What can I feed newborn hamsters?Mother just died!

[dulichny]

I found the mothers hamster dead this morning.There`s 3 left ,I think I killed 2 trying to warm them up and feeding them milk with a swap.I don`t want themto die.What can I do? HELP

[Jonergin]

That's a tough one. The best thing I can suggest is that you take them to a pet store who has breeding hamsters. Ask them to find a mother with young around the same size. Put vanilla extract on her nose and if the babies eyes are open you'll need to vanilla them too. This keeps mommy from realizing that these aren't her babies and the new siblings wont be able to tell either. Then all you can do is hope for the best.
I would guess in asking this of the pet store that they would keep the babies too. But it isn't much to ask for keeping them alive. Its much better than a slow and cold death.

Good luck.

[vccatlover]

i really think that that is a good idea but be careful the mother might kill them if she sees that there not hers. maybe you could take them to a vet they might now what to do.

[Jerica]

You can feed them kitty milk replacer from an eye dropper or a 1cc syringe (without a needle) Newborns are tough though. You'll have to feed them at least every hour most likely. It may be sort of difficult with such little ones, I was able to handfeed 3 dwarf hamster babies for a whole day while their mother was running around after escaping the cage. You mix it up like the container says, but I usually do it scaled down, its like one tablespoon powder to two water or something, but for them you can make it less but in the same ratio. warm it up so its not too hot or cold, test it on your wrist. Keep it in the fridge if their are leftovers and don't keep the mixed formula for more than 24 hours. Make sure you make them go potty with a cotton ball or cloth with warm water on it after every feeding. If I think of anything else I'll tell you and if you have any questions ask. If you have a heat pad put them in a container with the heat pad under half of it and keep them in bedding from their cage.

(this is almost exactly what I told someone else on this forum so if you notice its almost the same exact post that is why) Hope this helps.

[Goldfishlove]

you should also put your thread in other pet forum they can help you there too