orphaned mouse skin peeling

Question
Yesterday I found a newborn mouse (or possibly rat?) on the sidewalk.  I've been feeding and pooping her every two hours.  Using kitten formula.  Last night, I noticed that her skin looked as if it was covered in dry milk in parts.  But it's actually peeling.  First, her neck looked raw, and I started with pedialyte mixed with kitten formula.  Now, her joints, around her elbows and knees, look raw.  Am I doing something wrong?  We are using a heating pad on a VERY low setting.  She's eating and pooping.  She's really, really young.  Perhaps just a couple of days?  Her body length is about the diameter of a half-dollar.  Eyes and ears are closed.  Advice?  What's going on with her skin?

Answer
Hi Anna,

It could still be dried milk peeling up, which could in turn be irritating its skin.  I wouldn't pick at it, but rather you could get a tiny amount of vitamin E (usually available as an oil in the pharmacy section of most general stores or at your local pharmacy) and rub it between your fingers, then rub it gently along the irritated parts of the baby's skin.  This will keep it moisturized and help with irritation, and is not toxic.  Just rub in a little bit, so it is almost completely dry when you put it back where it sleeps.

What do you keep it in at the moment?  I find fluffy paper beddings like Carefresh are a very soft way to keep them warm without irritation.  Wood chip beddings, while still appropriate, can sometimes be too dry or harsh for brand new babies with no soft buddies or mom to snuggle with.  Keeping the baby away from drafts will keep its skin from drying out and keep it warm as well.  Do you put the heating pad under a cage of some variety?  Touch the back of your hand to the bottom of the cage while it's on the pad - it should feel warm and not hot.  It really sounds like you're doing everything right.  :)  I would just try the vitamin E oil in small amounts when its skin looks too dry and irritated, and keep doing what you're doing.

Best of luck!
-Tam