2. Feed him kitten/puppy formula milk. This is the powdered type which you make up with cooled boiled water (they prefer it warm!). In an emergency you could try watered down tinned evaporated milk, or a milk/water/sugar solution, but mice cannot digest cows milk well so this should only be temporary. The best thing to use to feed mouselings is an eye dropper or small syringe (no needle!), but if this doesn't work you could try the tip of a fine paintbrush or folded paper, or even let the mouseling lick the milk from your finger. A recent tip I received is to use a cotton bud (Q-tip), which the mouse actually shapes into a kind of 'teat' shape itself by sucking. You may find milk bubbles from his nose if he feeds too fast, so you'll need to dab his nose as you go so he can still breathe. If possible try to feed him hourly during the day and two hourly during the night. To feed him he may be a bit wriggly so try wrapping him in a tissue with just his head poking out. This will also mop up the spills and make him feel more secure.
3. If you cannot feed him as regularly as hourly or two hourly during the night, try leaving a small piece of stale bread soaked in the formula milk in his cage. Introduce him to it before you leave and hopefully he will recognise the smell and seek it out when he gets hungry.
4. After feeding him rub his tummy and rear end with a damp cotton wool ball to stimulate his bowels. This is what his mother would have done, and without it he may not survive as his bowels will not work unless stimulated. If he's on emergency cows milk mixture he may get badly constipated, but this may clear when he starts on formula.
5. Leave some solid food in his cage for when he opens his eyes and starts to seek food (about 10-14 days old). Good 'weaning' foods are hamster yoghurt drops and soft muesli (ie, Alpen) mixed with his formula milk. Also leave some ordinary mouse/hamster dry food - nuts and toast are good things to keep in the cage to tempt him onto solid food! As soon as he discovers solid food he will put on weight quickly and most of the battle is over! The formula milk should be continued until he is at least 3-4 weeks old, although less often.
6. One more thing - if you only have one mouseling it may be worth putting a small toy in the cage, such as a cat's toy mouse. This may sound silly but it really will make the mouseling more secure and less afraid!
