weaning

Question
Hello Tamarah:
My husband and son found a pinkie (whom we estimated to be 4 days old)in our shed.  I immediately took him in, and have been feeding him kitten milk (through an eye dropper).  He is now 3 1/2 weeks old.  I now add 1/8 tsp of baby oatmeal pablum to his milk.  He is now being fed every 5 hours (I still feed him through the night). At four weeks I would like to start to wean him.  I've read so much that I'm confused.  Information over load. He has flourished thus far, and I want the transition from liquids to the introduction of solids to be as successful. Please suggest my next step.  I have purchased Living World (Extrusion)for hamsters and (Classic)for rats.  I'm not ready to introduce this food to him yet, I think he is too young.  Is that the over protective mom in me coming out?  I would prefer soft foods first.  I'll do what ever you suggest is best for his development. When I introduce the food that I have purchased, I will definitely crush up the pellets so he can get used to it.  A couple of questions (Hamster food? Can I give that to my mouse (a wild mouse) as well as (Classic (mix of seeds, legumes and fruits) for rats.  When I purchase food does it need to say for mice or, is a hamster and rat diet similar to a mouse. One concern I do have, is at feeding time, he is so excited to eat. He gobbles up his meal and then all of a sudden his mouth opens and it doesn't shut.  It's like he has taken too much in and can't breath.  I have to slide my hand under his body (as if to distract him from eating )and he seems to come out of it.  I then continue feeding and sometimes he will do the same thing.  I certainly am very aware of gently squeezing the rubber top so that he isn't getting a whole lot of milk at once.  Is this normal, or something that I should be worried about.  Thank you Tamara in advance for your knowledge and love of these tiny little creatures.

Answer
Hi Laurie,

The great thing about mice is that they will pretty much wean themselves when they are ready.  They will start to wander around, and nibble on any food they find.  I've even caught my babies chewing on the bedding before, so it might be a good idea to start leaving some food in there so he has something to explore in between feedings.  It would also be a good idea to introduce the concept of a water bottle at this point as well, as this is the part that usually takes longer for them to figure out.  Feeding him the kitten milk at this point is likely mostly just serving to rehydrate him - he will need a more rounded and complete diet, ideally before he's around 5 weeks or so old.  Once he's eating and drinking regularly on his own, you can stop supplementing with kitten milk.  It's most important to listen to him (as I'm sure you've noticed this far into caring for him) - if he needs solid food, he'll want it and will start trying to eat it when it's there.  Every pup is different, especially orphans who don't have any other mice to mimic.

That's strange, about him opening his mouth for a while.  I would recommend making the switch to regular food and water in the nearer future, if only because with him regulating his own diet he won't get over-excited and phase out like that.  If he's not sneezing or reacting negatively to the food, though, I don't think he's choking.  I've never had a mouse do that, however, so if you think it's a result of getting too excited then I would remedy that first and then worry if he continued to do it on his own.

As far as the type of food, mice do actually need food specifically formulated for mice.  Rat food is very close, if not exactly the same, so most foods for mice actually say "for mice and rats."  Hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, and other animals however have different natural diets, so while mice *can* eat them, the protein and fat levels, and the amounts of other necessary dietary components will be a bit off.  It's fine in a pinch, but buying one specifically for mice or mice and rats will suit his longterm health better.

Thank you for doing such a wonderful job raising him, he sounds like a cutie!  Better to be overprotective than not careful enough.  :)

-Tam