its not mites. i have a bird and 1 4 1/2 year old rat in the same room and theyre fine. i dont think he has a fungal infection. so i need what it may be and how to fix it. i really dont want all this crud about rats being horrible. if thats all you have to say than bite me. i also dont really have a ton of $$ to spend on expensive vet treatements. thanks everyone!!!!!
2006-12-13 10:55:42 · 4 answers · asked by Rose Wallace Goldaline 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I've got a rat with a similar problem. My boy lives in a cage with 4 other rats and they are all fine. I've tried all kinds of stuff from the vets but nothing has worked. Now I just use some animal antibiotic powder(I got it from a UK online rat store-url below) and put that on his back every other day. The problem doesnt bother him, he doesnt scratch his back and still eats and moves around like usual. He does get a bit jumpy when one of the others touches his back though.
2006-12-14 10:04:41 · answer #1 · answered by kiffie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A 3.5 and a 4.5 year old rat. Wow, you have awesome rat-parenting skills :)
Mites are species specific so your bird would not have rat mites.
Not all rats in the same cage will have mites. If the cage mates don't have mites then it means that their immune systems are strong enough for them to not be affected. The rat with mites has become ill for some reason thus allowing the mites to multiply.
From what you describe, and from my own experience, I do believe your rat has mites. The rat will become very stressed if you leave it untreated. This stress will lead to myco and there is no cure, only control, for myco. Best to treat for suspected mites early. Treatment is easy and affective.
Another cause could be a protein level that is too high, or food allergy. But, by the time you figure this out, the mites, if they are there, will have taken over.
Treatment is not expensive and you don't have to take the rat to a vet. Since treatment involves Ivermectin it also involves careful attention not to overdose.
I would prefer to giving medical instructions and website info off-list spazrats@yahoo.ca, or on my forum, Holistarat http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat.
spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
2006-12-17 17:37:43 · answer #2 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Google it. Maybe you can use Neosporin or something like that to help it heal. I wouldn't wait too long though, he might need antibiotics which only a vet can prescribe.
2006-12-13 19:10:11 · answer #3 · answered by karen W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably is dry skin, get some olive oil and put on its back to heal it fast.
2006-12-13 19:05:52 · answer #4 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋