URGENT life or death orphan baby mouse!

Question
I have an orphaned baby mouse. He is a fuzzy. He is not going to the bathroom at all after feeding even though I'm massaging his lower belly!!! Also, he shakes very often. Is he cold? How do i house him? How do i keep him warm? Is puppy or baby formula better? My research didn't answer any of these questions.

P.S. I DO NOT have a foster mom for him

Answer
Dear Kiely,

The best formula is kitten milk replacement.  Some people also use soy milk. He is used to being nursed every half hour, so make sure it's at least every two hours maximum, around the clock. He needs to stay very warm.  Mouse body temperatures are higher than ours, and he is used to being surrounded by litter mates and sat on by mom.  A hot water bottle is a good option. Make sure it doesn't get too hot, and that he can move away from it if he needs to. The same with a heating pad but you have to be terribly careful not to cook him.  Put several towels between him and the pad and check how it feels often. To encourage elimination, try directly massaging his genitals.

It's not easy to raise a suckling baby mouse. They need very specific conditions that a human just can't duplicate.  And even if your care were perfect, simply whatever trauma he sustained that led you to having him could be too much for him. Please don't blame yourself if he does not make it. And thank you so much for caring.  Good luck.

squeaks,

Natasha