paintbrush handfeeding
2019 rescued rat babies
#babyrats

Tips:

WARMTH
– babies must be very warm at all times!
– heating pads are necessary but use caution
– stash babies in a sock & roll them up
– babies reject feedings if they feel cold

Caution:
– heating pads are huge death risk
– newborns are like moths to a flame
– babies must be safeguarded from direct heat
– place heating pad OUTSIDE of tank/bin
– hypothermia: skin to skin contact essential
– emergency: press tiny body against your neck

FEEDING
– dehydration is huge death risk
– immediate H20 upon rescue
– milk every 1-2 hours
– 12 feedings/day for hairless newborns
– use coffee pot to keep milk warm during feed
– goal: white blob beneath tummy skin
– tummy 100% pink = keep feeding
– milk in nostrils = death risk by pnemonia

What to feed?
– best: baby formula from grocery store (soy)
– other: kitten formula or puppy formula
– each sip must be warm
– emergency: warm H2O; pedialyte is ideal
– DEADLY: coconut milk or fruit juice

Feeding tool options & ideas
– fine tipped paintbrush
– tightly twisted corner of a t-shirt rag
– tip end of a zip tie or bobby pin

POTTY / TOILET
– toxin retention is a death risk
– swab rear end after every 1-2 feeds
– swab before/during feed to stimulate appetite
– warm moisture + dabbing strokes
– you are the mama rat
– dab baby’s bum until pee/poo emerges
– use cloth or Q tip, paper towel etc

View source by clicking here.

Posted in Baby, Videos