Wild pinkie mice have swollen bellies and are constipated! :(

Question
Hello!

I am hoping you can help!  I am nursing two wild pinkie mice which were disloged from cleaning out the garage... I did find a wellspring of information and joined a mouse support forum but am frightened right now and could use a quick answer if you are available! Not sure if you're up/online... anyway, I think my babies might be constipated... their stools are TINY and seem hard and hard for them to pass, and their bellies seemed swollen too. I have been swabbing their tummies and genitalia every 30 minutes with a Q tip soaked in warm water and they seem comforted by this... anyway I am nursing with KMR (diluted twice as per mice protocol) and I discovered I fed them one meal after the formula turned sour... I feel awful and am afraid I have made them sick! :(  What can I do but rub their bellies and make sure to feed them fresh clean formula? They're not even a week old... poor little lambs.  Thank you in advance!

IF ANYONE ELSE SEES THIS AND HAS INPUT I'D WELCOME A REPLY! THANK YOU!

Answer
Hi Liza,

Using a heating pad set to "warm" (should *barely* be warmer than normal) can sometimes help as well, but the Q tip trick is the best I know of to help comfort swollen tummies.  Tiny mice have tiny poops - are you positive they are really having a problem?  Do they seem distressed, or just chunky?  Once they do go to the bathroom, it starts the digestive system pumping and they will be more willing to eat or drink more.  Don't deny them feedings or hydration because of their swollen tummies - they will still need to eat quite frequently.  Never having fed bad KMR, I'm not sure of what effect it would have on them, so if you can phone a vet they may be able to offer you better suggestions.

Hope all is well with them,
-Tam