Feeding Baby Mammals
John Weissinger
Caution: This is a “first-aide” measure only. Once your mammal is stabilized/safe, it should be turned over to a licensed rehabilitator to ensure compliance with state regulations.
Almost everyone knows that baby mammals need milk but they may not realize that milk from a mouse if different from a dog, is different from a cat, and so on – milk varies from one species to another. Each mammal species has milk that is “designed” especially for its own young. Providing milk from one species for another is risky and unless they’re closely related, the donor milk may prove totally unsuitable for a baby. Even with the enormous amount of effort scientists have made to create a human formula (most are based on cow’s milk) , these human formulas are inferior to human milk – no contest! This is why it can be so difficult to provide adequate food for a baby mouse, a lamb, or puppy. It’s always best to try and reunite a baby mammal with its mother as this is its best chance for survival. Of course, this is not always possible.
If it’s impossible to reunite mother and baby, and you choose to attempt to save an orphaned mammal, be aware that survival is far from a sure thing. States/Provinces vary in their regulations regarding wild mammals so once your charge is stabilized, it should be turned over to licensed rehabilitators.
Pet stores often have specialized formulas for feeding baby mammals; especially dogs and cats. Check with your local store to see what they have for your particular animal. If you can’t find a product specific for “your” mammal, get what you think will be the closest to an appropriate substitute.
Although we too are mammals, we’ve gotten so far from what is “natural” about feeding babies that it’s difficult for us to know how to care for other mammals.
But, if you can “think like a mammal”, this will help. Try to imagine how a mother mouse, dog, deer, or whatever would care for its young and go from there. You’re bound to make mistakes as you learn but if you’re able to help that orphaned mammal until it can get professional care, you’ll have a better understanding and appreciation for how it all works in nature.
CAUTION – It’s common for people to find nests of baby rabbits and when they do, they’re usually convinced that the mother has abandoned them. Since baby rabbits are left on their own most of the time, they haven’t been abandoned at all! Baby rabbits are nursed only a few times a day by their mother and she is does not stay with them during the rest of the time. If you find an “abandoned” nest of bunnies, it is most likely NOT abandoned at all! Leave it alone and the mother will return.