sick 2 week old rescued feeder mouse

Question
Hi Natasha,

I know I shouldn't have, but I allowed my daughter to purchase a little pinky mouse from the pet store and try to nurse it on her own. She has been sticking to the feeding of diluted KMR every 2 hours up until I believe yesterday when she began feedings every 4 hours.
For about 10 minutes last night and again a few minutes ago-- the now sweet little 2 week old is not himself..he laid flat a moment and tried to move...instead of squeaking excitedly as she held him, he hardly moved, and when he did he seemed very weak on his legs and shivers a bit...

she has been massaging him for stimulation of digestion at every meal and keeping him warm in paper towels and a heating pad, I just don't know what I can do for the little guy since there are no vets responding to my emergency after-hour calls. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Dear Chris,

You don't say how long you have had him, so I don't know what he had survived.  It may certainly be too soon to lessen the frequency of his feedings.

It is very hard to replace a mouse mom. When people write to me about their little orphans after they have passed, the comment is often "he seemed fine until suddenly..." which means they often do just die without you having known there was a problem. These creatures are not built very sturdy. Mice, being prey animals, survive as a species or group by being many, not mighty. Each mouse is pretty expendable in nature. So considering the remarkable amount of stress this baby went though, both emotional and physical, he has done very well to come this far.

There is little you can do besides keep him very warm-- and even with a grown mouse, often it helps tremendously just to hold the mouse quietly in your hand instead of putting it back in the nest. And feed him at least every two hours, whatever he will take. It might sound strange, but I know I have saved mouse lives simply by holding the mouse in my hand for 12-24 hours to get over an illness or poison. It is the combination of not having to work to keep itself warm such that it can use its energy to fight for its life, and of feeling happy and loved.

If this little guy survives, your daughter will have a truly remarkable pet. But in the future, it is best to stay away from the feeder bins. It is very tempting to rescue a pinky feeder, feeling you have saved a life, but it does not mean that the snakes will eat one less mouse. It means the breeders will breed one more mouse. More suffering of more mice.

Instead, either find a good private breeder or a reputable pet store (clean; animals all clean; and not overcrowded) and get yourself a mouse bred  to be a healthy, sweet, and long-lived pet-- none of which a feeder mouse is bred for. Get a male of it is to be one mouse, or 2-3 females.

I wish the little tyke the very, very best of luck and health.

squeaks,

Natasha