Scabs on my pet rat — what are they/how to treat?

Question

My female fancy pet rat has been getting more and more scabs on her body. They are tiny and red. She used to get just one here and there and it would go away on its own, but now she has at least ten. I clean her cage once a week and she always has fresh food and water. The other rat in the cage does not have any scabs. What are these caused by and how can I treat them?

Lamar Hirthe · Accepted Answer

could be mites or scratches.Firstly ALWAYS freeze your litter. Even top quality bedding/litter can get mites…including but not limited to Carefresh, Yesterday’s News, and aspen bedding.I find that mites are easily detected after a bath (especially if she is white). If you see them crawling around then you should treat her for mites. If not then try cutting her nails. Rats can sometimes cut themselves. Itching could be due to too much protein in food also…which can be balanced out by lots of greens (especially broccoli).

Lamar Hirthe · Answer

If only one of the rats in the same cage have the scabs, it’s one of 3 things – the scabs are from the 2 rats wrestling, playing, fighting or grooming – or the scabs are from too much protein in the diet. Some rats can handle it, others get a rash that’s itchy, causing them to scratch it and get scabs. If both rats had it, then I’d say it’s mites – but not when only one has it. What are you feeding them? The protein level should be around 14%. Some lab blocks made by Purina and packaged as Mazuri are 24% – way too high to be the main staple of a rat’s diet. The same with some dog foods too. If you supplement the daily food with a lot of fresh fish, poultry or meat, that could also do it.The only other possibility would be an allergic reaction to the bedding. I had one rat who could not handle aspen back in the day when I used it for bedding, and had to get him the very expensive Sanichip, which was also made from aspen, but he didn’t have a reaction or rash from it.

Lamar Hirthe · Answer

This Site Might Help You.RE:Scabs on my pet rat — what are they/how to treat?My female fancy pet rat has been getting more and more scabs on her body. They are tiny and red. She used to get just one here and there and it would go away on its own, but now she has at least ten. I clean her cage once a week and she always has fresh food and water. The other rat in the cage…

Lamar Hirthe · Answer

They are probably scratches or mites. Do you see any differences in the items you have for both of the rats? Make the changes from the healthy rat. Feed your rat some basil, it’s good for them. Also, contact a vet as soon as possible. The vet may give it some medicine. Don’t touch the scabs, as it may cause an infection.

Prof. Carmelo Hilpert

Scabs on my pet rat — what are they/how to treat?

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