Mom abandoned her babies

[petsfanBooBoo]

This morning I got to my girlfriends house before school and she was looking around for her hamster that had four babies. The cage was closed and we don't know how she got out but we knew the babies hadn't eaten in a long time. We called every vet in the area and then an animal feed store looking for formula. The feed store said that cat or dog formula would work fine so we went and picked some up from the vet and fed the babies. They all seem fine but I question the use of cat formula. Is this safe for hamsters and where could I get the formula I need if it doesn't? Also if anyone has had something like this happen to them I NEED advise, we did all we could to keep them comfy and warm but I'm still worried. Is there anything we should watch out for that might hurt the babies? Their only a week old, how long do dwarf hamsters nurse? What are the chances of keeping all four of them alive? How can you tell how much milk they need in one sitting? Please get back to me ASAP I will be back on to check for replies when I get home from school in about 4 hours. Thanks for your help.

[dwankrista]

i don't have any direct experience with orphaned babies. however, kitten replacer is usually a good recommendation. also, after each feeding, the babies will need to be stimulated on their genitals with a warm, damp cloth or swab, as they are unable to go on their own. without this stimulation toxins will build up in their little bodies and cause death. best of luck and i hope someone comes here soon who can give you more thorough advice!

[Caitandcritters]

KMR is just fine, that's about the best you can get until they come up with a hamster formula. ;)

Dwarves nurse usually up till 3.5 weeks, although I should say that by the time they are 2 weeks you should be in the clear. At that time I would introduce seed and oatmeal, baby cereal if you can manage it.
You should be able to tell if they are full by white bands around the middle on their bellies, tho I guess their fur is starting to grow in... As long as you feed them regulary, stimulate them as Dwan said, and watch for weight gain, you should be ok.

They need to be fed about every 2 hours, but I suspect as long as you feed them directly before you leave and right when you get home from school, and then every 2 hours after that, you should be fine. How long do you go to school in the day?

The only other thing I can advise is that they be kept warm and dry which you are already doing.

Be sure to set out traps for mom, although I'm not sure how long she can be away for, for her to not abandon them or eat them upon reintroduction.

Success rate isn't all too high, but I'm sure with diligence into that second week all will be fine.

Good luck, and if I've left out anything someone please add on. He needs all the help he can get!

[petsfanBooBoo]

Well... I just got home from school, only to find that the runt was dead! :(... but the others seem to be doing well, so I hope that they make it... also we have a heating pad on them, underneath the plastice bin we have them stored in... is that too hot for them? (it is on low!)

[petsfanBooBoo]

Oh and I get out of school, but my girlfriends mom said that she can come home from school at lunch and take care of them.

[dwankrista]

i'm so sorry the little runt passed. :( runts are always so risky.

i find heating pads work great. :) if you're concerned about the heat you can try leaving it for a while, turning it off, then back on to make sure it doesn't get too warm. good luck to the little sweeties! :)

[petsfanBooBoo]

when we came home from school they were on the heating pad and their noses looked puffy and redder than before. Is this because of the heat or something else (or am I just imagining this :p)?

[Caitandcritters]

You may be imagining it, but keep an eye on them just in case.

Very sorry about the runt passing... But keep up the good work, and I hope the rest will be just fine!

Found momma yet?

[petsfanBooBoo]

No, mom is still at large and even if we do find her I don't think we will put her back in with the babies because she acted pretty crazy to begin with and I'm almost certain she would kill them after being away for so long and because we've had to handle them so much. The good news is that their all doing great, their about as lively as you would expect a blind, deaf, uncoordinated baby to be. We finally got the temperature inside their cage to a comfortable level and we're not too worried about the redness any more. I will keep updating as I get responses and at the end of their second week. Will their eyes be open by then? The darkest one is starting to look like his eyes might open soon, there is a visable line where the eyelids will open. anyway, thank you all for your advise, it looks like they will all be fine.

[Caitandcritters]

You're probably right about her eating them, just it's more pleasant to know where all your hams are then not, ya know? I always feel nervous when I can't find one, LOL.

Glad every thing is going well. Their eyes should be open by their two week birthday, but maybe a bit after considering the situation. When were they born?

Keep up the good work, and we're rooting for them.
:hug:

[petsfanBooBoo]

They were born the day after valentines day. Its kinda cool, all our animals that give birth have them on significant days. our bunnies were born on our anniversary (that was a suprise with a good story behind it, but thats for another time), we had another hamster born on christmas eve, and then these hammies. :)

[Caitandcritters]

That IS cool! How do they look? Getting fuzzy?

[petsfanBooBoo]

they're a little fuzzy, its VERY very fine hair though and my girlfriend swears that the darkest one has no hair on his butt, lol. They all still look happy and healthy today and yesterday they were eating so well we thought one of them was ready to burst. He ate so much that all he could do is lay on his side a kick his little feet when he wasn't sleeping. It was pretty funny watching him try to roll over with his rolly polly belly. lol I'm still thinking they're all going to make it, keep wishing us luck and we will post picks of the little ones over the weekend!!

[Caitandcritters]

They sound right on schedule then. :D Keep it up, and yes, please post pics of the little guys! :)

[petsfanBooBoo]

This is a real downer but all three of them died over the weekend!! :'( I have no idea what happened to them but we woke up sunday morning and all three of them died in the same night. Theres lots that could have caused it but my girlfriend said so would rather not know what caused it because it won't bring them back or anything and shes scared it was her fault, she said there might have been sour milk at the end of the squirter thingy we were feeding them with. Their poops might have been backed up too, two of them pooped like crazy that day and the other didnt go at all. we also tried to rescue some mal-nurished baby rats from a pet store that died too, we didnt share anything between them but we used to same heating mat to keep them warm, they were in separate containers and spaced as far apart as they could be.

[petsfanBooBoo]

This is a real downer but all three of them died over the weekend!! :'( I have no idea what happened to them but we woke up sunday morning and all three of them died in the same night. Theres lots that could have caused it but my girlfriend said so would rather not know what caused it because it won't bring them back or anything and shes scared it was her fault, she said there might have been sour milk at the end of the squirter thingy we were feeding them with. Their poops might have been backed up too, two of them pooped like crazy that day and the other didnt go at all. we also tried to rescue some mal-nurished baby rats from a pet store that died too, we didnt share anything between them but we used to same heating mat to keep them warm, they were in separate containers and spaced as far apart as they could be.

[PetLuver21257]

Uh-oh, sorry for the bad news! :(

[dwankrista]

i am so sorry for your loss. honestly, you did everything you could for these sweeties. handraising babies of any species rarely works out. :( please, do not blame yourself as you were an angel to these little babies. kudos to you.

[animalmagic]

Yeah, you did the best you could- don't blame yourselves. You gave them great lives, however short- and they knew you were taking care of them. I'm sorry :(