ratties giving a rash?

[robinstar1989]

I seem to have developed a rash where my babies were crawling on my neck. I can't really tell if its a rash or just marks from their nails. anyone have experience with this? know how to get rid of the rash?

[jackieann82]

When my ratties walk on me I get little itchy, red bumps where ever they walked. They itch like heck and if I scratch them they'll swell up a little (like a mosquito bite would). Is that what it is like? I assume it is from their nails but I also think that I am allergic to my girls (rats in general).

[Dork123]

I've gotten that too...  Not sure why it happens, though.  I think maybe it's just the result of sensitive skin meeting rattie dirt/oils.  I also think mine was irritated by the fur itself.  But mine went away within 15 minutes by washing the area and keeping it from rubbing against my shirt.  

[twistedlittle-puppy]

I don't have sensitive skin, and I'm not allergic to the rats themselves (meaning i don't sneeze around them or itch after touching them) but whenever my rats' nails break the skin, I get large welts. I keep antibacterial wash (the kind that doesn't sting) or HP nearby, and after 30 minutes or so, they're gone. aloe vera gel also works great for itch relief. I also have lots of long sleeved tees just for rattie handling.

I think it may be caused by rat urine or something. if I clean the cages, I tend to get far fewer welts immediately afterwards. sadly, i could never clip my rats' nails, so I'll just have to "suffer" till I can get a clean brick.

[OrlandoBloomnut]

i get itchy after i clean their cage but it goes away after i wash my hads several times,but im sure that if my girls were to crawl on me i would get welts from their nails because if the cat scratches me it welts up like a skeeter bite ,and for me with skeeters i might be outside only 10 mins and i will have 10 or 12 bites on each leg and some on my arm and they get huge like grape and cherry sized  .

[robinstar1989]

my mum says "wow those rat people have an answer for everything!" hahahaha. thanks everyone, im trying the aloe vera, we shall see...

[Poisonetta]

I can tell you right now, It's probably not a rash. I have VERY sensitive skin, and allergies to pretty much everything with fur (I just cannot resist little fuzzies, despite the allergies ) so when my rats crawl on me, I turn bright red and itchy for a good 10 minutes. (It's worth it!  ) If it doesn't itch, just ignore it, it's nothing harmful to you. If it does, just wash yourself well in the affected area with a little soap and water, and the itch will subside soon enough.

I love pretty much everything furry, but the allergies drive me nuts. I love them to death, though, so I've just gotta bite the bullet! Like I said, it's totally worth it

[jvc]

I get little bumps too on my neck and shoulders only. Not red or itchy, just bumpy. And only from my girls.  Most disappear (the bumps, not the girls, lol) after I was with soapy water. I'm fine with the boys.

[Kimmiekins]

Another one that gets neck welts. I don't get them anywhere else, though, so I'm going to have to go with the back of the neck being sensitive skin in general.

[Poisonetta]

Yeah, that's true. Necks are pretty sensitive, seeing as we don't really use them for anything but holding up our heads. Unless you are some sort of crazy talented freak who can pick stuff up and tie your shoes with your neck. LOL.

I get the bumps, too but they are in addition to welts, redness and itching. It could just be that those rat nails are so darn sharp, they just affect skin really rapidly.

[javakittie]

If you only get the bumps/rash/welts on your neck, then it's most likley due to sensitive skin. I get big strawberry patches on my chest from when the girls go shirt diving, and it can be itchy if I forget to wash up. So, yea, my vote is sensitive skin.

The vet I went to last said he was allergic to rats, and that he had the worst reactions when they scratched or punctured his skin with their nails. He didn't go into depth, but it may just be something about their chemistry that makes their nails more.. potent, I suppose. Why a guy who is allergic to rats is treating exotics that may actually include rats, I dunno, but that's another story.

[Amykins]

I don't think it's allergies, it probably has more to do with the ratty nails breaking your skin and leaving bacteria behind.  My skin on the back of my neck has been raw and raised countless times from them, so now I have to keep their nails clipped back or it's painful for them to crawl on me. 

[javakittie]

I'm personally trying the brick trick.. The rock I have in front of their water bottle is only big enough for them to get their front nails worn down. I'm trying them at the ramps now, see if I can get the back ones down. People keep asking what sort of thorn bush attacked me..

[lilspaz68]

Isn"t it the urine under their nails that make us welt up?  Thats what I always thought.  Even just a wipe with a wet cloth works for me. 

[Dork123]

Yeah, I think it is the urine...  To be honest, I just try not to think too much about it.  haha  It's all worth it, though. 

[Suebee]

I'm pretty sure it is the urine... I get pretty good reactions to it, too, and I also get wheezy when I clean the cage... or at least when it gets a really good washdown in the shower... and I don't even clean the base pan! That's hubby's job, because of my allergies.

My holy trinity are: soap, water, and Benadryl Gel.

I just need a deeper bathroom sink so I can do a "surgeon wash." LOL!

[anita1216]

I have the same problem. When the boys crawl on me, I get itchy and a bit wheezy. I know Im allergic to them as well as my cats and dog, very likely the hammie as well. I dont much care, I love my furkids. I just wash up and ignore the itchiness. The wheezing is why I had to quit using CareFresh. I just couldnt hardly clean a cage anymore without having to use a rescue inhaler(albuterol) afterwards. I use towels now and it has made cleaning the cage simple.

[angelratgirl]

i have known people who keep baby wipes for after playing with their babies. they just wipe the areas where the rats have scratched them or touched them (for the more sensitive people) and very soon after, all better.

now i am actually allergic to boy fur. something about the buck grease i think, but soon after playing with boys, i will start to really itch and there will be no claw marks or anything.

when my girls play with me, i get claw marks alot, and they will inflame for only a few minutes, but i never pay attention to it anymore. i wear my scratches with pride. i love seeing people try to figure out "what the heck attacked her"... i even had a doctor ask me if i had been in a cat fight or something. and the reaction when i said rats was priceless.

[Suebee]

now i am actually allergic to boy fur. something about the buck grease i think, but soon after playing with boys, i will start to really itch and there will be no claw marks or anything.

I am so glad I am not that bad... I do get itchy where tail hairs poke me (again, I think it's the urine), but I'm not allergic to their fur enough that incidental contact causes a problem...

However, if I forget to wash my hands, then rub my eye... LOOK OUT!

[Poisonetta]

Same here. When I am lying around cuddling with the babies, It's so easy to forget about the allergy thing and rub my eye... then I look like I have pink eye... (gross)

I am actually al littel itch y right now because I played with my babies this mornig before i went to work, and they crawled all over me. I am a pleasant shade of pink on my shoulders and arms.