Vet hydrated orphan mouse with cold water

Question
QUESTION: I took in a 4 day old baby mouse i think he/she is dehydrated (her skin looks baggy and his/her body sunken he/she isn't urinating or defecating) I fed formula with small amount electrolyte and it doesn't seem to be getting digested. I moved to about 95% electrolyte mix and 5% infant hamster formula with plenty of water. He/she takes a few mouthfuls and refuses every half hour/hour or so. S/he loses body temperature quickly so I have had baby in my hand for the last 3 hours trying to maintain a steady temperature.

Is there anything else I can do?
S/he is still feisty but is lethargic when left to own devices.


Please help.

ANSWER: Dear Kate,

The baby has very little chance. It is definitely dehydrated. You are doing exactly what I would do by keeping it in your hand. Another option is a heating pad on low and covered with towels, but temperature is harder to control.

You need to add a bit more formula to the mix so it can also get a little bit of nutrition (I didn't even know it was possible to get infant hamster formula!).

Are you stimulating its tummy and genitals with a Q tip after it eats? It can't eliminate on its own, and will poison itself with its own waste.

At this age you can tell gender by whether it has nipples. Of course you must look very carefully.

I really wish the little pup the very best of luck.

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

QUESTION: She died.

I took her to the vets and the fluid injection had cooled down too much, she was so cold I just couldn't warm her up again, she tried to survive, she was a fighter and she waited until we were away from the vets.
She died in my hands.

She was doing well this morning (3am), She was feisty and wouldnt eat my electrolyte mix so I added more formula to it and she gobbled it up.
At 9am she was fine, eating more of the new formula mix and loving every minute of her belly rubs.
I found the q tip too tough for her little belly so I warm wet a portion of cotton ball and rubbed her belly, she managed 2 poo's and at least 1 wee before we had a nap at 6:30am.


The vet said when they are really young they need to be fed in small increments much more frequently a few drops every half an hour until their new bellies get used to the formula, this contributed to her bloating.


I wish I never took her to the vet.

My little girl is all gone.

Answer
Dear Kate,

I'm so, so sorry. When you nurse an animal there is a deep bond. Especially when you are tending to it around the clock. What a hard loss.

The vet may have had the right idea to hydrate, but should have known to warm the water solution.  Such a tiny thing needs a lot of help to stay warm. However, even under the best of circumstances, an orphan mouse goes through so much trauma besides the care not being mommy mouse care. They often don't survive. We'll never know if the vet could have saved it but for that mistake. I would tell the vet though-- because that's a mistake they need to learn from. I'm sure they never thought of it, and they will from now on if you let them know. The less angry you sound, the more they will listen, I'm sure you know.

I'm so sorry about the little tyke. She will stay in your memory. Some animal people say that when animals die they "go over the Rainbow Bridge" where everything is just right to make little mousies (or whatever) happy-- delicious mommy milk, tummy rubs, and all nice and warm. That can be comforting.

I hope you will have some good mouse experiences now that you have learned that the mouse to human bond is so special.

sad squeaks,

Natasha
<:3  )--~

And thanks SO MUCH for letting me know what happened. I wish more people would!