Please help - Does this rat need help eating?

She's been sleeping in my pocket so she's warm now. Tonight I plan on keeping a heating lamp on her.

Does anyone know of any vets that are available this time of night? It's 10:30 in south Florida where I am. Perhaps a vet could tell me what would be best to feed her.

That 2 hr. feeding schedule won't be a problem for me. It's just figuring out what to give her that's the problem...

He *looks* like he is in the 2-3 week old range. I'm no rat expert as I have only raised one litter, but I didn't notice any babies eating solid foods until around late in the 3rd week of development.

Sorry I can't be of more help.:(

You can use the kitten replacement milk, called KMR, and just mix it according to the package if you buy the powder. I believe that they also sell it premixed. You can try feeding it with a medicine dropper. I have heard that you can also use the puppy milk, don't know what it is called, although I believe that the KMR is better. With my first rats, although they were basically just weaned, I fed them KMR, along with a little bit of kitten wet food, I also gave them crumbled up pieces of Mazuri block, anything that I could find that they would eat. And they are happy and healthy and much bigger than when they came home. Hope this helps.

I'll gladly try the kitten milk mix, but since it's 10:33 at night I can't get to a pet store. Will she be ok until tomorrow morning?

I am not sure, although I am sure she would be okay. They do sell it at Walmart though, which would still be open (Just to throw that option out there). Good luck with your new baby!! ;)

In an absolute pinch I have used bread/Cheerios with a bit of cows milk until I could get a nursing momma or KMR.
And yes, the baby is too young to be away from momma, but there is a good chance of hand raising her as she appears to be around 3 weeks old. It will just take an extra bit of work on your part.

ok, I'll be making a trip to walmart momentarily then. Tomorrow I'll get a hold of a vet and get something better but for now this will work.

Thanks for all the help. :hug:

try giving it an artificial sweetener. ;)



http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96849.php

Get 1 can of eveporated milk, mix in some caro syrup use an eye dropper feed every few hours and she should be fine.

Jeez... what the heck is that thing too big to feed?