Question about rat mites?

Question

I have a rat, maybe about three and a half years old, female, named Aurora. Having also had the pleasure of adopting a new puppy, I haven't been paying enough attention to Aurora. Recently when I was looking at her while I was feeding her, I noticed how bad she looked. She had hair falling out on her back and around her front and back leg joints. And she is covered in what I am going to assume are mites. They are on the balding patches, and in her ears. They are little brown shapes, kind of oval. So, my question is, are these mites? How do I treat them? Can they be fatal? I feel very guilty now.

Answer 1

I would call a vet and see what they recomend and see if you can get her into the vet's office so he/she can cheak her out no I dont think its fatal but it needs to be treated

Answer 2

I am a lover of rats i had mine for 7yrs. You can go to the pet store and get a medicated spray which is harmless hope this helps>

Answer 3

Mites themselves you generally cannot see with your own eyes. What you see with mites are the scabs that your rat makes when scratching at them, but not actually the mites. Are the ovals scabs, or do they move around like insects? It's possible that they are lice or fleas.

They can be fatal, but generally only if you leave your rat untreated. With treatment your rat should be just fine. I would take her to the vet, since you aren't sure what exactly she has. The vet will likely prescribe either Ivermectin or Revolution (personally I prefer Revolution, because it's less doses and tends to work better. You should ask about it). After treatment, you need to totally clean your rat's entire environment and everything in it. Soak toys and habitats in water & bleach and throw out everything you can't clean. After soaking them in bleach I would also spray them down with a vinegar/water mixture to lessen the scent of bleach so it doesn't hurt her lungs. Toss out old bedding and any bedding that you keep in the area. I would freeze bedding that you already have, no matter where it is, just in case.

Answer 4

I feel bad for this poor rat. She's alone without a cagemate and you didn't look at her for so long that the mite problem got /this/ bad? Please rehome her if you can't care for her properly. Rats need same s*x cagemates, attention, and vet care.

Information on rat ecto-parasites and how to deal with them:

http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary...

Safe treatments you can get from a vet and how to dose rats with them:

http://ratguide.com/meds/antiinfectives/...

http://ratguide.com/meds/antiinfectives/...

Answer 5

It's possible that she does have mites. It is very common for rats to get them. What kind of bedding to you use in Aurora's cage? Cedar can cause health problems including mites and respitory issues. Make sure you use something else. Possibly aspen, recycled paper pellets, ect. Your pet store should have these even though they may be more expensive. Also, I don't know how many pet rats you've had...but their life expectancy is 2 years. So Aurora is doing good. I recently had the same issue with my rat that is almost three years old. I've been told that olive oil will suffocate the mites. Rub a thin coat on your rats skin. It will be soothing to her, and also is nutritious for her to ingest. What kind of diet does she have? Her food intake could also play a role in her hair loss. Brittle hair that is falling out and standing up is not a good sign. Rats need a variety of seeds, fruit, and veggies. Any rodent food will probably work. Just look at the ingrediants on the bag. I've found that hamster or guinea pig food work good for my rat...because they have bigger pieces. Some bird foods work as well. But be careful because some of them have peppers in them. Rats should not eat peppers, beans, too much cheese; things that cause gas. I always give my rat, Jimmy extra treats too. Chips, macaroni and cheese, crackers, ect. (Keep in mind, they also need something to chew on at all times-chew sticks, cardboard, ect. Otherwise their teeth will grow to unhealthy lengths like beavers.It can cause them to starve to death if they get too long to eat with.) Try mult vitamins too. If you can't find some for rats, your local pets store should have them for ferrets which works equally well. They are liquid...and mixed in their water bottle on a daily basis. Changing the cage on a regular basis will also promote healthy living for her. If none of that works, I suggest seeing a vet. Ohh, you can clip her nails as well so that she doesn't scratch herself so bad while itching. Use any nail clippers. But BE CAREFUL!!! If you clip her finger, that could be dangerous. If you don't trust yourself, or your little girl squirms too much, then let the vet do that as well.

Answer 6

Go to the vets because you can get small rodent mite killer which can get ride of them all in a couple of treatments.I hope my answer was helpful to you.