I need help from someone with experience in handrearing a baby mouse?

Question

I have a baby orphan that is a couple days old. I've had it for a day and i feed it every two hours. But it has not defecated all day. I've been rubbing its genitals and underside with a moist warm Q Tip but nothing happens. Any suggestions? How long should I be doing it? Thanks!

Thanks very much for the help from a couple people. But I do not nee dto be told it is very unlikely it will survive. I'm very aware as I have done my research but that doesn't mean I'm not going to give the little guy a chance at life; as it has been successfully done before.

Answer 1

Try using a warm moist cotton ball instead of a Q-Tip since it's softer and covers more area on the body. Instead of rubbing the genitals, rub in a downwards motion the lower stomach/abdomen where the bladder is located. You should be doing it for about less than a minute. Remember to rub really gently!

Answer 2

dont know if this will help but here it is

If the are baby is furred and their eyes
are open, or just about to open, then you have a fair chance of success. They
can be fed kitten formula milk from a syringe or dropper, whenever they are
hungry (which will be often!) until they can start to nibble solid food,
which happens when their eyes open. They will still need supplementary formula
until they are 3-4 weeks old. If the babies are orphaned when very young, ie
when they have no fur or just fine, downy fur, then you have little chance
of raising them - I do not know anyone who has done this successfully, but
you could try. Certainly some people have successfully raised newborn rat
kittens, but rats are larger and more robust so this is easier. The kittens
will need to be kept warm and fed very regularly - I have no experience of
this personally but would imagine *at least* hourly, night and day, since
baby mice suckle their mother almost constantly for the first two weeks
(certainly whenever they get the chance!). You will also need to encourage
them to empty their bowels, as their mother would - by gently rubbing their
tummies and genitals with a warm, damp cloth - this is a replacement for the
mother's tongue. If you don't do this the babies will die as waste products
will build up inside them.

Answer 3

You can try to use an eye dropper with goats milk (you can buy at grocery store). Dilute it HALF water/half milk. You may be able to find a kitten bottle small enough, depending on how large these little ones are.Feed them about every 3 hrs.

You will also have to make them go potty. Use a warm wet cloth on their bottoms to stimulate how their mother would clean them.

If your mouse has fur , it was not born today. Mice are born Naked. THey are weaned partially at 2 weeks and fully by 4 weeks. If it is running around its obviously strayed.

I doubt you will find mom as she is probably with the mouses siblings..You should put it back down and see where it goes.

If it is an unweened baby it is VERY unlikely it will survive.

Answer 4

I don't recall temps for a mouse (think it varies from breed to breed anyway).

Keep it warm and comfy - be careful not to over fill it (they'll drink til they overflow - weird huh?)... just keep it warm... cuddle it as best you can (I know, they're tiny... do what you can... they need love just like the rest of us)....

Don't overfeed - its easy to do - they'll suck it down til they drown...

If its only a day or two old - the poopin is a waitin - it'll happen - remember you're not feeding it mouse milk, so it will react differently.

If you're stressing, call the local animal folks for advice, but it sounds like you're doing the right things.

Good luck,

-dh

Answer 5

Sorry to break it to you, but "pinky" mice usually don't survive hand rearing. They are usually used for food for snakes and reptiles and cost less than a dollar. Your best bet would be asking your vet for advice.