Pinkie Flyers

[Mortrswife2006]

Hello! I have 3 babies that I have had since Wednesday November 5. They were in a rotten tree that came down and the dog got the mama. That's how I found the babies. Mom didn't make it though I tried really hard. So now I have these three babies. They weigh 4 grams and don't seem to be putting on weight just yet. I'm not sure the rate of weight gain and I just started weighing them 2 days ago. Should I be worried? I am feeding them about every 3-4 hours even through the night. I am feeding them Esbilac with a ratio of 3:1. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to do my best for them.

[HRT4SQRLS]

:wave123 Mortrswife2006
:Welcome to TSB

I would start a thread in the emergency section. This one might not get the attention you need. :eek OMG 4g??? Are you sure about that? That's the size of a pinky baby rat. I had some 8g flyers for a day and they were tiny, tiny. I can't even imagine 4g. I need to send Anne to your thread. She knows about pinky flyers.

[Mortrswife2006]

I had no clue how to start my own thread. They are eating good and going to the bathroom every time I feed them. The only thing I can think of is they were maybe a day old when I found them. I believe they are close to 5 grams because it will go back a forth then settles on 4. I weigh them morning and night. And I'm not exactly sure how to post a pic. They are very tiny. But they are active too. They crawl all over the place.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Above this post in red you will see FORUM in red. Click on that. Look at the category sections and click on emergency help or non life threatening help needed section. You will see Post New Thread. Click on that and start typing away in the box. Put a title like 4g flyers need help. This will draw the flyer peeps to your thread. :thumbsup

[Mortrswife2006]

Ok got it posted! Thank you!!

[Anne]

Ok, let's get these little ones growing!
There's what you need: think you may have read and done things things.
1-Get a non-shut-off heating pad and turn it on Low setting.
2-Get a rubbermaid or Sterilite plastic bin and layer it with old tee shirts or fleece material. No terrycloth towels!
3-Place half the plastic container under the bin.
4- Get some tiny syringes from your local drug store, try for 1cc/ml or smaller.
5-Babies have been with you long enough to go on full strength formula. That's 1 tablespoon powder to 2 tablespoons water. Mix well with a fork or very small whisk. Here's what I use for tiny flyer pups.
2 tablespoons Hot Water
1 tablespoons Esbilac-with probiotics powder
1 tsp Full Fat Yogurt-vanilla or French vanilla flavored
1 tablespoon Heavy whipping cream
Mix well with a fork or very small whisk and refrigerate for up too 72 hours.
Flyers have to have a very high fat diet.
6- Feed every 2 to 3 hours around the clock.

That should get them going in the right direction. You have done an excellent job to this point. Tiny flyer pups are terrible hard to do.
I will see if I can't get you a separate message with my phone number and please call me anytime!

[Mortrswife2006]

Thank you so very much! I will go to the store first thing in the morning.

[Anne]

Oops, #3 should read-place the heating pad under one half of the plastic container!!!! My bad!

[Mortrswife2006]

What about using the elongated syringe nipples?

[Anne]

Syringe nipples are ok but you will have to be extremely careful as the amount of formula coming out can very easily overwhelm a tiny pinkie flyer. You will need to feed very slowly and carefully, that said the nipples will be way better then trying not to use anything on the syringe tip.
Have you seen the video on the correct position to use when feeding? Feeding correctly will also be a huge help. Do you have a vet that will sell you supplies? If so ask if you can buy a "Tom Cat Catheter", cut all but 1/2 to 3/4 inch off the thin end, place the large end over your syringe and feed using that. They have two advantages-it's tiny for those little tiny mouths and they are usually clear plastic so you can see the formula coming through.

[Anne]

Oh! Tell the vet you want to cut the catheter off to feed a baby mouse!

[Mortrswife2006]

Ok great! No I haven't seen a video but everything I've read said to feed them tummy down. Is that right?

[farrelli]

Here's the thread:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?36777-PROPER-FEEDING-TECHNIQUE!!

Head pointed down, syringe pointed up.

[Chickenlegs]

Can get "Paula's nips" from the National Opossum Society. Sounds like they would be perfect for teeny flyers.

[Anne]

Here's a picture of a good milk line on a baby grey squirrel.





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