Help me with my rat PLEASE!!?

Question

Gizmo is about 8 months old now.. and he has had quite a few problems.. I don't know what to do with him anymore.. he keeps itching himself really really bad. He has little scabs all over from scratching soo much. I checked him over for fleas and mites.. but there appears to be nothing on him. I then tried changing his bedding to see if he was having allergies from the pine. He is now on fresh world bedding.. after a week still itching so I got him a supplement for his skin and coat.. a week later he is still itching he was on lab blocks but I decided trying to change his diet to a more expensive mixture made by browns, there is still no change I don't know what else to do. I already took him to the vet for an ear infections a few months ago.. which was he** trying to give him his medicine. I'm considering making him a homemade diet with out corn or alfalfa in it.. maybe he is allergic to that.. Im starting to think that his itching maybe caused by a mental condition.. 
Does anybody have any suggestions besides taking him to the vet.. i already spent over $150.00 at the vet. I can't really afford to take him. but if I have to I will. He was a free rat and he has cost me so much money. I feel like I have done more then what most people would have done at this point.
Anybody encounter a problem like this with there pet rat??

Rebecca · Accepted Answer

Hi there. I run a rescue for pet rats so hopefully I can help.

Persistent itching is usually caused by external parasites such as mites or lice. You often can't see these with the naked eye. In order to diagnose them your vet will have to do a skin scraping and look at it under the microscope. The good news is that this shouldn't be very expensive. The medication for mites and lice is topical, not oral, so giving it to him should be easy. You will also need to completely clean his cage and throw away anything that can't be full sanitized, such as toys made from wood. Pine can cause lots of trouble, and some rats are allergic to all wood bedding. You might want to switch to fleece liners or something paper-based, such as Carefresh.

Itching and scabby skin is also a big problem with male rats who have too much protein in their diet. If you are feeding a food purchased from a pet shop, you're probably not giving him a well-balanced diet. Brown's is just a seed mixture, and most store-bought lab blocks are total crap. I recommend Oxbow Regal Rat blocks. Try some of these website for help making your own diet for him:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html
http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite
http://ratguide.com/care/nutrition/diet.php

Panmaxilius · Answer

Does he have regular baths?  I found that oatmeal baths (I use a gentle, hypoallergenic kind for dogs from Drs. Foster & Smith) had helped some of my rats with skin issues (when they weren't mite related).  Ivermectin would be needed for external/internal parasites.  He could be allergic to corn...or it can be from the fungus that corn can get.  I use Regal Rat by Oxbow Farms as there is no corn and it's made of very nutritious ingredients only, brown rice, wheat, rice, etc.  Reggie Rat and other such ones are a waste of money as they typically only eat the kibble, thus not getting the complete daily nutritional value.  

Could he be bored possibly?  I've came across a hairless male that was covered in scratches, blood, and scabs at PetSmart.  I brought it up, they so-called 'treated' him and he still had it once back.  After being there for three months I got him because I figured no one else would ever want too.  They said he must not know how to groom himself correctly--I say it was because he had too much time on his hands.  No chews, just alone in a tank with an igloo...  He healed instantly once at our home--I didn't even have to do anything for him like I thought I might.  

Maybe it could be neurotic...  Does he have a cagemate?  I'm sure you already give him chew toys and such, but how about a hammock, maybe a bigger cage?  Most of mine never feel like doing anything all day but lounging in their hammocks, esp. males.  

Sorry I couldn't be of much help!  I've not much experience with this kind of thing.  I wish I knew what was wrong with 'em.  Maybe try a few more things out, but a Vet may be able to prescribe a medicated shampoo to use for him if necessary, possibly antibiotics could clear something up if it's a skin infection.  And at least prevent infection in the meantime until it does go away.  He may also just be making his wounds worse because they itch or hurt, so maybe some type of analgesic/antibacterial ointment on the more scabby parts could help dissuade him from bothering them further.  I wish him the best!  I hope he overcomes it.  Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

Whether for a pet or a feeder, your local pet store should have them. However, if your using them to feed your reptile, it is recommended you feed frozen, not live. Freezing lowers the risk of parasites (yes, even domestic rats can get them), and they won't bite the snake.

ThaRatChick · Answer

Sounds like Mites/lice (they are microscopic). You can go to your vet OR go and get some ivermectin from a feed store-
http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/ivermectin.php
OR buy some revolution online. You can buy it from petshed.com, or look it up in shopping in google. (it can be pretty expensive, it would be cheaper getting it from your vet)
http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/selamectin_revolution.php

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Help me with my rat PLEASE!!?

4 Answers