**URGENT** Orphaned Baby Mouse

[TheChickenGirl1]

I have a orphaned baby mouse that I am currently trying to save. It is very active and eats well, but I am worried about it’s size. It seems to be getting very skinny. I am currently feeding KMR. It has suffered from a bit of bloat which I treated with a drop of olive oil in it’s food. It gets fed every 2-2 1/2 hours. It is in a small enclosure with nesting material made for small pets, and the enclosure is on a heating pad on the lowest heat setting. Does anyone have tips on how to help it gain a little weight? I estimate her to be around 6 days old ? FIRST picture from TODAY, SECOND picture from FRIDAY.
Any hate replies pertaining to how the mouse should be dealt with will be deleted.

 

[oregonkat]

Aww, soooo little!! I have no idea other than maybe a high protein mash made from chick starter. Mix it with warm water and then perhaps a dropper to feed it. He would have been suckling so he needs protein and fat. Maybe mix in some yogurt too? Sorry I cant be more help. Where did you find it?

 

[CutieChicken]

Found this on the internet: Don’t be discouraged if they appear smaller than others their age. This is common with hand-raised babies.

It also says: Feed small amounts at each feeding, being careful not to get any in their lungs (if you see milk bubbling from their nose, it’s an indication some is getting into their lungs). Always feed warm (not hot or cold) formula to your babies.

Plus, of course, to stimulate deification and to keep them warm. Hope this helps!

 

[CutieChicken]

I’d stick with a milk-type formula for mammals. Whole, raw, fresh goat milk; KMR (Kitten Milk Replacer); Esbilac (puppy formula); Enfamil (without iron); or Soyalac human formula.

 

[oregonkat]

Of course! I am so used to chicks, that formula never occurred to me!

 

[dotporter]

http://www.afrma.org/orphanrm.htm

 

[Featheredfluffs]

I’m a wildlife rehabilitator of small mammals (mostly squirrels) and would be happy to help. You have quite the challenge on your hands, best chance is to get it to a wildlife rehabilitator but if that isn’t an option you will need to hand raise. Kitten milk replacer is the closest, best way to gain weight is to add a small amount of heavy cream (I do this with squirrels all the time and they fatten right up). Yours seems extremely skinny, at this age he needs to be fed every 2-3 hours through the night. I know it’s a lot, but he will die without it. Electrolytes and glucose (think pancake syrup) is also exceedingly important.

Have you been stimulating him to potty?

Let me know how it goes, feel free to PM me for any advice.

 

[MROO]

It likely needs a bit of extra protein. A very little bit of hard boiled egg yolk may help, as well. Mash it very smooth. If you have to thin it down, use a little bit of formula or olive oil to thin it down to a runny past. It should be able to lick it up in a few more days.
Make sure you're massaging it's bottom, much like you would a tiny puppy or kitten, to stimulate the bowels. a warm, wet tee shirt fabric works well and is less rough than a gauze pad.

 

[Featheredfluffs]

It likely needs a bit of extra protein. A very little bit of hard boiled egg yolk may help, as well. Mash it very smooth. If you have to thin it down, use a little bit of formula or olive oil to thin it down to a runny past. It should be able to lick it up in a few more days.
Make sure you're massaging it's bottom, much like you would a tiny puppy or kitten, to stimulate the bowels. a warm, wet tee shirt fabric works well and is less rough than a gauze pad.

No, that will cause bloat and metabolic bone disease (improper calcium phosphorus ratio) . Kitten milk replacer is formulated for carnivores and is more than enough protein for mice.

 

[Featheredfluffs]

The formula for the heavy cream and KMR:

1.5 cups water
1 cup PetAg (she used Esbilac)
1/4 cup heavy cream

You sadly can’t use heavy cream until they open their eyes though, or it causes bloat. If he survives til then (sadly unlikely, these little ones are VERY VERY VERY hard to save), it will help a lot. What have you been using to feed?