field mouse baby - poop color

Question
QUESTION: Yesterday (Dec 3) I saved a small field mouse pup 1.5 - 2wks old, eyes still closed - from being cut in half by somebody who was going to put it out of it's misery. I have fed it kitten formula. Yesterday it seemed to be interested in feeding, the last three times it has shown no interest. I have tried to feed it infant rehydration solution Pedialyte as well as kitten formula. It did have a bowel movement last night and it was firm. I have been keeping it warm and trying to warm a clothe and my hands when I feed it but that doesn't seem to help. Will a wild animal know when to eat or not? Should I coax it to eat without trying to force it. It does seem to move around fairly well and tries to bury it's head when I feed it. Help!

ANSWER: Dear Brian,

The mouse pup needs to eat every two hours. You do need to coax it. Have you watched the video at the address in my profile? You should do that. Something you must do is to rub its abdomen with a Q tip after it eats to make sure it excretes when it needs to. It may be backed up and that is why it won't eat.

Best of luck. Remember it is hard to be a mouse mommy, so don't blame yourself if it doesn't make it. If it does, you will have a very sweet pet!

Squeaks,

Natasha



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bowel moments, how often and what is the cause of very dark (black) movements. Yesterday started with 2 yellowish moments followed this morning by 1 very small dark one. He really doesn't appear to like the belly rubs but I do them (gently). He does appear to like being kneaded between my fingers after being fed and starting to go to sleep. Is this adequate to stimulate the bowels?

I have been feeding him kitten milk (liquid) that is diluted 50% with Pedialyt

Brian

Answer
Dear Brian,

I would not worry about the color. The dark one is what they will look like in the end. Kneading between your fingers is great. That should get his system going. A younger mouse would need more, but since he is already doing a few poops on his own, I only suggest it because he wasn't eating.

I wish him the best of luck!  By the way, to tel if he is a she at this young age, look carefully for nipples. Boys don't have any.

squeaks,

Natasha