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Mar 21, 2009

Q. How Do I Care for Orphaned Baby Rats?

On March 21, 2009, I received the following comment on a blog entry titled Pet Rat Care and Health Resources: "We found some wild baby rats under a heap of mulch when cleaning up the yard. The mother left them and we would like to try and hand raise them. They are around 6cm long but their eyes are not yet open. Do you have any suggestions as to what we should try to feed them? We are not expecting them to live but would like to try."

I'd be happy to offer some assistance.

Firstly, though, are you sure they were abandoned by their mother? It's possible the mulch pile was the site of a rat's nest. If you think that there's a chance this is the case, we can care for them for a day or so, make sure they're well fed and well hydrated, and then return them to the area for a little while (monitored, with warmth provided from a sock buddy - a sock filled with rice that's microwaved or a microwavable heat pack) to see if momma rat returns.

If you decide to try this, you can place them in a shoe box with the sock buddy or heat pack and some soft fabric like a T-shirt.. Cut out one of the short sides of the shoe box and put the cover on. You can then place it on a paper bag or newspaper, with flour sprinkled around the area leading to the entrance - you'll be able to see mom's footprints in the powder if she returns. Cover the top and sides of the box with some mulch (this will help insulate it and mom can recognize it as the spot where she last saw the babies.)

You'll want to monitor from afar to ensure they're protected from predators like cats, dogs, etc. You can do this a few days in a row, no more than an hour (if it's cold) or two (if it's warm.) And see if there's any sign of mom if you think she may be around.

How to Care for Baby Rats

In the meanwhile, we need to keep these little guys in good condition. It's actually very possible to raise them, but it takes a bit of work.

You'll have three top priorities:

  • Feeding them with Esbilac puppy milk replacer.
  • Keeping them warm with a heating pad.
  • Keeping them hydrated (usually only necessary in the beginning; the Esbilac will usually give them all the fluid they need once they're treated for dehydration).

The following article on the Rat and Mouse Gazette has some extremely valuable information specific to caring for baby rats: Caring for Orphaned Baby Rats or Mice.

In addition, I have written a series of articles on caring for orphaned baby squirrels. The process is going to be virtually identical. So you may find these articles on my Orphaned Baby Squirrel Page to be helpful.

I wish you luck with these little guys. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to post a comment or send an email to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.



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Comments

Mar 22, 2009 2:05 AM
Guest :
Hi Mia,

Thanks for your guidance. There are 3 babies. They were in a nest but it has been destroyed and traps have been laid by our neighbours so there isn't any chance of getting the mother to come back. Is it poossible to use baby formula instead of puppy formula? Also, I see you don't recommend woodchips as bedding. Does this mean any straw or vegetable material is unsuitable? At the moment they are in sugar cane mulch. Is it also enough for them to snuggle together to keep each other warm, or do they still need the warm sock?
Mar 22, 2009 7:12 AM
Mia Carter :
Hi there!

You do want to use puppy formula (and only Esbilac brand - which is actually the easiest to find at stores like PetSmart) because it's closest to the mother's milk. Human formula and other poor quality puppy formulas can give them diarrhea, which is a death sentence when it's severe. They essentially start having severe diarrhea and they die of dehydration. A little diarrhea is to be expected in the beginning, since it's a different meal from what they're used to, but it usually subsides pretty quickly. The trick is to give them some hydrating solution on any days when they have diarrhea to ward off dehydration.

As for bedding, I'm not familiar with sugar cane mulch. I will do a bit of research on this for you. Hay can be acceptable for adults, as long as it's dust-free for the most part. You don't want anything with dust that they can inhale as this causes respiratory problems. Nor do you want anything with oils, like woodchips, as this also upsets the lungs and causes problems.

What's actually best for babies (and probably a bit easier than the set-up you currently have) is this:

Start with a box - shoe box size or a bit larger works well.
Get an electric heating pad (available at the drug store for $15 or less in most cases)
Get a T-shirt or two (or some other soft fabric)

Put the heating pad on the bottom of the box and turn it on low. Put a T-shirt or two in the box, over the heating pad. Then put the little rats inside. This will keep them warm, but if they get too warm, they can climb on top of the fabric, putting fabric in between them and the heat source.

You actually want a constant heat source. A warm desk lamp also works as a heat source. These little guys have no temperature controls in their bodies, so they can literally freeze to death at room temperature. They do a bit better when there's more than one, since they cuddle, but we want to maximize their chances, so I'd definitely provide a constant heat source in the form of a heating pad or desk lamp.

The sock buddy or a microwavable heat pack is a good option if they need to go to the vet, or as a temporary measure to keep them warm when they need to be away from a power outlet for the light or heating pad.

Once they start developing teeth and walking around - several weeks down the road - you'll want to switch them to a normal cage, probably what you have them in now. That's when a warm desk lamp works well as a heat source.
Mar 22, 2009 7:15 AM
Mia Carter :
My prior comment got cut off....

But anyways, I was just going to add that if you have any other questions, feel free to post them here; I'll do my best to help. I've actually never raised baby rats, but I've raised quite a few orphaned baby rabbits and squirrels, and the care techniques are the same.

And I will learn a bit more about sugar cane much to find out if that's a suitable option. But as I mentioned, I would opt for the simpler method of a towel or T-shirt with a heating pad or heat lamp at the moment.

I wish you luck! I'd love to hear any updates; hopefully they'll be good updates!
3 Comments