Spots?

[KerryBowie]

Ok I'm just asking on here instead of running to the vet because I honestly think this is not serious, I'm just curious...
A few months ago I noticed a tiny little scab on one of my rats back. I didn't think much of it because it was tiny (I could only feel it when I brushed her fur up the wrong way) and it seemed like she might have just caught her skin with her nail whilst she was grooming. Anyway, I was doing a cage clean this morning and I noticed it was still there, also she has about four other tiny little scabs as well, all on her back. She is looking healthy and happy, she's not loosing any her or agitating over the sores like they're itchy and I really had to search to even find them. My other two rats are scab free so I'm not sure what to think...
Any ideas?
I've heard protein can cause scabs but I've not given them anything high protein.
The scabs remind me of any really old rats i've had, when they're skin gets a lot thinner in their old  age and they occasionally cut themselves when grooming. But my rat's only 18mths so she's not old.... can rats just have thin skin?

[LastEchoes]

I think lice or mites are more likely. I've never had or heard of rats getting thin/scabby thing from 'old age'...and like you said, 18months isnt old. Diets HIGH in protein can cause skin issues though.

I say check all your rats more carefully for signs of parasites under bright light. Specifically pay attention to in between shoulder blades

[KerryBowie]

Ok will do, I'm going to go down stairs and check her now, I'll post soon with the results!

[KerryBowie]

All i can see is a very angry rat lol *stop nit checking me mum! It's embarrasing* I can't see anything moving but the scabs are mainly between her shoulder blades....
I don't know if this is related at all but we do get a lot of flees about our place. Sounds gross I know, but we live on property and with the drought at the moment all the kangaroo's and wallabies all come right up to the house to eat the green grass. They leave flees in the grass which are picked up by our dogs and bought into the house. We flee the dogs constantly and we only get the occaisonal in the house but could my rats have picked one up? I've heard that flee's are big enough for rats to pick off themselves so you don't need to flee them, is this true?

[looneycartoonie]

It really does sound like mites to me. I had the same problem with a few of my rats a while back and it's not that hard to get rid of them. you can either buy some kitten/puppy revolution and put a drop between their shoulder blades. The other option is to get some ivermectin 1.87% and dose them (just the size of an uncooked piece of rice) by mouth for 3 weeks. I personally use the ivermectin but most people seem to use the revolution. You can easily get them both online if you do a search. If not then the vet office would have them. I added a link with some pics and info so you can take a look at.

http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ectoparasites.php

[KerryBowie]

That's the website I was just looking at and my girl doesn't really look like any of them  She's currently sleeping in my shirt so I have a bright light shining down it and i'm getting a very good look. I'd try and take a photo but it would be damn near impossible to get one with out a lot of boobs in it hahaha and I'm really not prepared to debut them to the internet!
She's not scratching at all, nor is she irritated when I touch them... The other two definetly aren't showing signs either...
I'm happy to use revoloution or the horse stuff (we have dogs and horses so both are easy to get a hold of) but I don't want to have to do an absoloute stripping of the rat cage for no reason 
Is there any way I can find out for sure if it's mites?

[LastEchoes]

Remember that just because the scab in the pic doesn't look like the scab your rats have, doesn't mean much. Scabs can look different. The fact that they're mostly between shoulder blades just makes it more likely that it IS a parasite infestation.

The SURE way to find out, is to go to a vet and have the vet do a skin scraping.


Many years ago I had a lice outbreak and I found out about it totally by accident. I noticed/felt a scab on my white rat. NONE of my rats were scratching/itching...upon close inspection I saw bugs ALL over them...they were much harder to find on my dark colored rats but they were there. Mites are impossible to see by the naked eye though...

[KerryBowie]

Ok I'm definetly being convinced here. What should be my first step? I'm assuming I need to treat all three rats and strip down the cage. Any thing in patiuclar I should be foccusing on? I was just reading through the rat guide and it said I should be freezing my lab blocks too! If I'm going to do this I need to do it properly, I don't want to miss one little thing which instantly re-infects them...

[looneycartoonie]

Well what type of bedding are you using? I had problems with mites back in the day when I used carefresh. It's recommended that you freeze bedding for 24-48 hours before using it. I've never had a problem with lab blocks. I've heard that most of the problems from mites comes from pet stores so it might depend on how often you go there and what you buy.

I also second what lastechoes said about the parasites. My Cody came up with some huge red like welts that I thought were from fighting for sure and come to find out that they were just mites. I didn't know any better at the time and it was pretty far gone so it looked kinda bad and they were located right between his shoulder blades. After a vet visit and some ivermectin it cleared right up and then his fur grew back normally. If you're really that worried then don't take our word for it, just take him to the vet. I've always thought that it's better save than sorry. After all we're just going to suggest things, but a vet could tell you for certain what is wrong with your rattie.

[LastEchoes]

I know its recommended to freeze bedding but I dont do it because my freezer is just not big enough. I've always used Carefresh and in ALL the years of having rats and other rodents, I've only had one parasite outbreak (and I live in a warm climate, Cali).


Once you start treating them, whatever method you chose, you'll have to disinfect the cage at least twice in that time frame and get rid of any wooden/cardboard objects in the cage. Cloth stuff you can just wash in very hot water and it should kill anything in there.

[KerryBowie]

I use yesterdays news but i give them branches out of the garden and grass hut things from a pet shop that doesn't sell animals (the only kind I go to). I'm not worried, as my rat really is fine, just annoyed at having to re-do their cage lol It's kind of like finding out you have head lice after you've just done all the bed sheets! (I work with children)

[RatAttack59]

The mites can come in any paper-based product, and I've heard hints about Aspen as well.  I've had trouble with Carefresh but stopped using it for other reasons (turns out my DOG is allergic to it).  And if one at has it, the other does too - even if she's not scratching.

[KerryBowie]

Hi Everyone!
Just thought I'd update you.
Bertie doesn't have mites, she's just being over groomed by my other rat. She's fine, I'm keeping an eye on her to make sure nothing goes yuk but i've been assured it's nothing to worry about.
Thanks for your help everyone! Just thought I'd let you know in case anyone else has a similar situation