Do rats get fleas like dogs and cats?

Question

my dog had fleas and i am afraid that my rats will get them. my dog never comes in the same room, but fleas can travel. should i be worried? (and yes, i give my dog flea treatment called Capstar tablets)

Answer 1

Its not very often rats get fleas, contrary to popular belief. If your dog has passed them across (very unlikely, as dog fleas differ to rat fleas), the fleas will be easily visible on your rat, and you will need to give them a course of ivermectin.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to give them the ivermec even if you haven't seen any fleas, as it also prevents mites and ticks.

Don't wash your rat twice a day, they clean themselves, and washing just makes them irate, which can lead to mites, and then you're back to square one. Only time i wash any of mine is if they are going to a show.

HTH :)

Answer 2

if it's really dirty...but even so if your dog or cat in the house has it ...it could spread to your rat if it has made contact or came close to it...how dreadful isn't it?

Answer 3

any animal who has fur can get fleas but to prevent ur rats from getting it keep washing them all the time like twice a day and dry them very good.

and ur doing a good job by keeping ur dog away from ur rats.

Answer 4

Yes, they can get fleas, but it's not as common since they don't go outside.  Usually rats get mites or lice, and the treatment for all parasites that live in the hair is the same.  You can use Ivermectin, but I've in the past use Revolution (Technically something they give to prevent fleas in cats) because it's safer in my opinion.

If you find fleas on your rats, I'd take them in to get the prescription (It's not very expensive, really.) but I wouldn't treat them unless you see them on them.  The Ivermectin works, but you have to treat your whole house as well, and often you have to re-treat after a few weeks, whereas you don't need to do that with the Revolution.

Answer 5

yeah and ticks too

Answer 6

ohh yessss!!!!!!!!!  very much so

Answer 7

Yep rats do get fleas, I think that's what carried the plague isn't it??? Or I could be getting mixed up lol.

Just keep your dog seperate from your rats until your dogs fleas are gone if possible. Clean the rats' cage really well with a disenfectant and maybe try to get a flea powder for rodents from your vet. (If they have one). Also wash your dog's bed often and well because that is where the fleas usually lay their eggs.

Answer 8

if rats can give fleas to dogs, I don't see why dogs can't give 'em to rats.

DAWN dish washing detergent gets off more fleas than you can imagine!  If I wouldn't have seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it!

B4 we had pets (dogs) our home was loaded w/ fleas that we never understood where from.  Squirrels also carry fleas, and there are squirrels all around us w/ the oak & other nut trees.

Answer 9

you dont have to go to the vets i used puppy flea shampoo in mine and it worked fine costs alot less too!

Answer 10

yes rats can get fleas but not the same type as dogs! humans and any living creature with blood can get fleas, sometimes more than one type e.g. human fleas, head lice etc. many people do not think of head lice as a flea but were not talking about that haha

dog flea:

http://pethealth.petwellbeing.com/w/imag...

rat flea:

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/t...

can you see the difference??

if your rat does eventually get fleas though, take it to the vets, they will decide what treatment you have

Answer 11

Any creature with blood can get fleas.

Answer 12

YES! THE PLAGUE! AAAH!

Answer 13

Yes they can and capstar only kills the living fleas it doesn't stop the cycle. you need to put the dog on revolution that will keep the fleas from multiplying it stops the crummy things from laying eggs.