After nearly 5 years of glider ownership, I have to handfeed my first rejected joey.

On 12/6 my friend had twin joeys come OOP, a boy and a girl. She was so excited about them..

Last night she called me panicking because she found the female joey laying on her side at the bottom of the cage. She scooped her up and she was VERY cold. She had no marks on her.. no wounds, so she thought that maybe the mother forgot her on the bottom of the cage.

I told her to keep the joey warm, so she put her in her bra and put on a sweater over her shirt and then a jacket.

She went to check on the little boy, but he was no place to be found.. my guess is that they ate him?

She pulled out just mom.. to see if she would take her baby back.. and she took her back alright, she grabbed her and had a death grip on her!!! My friend got the joey away from it's mother unharmed... or at least as far as we can tell.

She decided to bring the little one to me.. while I have never handfed a joey before, I've handfed other things like Chinchilla kits, birds, and kittens... and I have 5 years of knowledge in my mind.. so she thinks that I can do it.

While she was on her way over I called up the 24 hour emergency hospital to see if they would let me go in and buy a french tip catheter. She said sure.. so I headed over there.

My friend met me there and handed me the joey.. my word.. she is TINY.. but a bit furry.. so I really hope that she has a fighting chance. She is only 8 grams.

When I got home I made some baby BML.. blended it until I could suck it up in the catheter, and fed her some.. SHE ATE IT!!! I was so excited to see her eat.. but she hasn't eaten for me since.

I have a critter keeper setup with some flannel in it and a heating pad underneath. I put her in it for awhile and she started crawling around like crazy.. and then crying, so I have her right here in front of me, in a pouch and on the heating pad. I would put her in my bra, but I am afraid that I will fall asleep.. so I'd rather not do that tonight.

Her tummy looks empty, but she will not eat for me.. she seems to have a lot of life in her when she is warmed up.. but still won't eat.

I am going to try to feed her again soon.

I am so scared.. I've never done this before.. and now I have a little life depending on ME.. because she has no mother.. I don't want her to die.. and I don't want to do something wrong. After looking her over, I can see that her momma did nibble off the tip of her tail..

Please pray for her.. I hope that she will eat for me.. SOON. I know it takes a little convincing for some joeys.. but I've been trying.. with no luck yet.

u got my prayers!

Linda......you and that precious little girl are in our thoughts! Please keep us posted.

Here's sending hugs and suggie prayers your way for you and the little one. You need to get her some Esbilac which is puppy milk replacer to feed her instead of the baby BML. She is still too young for that at this point. Here is a site for hand raising a joey: http://www.sugar-gliders.com/glidervet-51.htm#handrear1 and here is part two: http://www.sugar-gliders.com/glidervet-52.htm . I hope this helps. Please keep us informed of the joey's progress. You need to try to feed her every hour at this point and do everything you can to keep her warm. After she eats you will need to stimulate her to go potty by wetting a q-tip with warm water and rubbing her clocoa gently with it.

Oh Linda, I am so sorry to hear this. Sending you prayers. Her story is alot like Cherish's, her mother killed her sister and the lady got Cherish out of the mothers mouth as she was trying to kill her. Its been years and she is all grown up now.
This is my rejected joey page, I know everyone does things different but this is how we care for them here.
http://home.comcast.net/~angie_and_jerald/rejected.html
Since we have the boys neutered quckly when they get here we don't have many joeys any longer but still get the orphans in occassionally.
Keep trying, usually the first feedings are the hardest.
(((((hugs)))))
Angie

I've been up for about 55 minutes with her.. she ate a couple drops for me.. then wouldn't eat.. so I just held her.. and kept her warm.. and she died...

I watered the baby BML down a lot with the puppy milk replacer.. I was using Judie's rejected joey page of her website.

I have to say, I don't know if she ever had a real chance.. she was SO tiny it scared me.

Thank you guys for trying to help me.. I would never wish a rejected baby upon anybody.. for those of you who have tried, I know how you feel, it's hard, and scary.. and for those of you who have tried and succeeded, you're my heroes.

May my little orphan rest in peace.

I have pictures of her.. but I will post them later.

I'm so sorry.
You are my hero for giving this little one a fighting chance.
God Bless.

Oh Linda, I wanted to check for an update and saw this. I am so sorry. I wish they all would make it, my heart breaks for all of them that donn't. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for helping the gliders.
(((((hugs))))))
Angie

aww Linda, I'm sorry...It is so hard. But you gave her a chance at life she wouldn't have had and you also let her die peacefully instead at the jaws of her mother. That is a gift in itself.

When they are that little, is is so frightening. May you never have to go through this again but if you do, you will now have a little more confidence. Perhaps this little one came to you for just that reason...

My little Blake, brother to Duncan, passed at just a tiny 6 grams at 1 week oop. Duncan is still with me almost a year later. I know how badly it hurt to say good bye to Blake.
:hugs:

I am so sorry you lost her but you did your best. Remember that. You have a good heart! I am sorry it is breaking at the moment but you did all you could.

Big hugs for you!

Angela

Linda I am so sorry to hear that the little girl didn't make it! Good for you for trying to give her a fighting chance!

Linda, I'm so sorry! She will always be in your heart.

Linda, I'm sorry the little one didn't make it. I know you did all you could for her. Like others have said, at least you gave her a chance and she got to die peacefully. I'm sure she'll be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for you.

Some times gliders know what the best thing to do is, as hard as that may be. I am so sorry for your loss the joey will be missed.