pinkies

Question
During construction, we found 2 pinkie wild mice. My daughter is attached to
them but being a former pet shop owner, I know it's VERY difficult for them
to survive so young. Is there any chance of saving them? If so, what
replacement formula would be best to try? I know they need a high amount of
fat. I am going to try human formula until I hear something back from you.
Thanks for the feedback!

Answer
Dear Valerie,

Sadly, the chance of them surviving without their mom is not great.  However, many people have been successful as well, and it is only humane to try!  Just don't blame yourself if they die-- and do buy your daughter a pair of females at the pet store to replace them in her heart if they do die!!

The very first thing to do is call around to local pet stores to see if they have nursing mothers who might take the mice in.  Make sure they know you want the mice when they are weaned!

However, raising them is not impossible.  I don't know how old they are, but you are right that they need a replacement formula.  Many people have been successful with a kitten formula, but one source has suggested using infant rehydration formulas such as Pedialyte, Infalyte, or Rehydralyte.  I think the kitten formula is probably the best.  

First off, put them in a safe place (best is aquarium-- must have lid!-- if you use a plastic box, drill big holes all over the lid) with some soft bedding (Kleenex is ok; or shredded cloth, or cotton) and a warm cover such as (my favorite) a piece of soft cloth-- they need darkness.  The cage should also be light during the day-- don't put them in a closed box.  The best way to keep them warm is with a heating pad on low.  Make sure it does not get hot.  A light can be used as well, with the bulb close to the cage.  Again, be very careful not to fry the mice!

You will need to feed them with a little syringe.  Every 2-3 hours is a minimum:  The mom feeds them every half hour!  Hold them by the 'scruff of their neck'-- that is, the loose skin just behind their heads.  Give them one drop at a time and wait a few seconds till it swallows before giving another.  Give them as much as they will eat.  You will see the white formula in their tummies when they are full!!  Panya suggests that you can additionally put a little fromage frais near the nest or offer it to them.

A baby with fur but closed eyes is between 1 and 2 weeks old.  At 2 weeks they will open their eyes.  This is called the 'flea' stage and they will suddenly become terrified of everything, even you.  They can jump up to two feet in the air because they weigh almost nothing and they have strong hind legs (like fleas).  You will probably need to catch them to hold them.  Don't chase them around the cage with your hands because that is very frightening for them.  Use your hands to approach them slowly and then hold onto the very base of their tails (by their butts).  Immediately place them on the other hand and you will probably need to keep hold of that tail until they get calm on you.  I often wrap them in  my T-shirt bottom for a few minutes so they recognize my smell and it calms them down.

This is also the time to start offering them real mouse food.  Get a bag of mouse and rat food at your pet store.  There are several brands. If they don't have this then get a hamster/gerbil mix.  However they need to keep being nursed with the formula until they want to stop or at about 3 1/2 weeks.  You can really tell the age because in my experience the eyes start opening on the 14th day.  It's also time to get them a little mouse wheel.

At 4 1/2 weeks they can become sexually mature.  If you have a boy and a girl, you'll have 1000 mice before you know it.  Check their tummies:  Girls have nipples and boys don't.  As they get older, boys look like they are developing a big butt but it is actually their testicles.  Two girls live together easily.  Two boys tend to fight, but it isn't always bad.

Let me know what happens and feel free to ask more questions, even as they grow.  You can also read some of my back answers for other kinds of advice for older mice.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha