Hello again

Question
Hi i sent a question to you a while ago about a baby mouse that ended up dying. Well we got another one but this one is approximately 11 days old and has his eyes open and is nibbling crackers. I read online that they arent fully weaned until about4 or 5 weeks. I have a few questions. What would be the easiest way to get him to drink milk? because he is in the flea stage and wont chill out and is still a bit scared of us. How much should he drink?(we have the appropriate formula now.)  I also read online that baby mice are born with teeth is this true?

Answer
Hi Romen,

Since he isn't used to you, but is nibbling on solid foods, you can try soaking his crackers, stale bread, or mouse food blocks (available at your local pet store) in the milk replacement.  This way when he tries to eat them they'll be softer, easier to eat, and will hydrate him, too!

Baby mice finish their development outside of the uterus, which is why they still look like fetuses when they are first born.  They are still developing their teeth at this point, and according to a research paper, laboratory mice showed the beginnings of teeth (the bony layer called dentin) at 1-2 days old and didn't develop their enamel (that would allow them to chew things) until 3 days or older.  It's kind of hard to say from that whether or not you'd consider them born with teeth, but newborn mice are not capable of biting or chewing.  Wild mice may progress to solid foods faster or slower than pet mice just depending on their species and how much time they had to learn from mom - but it's safe to say that at about 11 days old your new little guy definitely has his chompers in!  It would be a good idea to give him a water bottle now so he can learn how to use it whenever he is ready, and start soaking some of his foods in the meantime to keep him hydrated and healthy.  As far as how much to drink, let him communicate that to you.  If he is thirsty he will jump at the chance to get milk or water, if he is severely dehydrated he won't move much and will appear lethargic - his skin may look sunken or loose, and if he is not thirsty and well-hydrated he'll look like his normal, bouncy self with bright eyes and a sleek coat.  You can try feeding him using a dropper through the cage, so you don't have to hold him - if he is thirsty enough he might just give it a try!

Best of luck!
-Tam