Sore on Back

[3ratlover]

Probably about four months ago we noticed that Shirley had a scab on her back.  While pulling the fur back to look at it the scab fell off.  We watched it and it seemed it healed up.  Then after we had our new rat for a month or so we noticed a scab on her back again.  I thought it was a bite but then as we thought back it was in the same spot as the first sore.  When Shirley went to see our vet before her surgery we asked her about it.  She said it was nothing to worry about.  At that time it was really small.  Today I looked at it since it looked like the hair was thin around that area.  It has gotten worse.  It is not a scab like a bump it is flat and looks a little raw.  The hair is falling out around it.  I have thought also that she has been getting into fights for some time now as even before we got Ema she has had a scratch right above her eye that keeps healing and disappearing but then it shows up again.  Then today I was looking at her and she seems to have scratches on her both her front feet.  I know it is not mites cause about three weeks ago we gave all of them Revolution cause the vet was not sure if they had mites or something like that.  Could this be parasites?  If it is can it transfer to the others?  Should I make the vet look at it again?

[scout]

The revolution should be all you need for mites. Is it possible she's being overgroomed by one of her cagemates? It has happened that some rats will groom so much they cause injury. It could also be bites since you say she's been fighting. Sometimes when a new rat enters a group, it unsettles the social structure of the group and they need to figure out who's the top rat all over again. Hopefully things will settle down. But if you see a lump growing under one of her scabs, she might have an abscess and then I would recommend you see your vet.

BTW, you can prevent most mites/lice by freezing all your bedding and litter for 48 hours before using it.

[JR1030]

I wonder if it could be ringworm?

[3ratlover]

if it was ringworm wouldn't the others get it and wouldn't the revolution take care of that?

[Fuzzy Sock Puppets]

I'm pretty sure that ringworm isn't actually a worm, so Revolution wouldn't help that.  I'm not sure if the other rats can or can't get it.

[JR1030]

Ringworm is actually a fungus...it can be transferred to other rats, but if they don't have it, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not ringworm.