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I found a baby...something [rat?]. Help! (Update: Despite best efforts, now passed away)
- Thread starter Buttzerker
- Start date
- Status
It looks like a 1-2 day old rat or mouse. You'll be able to tell in a few days. Is there a black dot just under its tail by where its genitals will be? If so, you have yourself a male.
You gotta feed it pretty much round the clock. They basically just eat and squirm at that age. The waste will come out in little coils, just try to keep it clean bc sometimes it can stick to them.
Seems like you have a good setup. Heating pad is key because body temperature is critical for survival. They can cool down very quickly.
And they're social animals, so give it as much love and attention as you can.
The formula is a good way to feed it. Keep it on the heating pad, too, so it stays warm.
Best of luck!!!
You gotta feed it pretty much round the clock. They basically just eat and squirm at that age. The waste will come out in little coils, just try to keep it clean bc sometimes it can stick to them.
Seems like you have a good setup. Heating pad is key because body temperature is critical for survival. They can cool down very quickly.
And they're social animals, so give it as much love and attention as you can.
The formula is a good way to feed it. Keep it on the heating pad, too, so it stays warm.
Best of luck!!!
OP
OP
First two vets: We only do cats and dogs
Third vet: looks like a rat or squirrel. Call the wildlife center.
Wildlife center: Not picking up
So that's my morning so far
Third vet: looks like a rat or squirrel. Call the wildlife center.
Wildlife center: Not picking up
So that's my morning so far
You forgot option 3 .... raise it share pics over time , then eat it
Call you local animal shelters edit: or "wildlife rehabilitator", copied from the humane society page:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animal..._wildlife.html#Is_the_Animal_Really_an_Orphan
http://www.humanesociety.org/animal..._wildlife.html#Is_the_Animal_Really_an_Orphan
OP
OP
Itd be super cool if people would stop telling me that it's probably going to die. The first two vets did so and I'm not sure if they think I needed that information so that I would feel comfortable abandoning it or something or what. I'm obviously invested enough to stick this out either way so it just seems needless to drill that home.
What do you actually expect them to do?Itd be super cool if people would stop telling me that it's probably going to die. The first two vets did so and I'm not sure if they think I needed that information so that I would feel comfortable abandoning it or something or what. I'm obviously invested enough to stick this out either way so it just seems needless to drill that home.
Hey op I'm reading online that if it's a rat (idk) that you need to stimulate it's genitals and anus to get it to pee. Baby rats can't do it on there own. Says to use tissue or something. Maybe a Q-tip would work? Good luck!
Probably give some information at least.
But I guess they probably only teach about cats and dogs at vet school
Yeah but that's like info that a random person on the street could give.
Itd be super cool if people would stop telling me that it's probably going to die. The first two vets did so and I'm not sure if they think I needed that information so that I would feel comfortable abandoning it or something or what. I'm obviously invested enough to stick this out either way so it just seems needless to drill that home.
tune out the haters man, do the best you can with what you have. I hope the wildlife place picks up, if not, good luck and I hope things go well with keeping it alive :)
Itd be super cool if people would stop telling me that it's probably going to die. The first two vets did so and I'm not sure if they think I needed that information so that I would feel comfortable abandoning it or something or what. I'm obviously invested enough to stick this out either way so it just seems needless to drill that home.
Any chance some corner of the internet knows how to help? I haven't googled it myself, but maybe? It seems like the vets are worthless :'(
OP
OP
assume that I'm not so stupid that I don't realize a day-old rodent I found in a parking lot is probably gonna die. it's just the meanest form of stating the obvious
yeah i've been trying, no luck yet
There are some vets that can actually care for rodents and wildlife you know.
This is just me soit balling cause idk but maybe add warm water? Simulate a mother's tongue?
OP
OP
They likely get calls from people with all manner of tiny animals. I recall a friend's mom relating a story about being on the phone, in the car, driving to the vet with a dying parakeet. People need to have thier expectation set realistically.
OP
OP
yeah I mean I get that, just frustrating hearing it from like 20 people in ten hours. Cool thanks, get in line
Fielding those calls is part of their job. Don't be a tool.
I was not aware of vets that care for rodents, actually. I'd imagined there'd be specialists that deal with like, rare rodents at zoos or something. Not common rats or squirrels. If there's actual rodent doctors out there more power to you then.
That´s just two vets doing their job TBH, can´t find anything wrong with that.
OP
OP
Keep us updated OP and all the best. If the fella pulls through, I hope to see it on Dodo's YT channel one day. So, if possible, document it well.
Good luck, man. I know what it's like to nurse back to health abandoned newborn kittens, but not a mouse or squirrel.
I can't imagine many vets are going to waste their time with a wild rat or squirrel, to be honest. Hopefully the wildlife center can help.
OP
OP
OP
OP
i probably wouldn't have either if not for those bright-ass gas station lights. those things're blinding
It's showing the milk spot now I think. Looks like a good match for the day+1 pics from that PDF - should start seeing some fur in the next day or two if it is like those lab mice. (there's a nice growth chart here)
Edit: skin pigment in a day, fur in a week
Edit: skin pigment in a day, fur in a week
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