Orphaned Rat Pup

[Lobo_Reptiles]

Long story that I don't want to explain. I'm stuck with a very cute rat pup. He has fur and looks very close to opening his eyes. I have Goat's Milk feeding formula and he has been drinking it. I read that you have to stimulate them to go potty, but this will be his second feeding and he won't go. I have him in a shoebox with a t-shirt and a heating pad.

I need some help from anyone. Anything would help. Thanks! He's just too cute to watch him die

[Roswell]

Maybe if you try stimulating the pup with warm water on your finger or a face cloth or something close to that. It may feel more like mom that way.

[Reptilian]

I've never heard of using goats milk, I think it's suggested to use KMR, kitten milk replacement. I am not sure on how to go about stimluating it to go to the bathroom, since i've never raised one from that small of an age. Sorry.

[littleindiangirl]

They are close to being able to potty on their own, but as this stage I suggest using a warm water soaked towel and rubbing his bum. They usually go right away. Good luck and keep us posted!

http://www.afrma.org/rminfo8.htm

check that out too, has a section on care of weanlings too.

[Lobo_Reptiles]

Thanks, sorry about the abrupt post. I was just really frustrated. I printed out info from the top rat sites. He is incredibly close to opening his eyes. He has teeth as well and cruises around. He scratches himself and wipes his face I've tried a warm cotton ball and a warm Q-Tip but he still won't go. Will I be able to tell definitely if he goes? If he doesn't go soon, I'm worried about toxicity.

I started out feeding him every 4 hours, but he didn't seem to be very hungry so I upped to 5 hours. The Rat Info site told me he should be eating at least 1.0 cc of milk, but he doesn't always eat that much. I read that Puppy and Kitten formula wasn't close enough but Goats Milk was. I heard different from somewhere else. I have no clue -_-

[littleindiangirl]

Are you massaging his butt? That's really what your doing is massaging his butt to make him poo and pee. It may seem gross but the best way to do it is with a warm wet washcloth and sorta give him a little butt massage. That's the best way I can describe it

[Lobo_Reptiles]

I tried all day today with the butt massaging, but he still won't go. I can barely get him to sit still at all. I always give him a full body massage before and after every meal. I e-mailed a rat club today that is somewhat near me. Hopefully they will be willing to find a surrogate female for him.

How long does it usually take for them to go after you start massaging? I don't know if I'm giving up too soon.

[Shadowspider]

I've never had to do it with rats but have done it many times with kittens. Generally I would massage them for several minutes with a warm, damp wash cloth and they'd usually go within those few minutes or shortly thereafter.

I don't know diddly about raising rats but I'd think that goat's milk might be a bit rich and could constipate them?
I don't know.

[Ginevive]

You say that his eyes are about to open? I had a litter not too long ago.. the female died inexplicably.. leaving about 6 babies who were in the eye-opening stage. I got lab blocks and soaked them in water until they were really soft, and they started eating it. It was not the ideal solution but it was all I could do on a Sunday night in this podunk town.. and it worked. They got enough nourishment from the moist lab blocks, and I gave them a water bottle that was really low-hung down to the substrate, and they lived. But mine were pooping on their own, as was evidenced by the poop in the cage.