I have an albino male rat as a pet and he has developed some sort of skin problem. He scratches all the time which has led to alot of cuts and sores on his skin. What could be causing this problem and how can I fix it? Thanks in advance for any help.
2006-12-12 14:20:52 · 2 answers · asked by bobbie21brady 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Oddly enough, I have a male rat (Hooded) with the same problem. What I've found to work best, is to make sure his cage remains clean, try to have him out of his cage during the day, carry him around with you (it'll help if the scratching is due to boredom). Whenever I clean his cage, I also bathe him using original Dawn soap (it helps remove excess oil, which can also cause itchiness.) Usually, his sores heal shortly after his bath, and they re-occur 2-3 weeks later. So he gets another bath. Put some neosporin on the cuts, if they seem to be pretty bad.
Definitely have him checked for fur mites, as often times, they aren't seen with the human eye, and sometimes can be missed, even on a skin scrape. A vet can give you medication for fur mites, which'll get rid of them if that happens to be the problem.
2006-12-12 14:30:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's probably mites. You need to take him to the vet to make sure though. If it's mites, he'll most likely get some ivermectin and that will clear it right up. Make sure to thoroughly clean his cage and accessories a day or two after the ivermectin so the mites won't come back.
2006-12-12 14:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by pescalle2 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋