Expert: Sandra Todd - 7/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: we rescued a baby rat a week ago...figuring it to be about 2-3 days old. we have been feeding it evaporated / soy milk mixed. It has been lively and feeding well until yesterday when it appeared to not want it's milk..still lively.
This morning it didnt want to move much...wasnt interested in milk...and within minutes of holding it to feed it it raised it's head and started opening and closing it's mouth
then it's head just dropped and it was dead. Any ideas what happened???

ANSWER: It is super hard to save a baby rat that young.

For starters, the baby should have been given soy human infant formula. Also, they need to be kept warm constantly and how did you get it to go to the bathroom?  Let me know how you did that and I can maybe shed more light on the situation.  How often were you feeding him?

Just dont be too hard on yourself. It was more than awesome that you even tried to save the little one in the first place when many  people leave rodents to die.  I love all animals, so I know how you feel about wanting to try to save it, but again, its next to impossible even for the most experienced rat owner to keep a baby rat under 2 weeks old alive.  There is just so much you need to do to keep it going and its not the same as if you were a rat mom.   If the rats eyes were open and it had fur on it etc.....it would be a bit easier to keep him alive but as young as the one you had....well, as you found, its super hard.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: we kept it in a box lined with paper towel and placed a soft cloth and cut up paper strips to simulate a nest.
also we placed some 1" furry mice toys for cats in there to keep it company.
we feed it every 2-3hours and late at night but not in the middle of the night. stimulated it by placing finger in warm water and gently rubbing it's privates. it never had a problem doing it's little business and would do it by itself also.
was heart breaking ...but we would like to try again.
the little thing grew on us so quickly and it to us as we found that it would squeek and sniff it's way to our hands where it was happy.

Answer
Hi again

Another thing that was needed was heat. Usually heat is used by way of heating pad or heat lamp.  Feeding needed done even in the middle of the night.   Its just super hard to hand raise a ratlet that age. Your heart was in the right place.

If you want to get rats as pets, try looking first at your local shelter and next, try GOOGLE for a rat breeder in your area. If that fails, a pet store is the only choice although I dont like to get them from there esp if they sell feeder rats.  I suggest a pair of males for first time rat owners.  Females are prone to  mammary tumors unless spayed at a young age and its heartbraeking to see them get these tumors.  Yes they can be removed but usually they end up with more than one popping up every few months.

Check out my link to read up on rat care, from proper feeding to cages etc.... and let me know if you decide to adopt or buy a pair of rats. I think you would make AWESOME rat parents!!!!!  Remember, it has to be a pair since rats LOVE to be with each other, but must be opposite sex since they can reproduce as young as 5 weeks old and have up to 20 pups.  YIKES!

Here is my website:

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/