Orphaned Rat's...Need help!

[Ironhead]

Need some help from you ratty experts...

Got up this morning to find my mother rat all but dead. Her eye's looked bulged and she had either blood or red liquid around her eyes and nose. She was fine yesterday when I fed her...at least I thought she was.

She leave's behind 14 little ones. They are slightly over 2 weeks old. Eye's open and they get around good. The question is....Will they survive at this age? If so, what can I do to make sure they do?

Any and all advise is appreciated.

[Vomitore]

From what I can remember, and I'd wait till others chime in and agree or disagree with me. If you have other females, somtimes the females can be step-mothers to them and take the load of from the nursing incase of a huge litter.

[Ginevive]

I had something similar happen; a mother rat that died, leaving behind babies whose eyes were not too long open. I took the lab blocks that I feed to my rats, and moistened them with water, and offered them on a flat platter. The babies learned to eat the moist food and they did survive.. they would lap water from a small dish I put in there.
Others may recommend milk replacer. I would have to see a pic to agree 100% with the recommendation of moist lab blocks, to see if they look "with it" enough; if they still have that dopey, eyes-half-shut look, they may need milk replacer.

[Ironhead]

I do have 4 other females, which are siblings to these babies and about 3 months old, but have never had litters themselves...

My camera is shot or I would post a pic. A couple of the babies kinda have the dopey look in their eyes but the majority of them look wide open. I will go ahead and moisten some lab block for them and hope they eat, I have allready put a jar lid of water in there for them. Would the cat milk substitute they have at the local store work? Or plain ole moo milk?

[SnakeySnakeSnake]

How long have their eyes been open?

I would definitely offer some moistoned food and water... if they are 2.5 weeks old they should be able to eat solid food, but normally that only supplements them..

edit: Im not sure which milks are digestible to them or closely simulate rat milk... probably not a big market ...

If you can find any milk sold by Fat Tony there is a good chance it is rat milk.

[wolfy-hound]

Cat or dog replacement milk would be preferred to Moo milk.
Make sure to clean them well after they eat some, in my experiance with kittens and raccoons, the babies are all about crawling through the food. Wipe them down witha warm wet washcloth maybe, and be SURE they are in deep bedding to stay warm. You might try putting one of the other rats in to see if they will wash them and cuddle them. It's a longshot but it would save you having to clean them. They will still need the feeding though, a 3 month old isn't likely to suddenly develop milk! lol.
GOod luck!
Wolfy

[Ginevive]

I have an idea here; maybe an UTH or similar heating device would help? To stimulate the warmth that the mother would have provided.. just a thought. When I had the ratlings from the above post, I put their tank right over a heating vent in he house, situated so that it offered warmth but not burning hotness.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I use dog foodand lab block moistened with KMR for the babies when they start eating on their own. KMR is just Kitten Milk Replacer. Good luck!!!