Feeding a baby orphaned wild rat...
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 26 Jul 2014
1) Formula is kitten formula with a drop or two of melted butter to raise the fat content. DO NOT WATER DOWN. Warm to the skin, but NOT hot. Check by dripping on the inside of your wrist. **Fresh batches!**
Note: Using the dollar store ice cube bags are ideal for storing a can of formula without waste, fill the ice cube bag from the can, freeze and simply break off a cube when needed for feeding
2) RATS CANNOT BURP so no air bubbles or they get bloated and can die. That's why rat poison works, they cannot vomit.
3) They cannot evacuate waste on their own, and must have their "crotches" rubbed with warm water and a cotton pad until they do, otherwise they can get sepsis. Just like other animal babies, this is mom's job until they can eat solid food.
4) Any nasty "wild rat" diseases would have killed this baby off early, so no worries about leptospirosis or hanta or any of that. We also know mom died from an accident, not disease.
5) As you can see, once they become accustomed to the eyedropper, they become very excited about feeding time!
Here is an excellent page for more information on wild rat babies and their care and eventual release to the wild...
http://www.ratfanclub.org/orphans.html