition.
3 MALNUTRITION
Probably needs mother’s milk to survive. Act immediatly.
How to Feed
Give about 2-3ml hand warm kitten milk drop by drop with a tiny syringe. Feed every 1.5 hours, every 3 hours at night.
After 15 minutes, use a qtip or similar and stroke the genital softly (not the belly), so it can pee.
Don’t: No force. Avoid at all costs that fluid gets into the nose! Do not feed with needle. No cow milk. No cat milk. No hot or cold milk.
–
POINTY NOSE, STUBBLES
The baby is in bad condition.
GENERAL TREATMENT
They are used to dark, soft, warm places.
Do not pull on the tail, it will break.
They groom themselves, don’t wash them.
Once recovered, it will start exploring and climbing. Keep dangerous items away from it and offer toys to savely climb on during night.
Cuddle them gently while feeding, so it get used to your touch.
Do not release before the tail is completely covered with dense fur. Keep till spring if possible (mortage rate is 40 to 60% during hibernation)
–
POINTY NOSE, STUBBLES
The baby is in bad condition.
1 PROBABLY HYPOTHERMIA
If it barely moves and is not warmer than you, act immediatly.
Do: Put it close to your body. Search for a BIG box, put some paper towel and a towel inside. Put the box on a heat source (i.e. hot water bottle). The box must be closable with ventilation.
As soon as it recovered, there is no heat source needed. Just a warm room.
Don’t: No red light. Not directly on heat source. Temperate it like a nest, not an oven.
Don’t let the box cool down until it has recovered, refresh every few hours.
–
POINTY NOSE, STUBBLES
The baby is in bad condition.
2 DEHYDRATION
barely moves, will not be able to digest the food. Act immediatly.
Do: The first feeding should be max 0.5 ml fennel tea with half a tea spoon dextrose. It’s sunday? Try honey and water or surgar and water instead. Give it hand warm, drop by drop with a tiny syringe or similar.
Don’t: Avoid that fluid gets into the nose. Do not feed with needle. No hot tea. Not for permanent feeding. No other tea types.
–
POINTY NOSE, STUBBLES
The baby is in bad condition.
3 MALNUTRITION
It is able to eat food at this point.
Do: Check if it eats fruit puree, shortbread, mealworms, hard boiled egg or corn. Offer water in a bowl or rodent bottle (let it get used to it carefully). If it refuses to eat, it is probably still dehydrated or very sick. Call a vet or wild life station as soon as possible and continue giving fennel tea with sugar.
Contact me for more baby dormouse food suggestions.
Don’t:
No sweets.
No milk, cheese, or other milk products!
No meat or fish.
–
Page prepared by Will Robertson, Tobyas Ben Amar, Stefanie Kruse, Susan Kerwin and Goedele Verbeylen and reviewed by Martin Foster and John MacDonell.
References to research papers, etc. can be found here: References
“As climbing arborists, we exist at a unique confluence of art, science and athletics. Our profession has undergone a transformation from a dogmatic to a scientific era similar to that in medicine in the second half of the 20th century. As the challenges of biodiversity loss intensify, we find ourselves at a second turning point: we change from being consumers of research to leaders of the fundamental research and of the practical advances needed to ensure that trees remain homes to our most beautiful and endangered creatures.”
Blog
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From the tree crowns of an Irish forest I’d like to welcome you. At time of writing in July 2024 we’re focused on field studies, rehabilitation studies, bat counts and trying to work out what best to do after a devastating series of wildfires affecting Myomimus roachi in autumn 2023 and summer 2024 so this is just a basic site and we’ll be adding a lot more detail on species, people and techniques in English, German, French and Italian in autumn 2024. 🙂
Will 🌳🌲❤
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