Cubs and kittens should stay with their mother for at least six weeks and preferably for eight weeks, after which they can be separated. When cubs and kittens are separated from their mothers, they still need to be supplied with a calcium enriched diet to ensure the healthy growth of bones, teeth, gums and joints. Bottle-feeding is also done as a means of developing a strong bond between you and your new exotic animal. Experts suggest that guests and strangers who visit your house frequently should also bottle feed the animal. This will help the animal overcome initial hesitation and fear of newcomers.
There are many compositions which can be used to make a perfect bottle-feed. A cup of unflavoured pedialyte or distilled water can be mixed with a quarter cup of zoologic milk powder and one millilitre of "poli vi sol" liquid baby vitamins. A teaspoon of calcium powder can also be added, along with half a teaspoon of taurine powder. Half a cup of fat-free plain yogurt can also be added to make the formula more concentrated. The bacterium found in yogurt also helps the immature animal to digest the food properly. Do not use sugar because it can lead to diarrhoea which can be devastating to a young animal. After a few weeks, a very small amount of plain puree chicken baby food can be added to the formula and this can be increased over time. All the ingredients can be mixed in a blender and then fed via a baby bottle to the young animal. Leftover mixture should be refrigerated and used within a day. If not used within twenty-four hours it should be discarded, because it will spoil. Before feeding the mixture, it should be warmed. If the mixture was stored in the refrigerator and then warmed, any leftovers should be discarded. Young animals are very susceptible to illnesses caused by milk formula that isn’t fresh.
Care must also be taken while heating the formula. It should never be heated in a microwave. Instead boil some water and place the hot water in a bowl containing the bottle for about five to seven minutes. The formula temperature should be checked by shaking a drop from the bottle onto the underside of your wrist. It should be warm, but not hot enough to feel uncomfortable. If the formula is too warm, it can hurt the animal internally. Also remember that baby animals have a habit of drinking the formula very fast, so if hot milk is supplied, it will be too late to prevent injury once the bottle is given to the baby. The bottle should have a special nipple called the vet nipple, which is small and not round at the end. The baby animal SHOULD NOT be laid on its back like a human baby, as that would make the formula enter its lungs and cause pneumonia. The baby animal should be fed while sitting in an upright position or while lying on the stomach.
When introducing the baby animal to a new formula, give him time to adjust to it. Start by giving a diluted mixture and then increase the concentration gradually. If the animal suffers from diarrhoea, decrease the concentration immediately. It could take weeks for the animal to start feeding on actual concentrated formula. A log can be maintained about the concentration of the formula, the status of stool and the baby’s weight. This diary will help to determine the cause of diarrhoea and also will help to improve the diet of the animal. If the diarrhoea isn’t treated promptly, the baby animal could die of dehydration very quickly. Also if the animal is taking less formula and is also losing weight, this could be an indication of some disease, so consult your exotic animal veterinarian immediately.
Baby animals should be fed meals which are about 5 percent of their body weight until they become mature. This principle must always be kept in mind, as there is a chance of over feeding. Instead of giving a few large doses of formula, give frequent small doses. Also, the animal should be encouraged to go to the bathroom before the mealtime, when you have had it for more than four weeks. Baby animals pass a lot of urine and you should be ready for that. If your baby animal refuses to feed at regular intervals, it might be because its bladder is full. However, if the animal refuses to have anything for twenty-four hours, it should be taken to an exotic animal veterinarian immediately. The one exception to this rule is when the baby animal is first separated from its mother, as it may take up to forty-eight to successfully start bottle-feeding.
Always remember when dealing with exotic animals, your exotic animal veterinarian is a treasure trove of valuable information that should be consulted frequently.
Until next time,
Teia
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