Information/Articles on Orphaned Babies

Article: Caring for Orphaned Baby Rats or Mice
Rat and Mouse Club of America, March/April 1995
by Sharon Dubois

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

This article covers:

SUPPLIES
- such as rehydrating solution, syringe, heating pad, bedding, milk replacement, distilled water, and gram scale
- Milk replacement
- the article suggests you use Esbilac Pupply Milk Replacement
- I have heard that some people use Kitten milk replacement from the vet
- Human Infant Soy formula is also good to use

WHAT to DO
- examine the baby for wounds
- stimulate the baby to go to the bathroom
- young babies with no fur or closed eyes (under 14 days old)
- using the baby's weight to determine amount of food it needs at each feeding
- how to start baby on formula, watch out for diarrhea


FEEDING
- Colostrum - babies need

to receive the mothers milk for the first 48 hours. This milk is called Colostrum which contains natural antibodies from the mother used to build up the baby's immune system.

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- a FEEDING CHART from birth to 7 weeks of age
- covers the number of daily feedings, and the frequency of feedings by age

- Weaning should be a gradual process. It is not necessary to adhere to the table as every baby is different.

TIPS on FEEDING

LACTATED RINGERS SOLUTION

MEDICINE

MAIL ORDER Supplies

Article: Raising Orphaned Rats or Mice
by Debbie Ducommun

http://ratfanclub.org/orphans.html

The Article includes:

- Using a Foster Mother

- How to Care for a Young Baby

- How to Clean a Baby to Stimulate it to Pee and Poop

- Abnormal Noises

- The Formula
- diarrhea, bloating, and dehydration
- mixing the formula
- calculating the amount to give at each feeding
- Human Soy Formula is recomended as the best match for rat milk

Rat Milk Summary
Protein range: 6.5 to 10%
Fat range: 7 to 28.6%

Comparison with commercial formulas:

Human Soy Baby Formula—best match
Protein 12%
Fat 25%

Esbilac (for puppies)—too high in protein and fat
Protein 33%
Fat 40%

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- Feeding- Schedule/Frequency, How to do it - includes pictures

- Moving from the Nipple to a Dish

- Weaning

- Special Notes for Orphaned Wild Rats

Article: Caring for Rat & Mouse Orphans
from: American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association
by Karen Robbins

http://www.afrma.org/rminfo8.htm

The Article includes:

- Introducing baby to a Foster Mom and substitute foster moms

- Feeding Frequency

- Types of Formula

- How to Feed/Nurse baby mice and baby rats

- Milk Bellies

- Care : includes stimulation to eliminate and keeping warm

- Diarrhea

- Weaning

Awesom info!
I'll move this to the reference section. If anyone would like to add to it please let me know.