QUESTION: My rat is scratching/having sores/hair loss. What is wrong and what can I do?
ANSWER: If the scratching is located around the neck, behind the ears, under the chin and close to these places: Give all your rats ivermectin shots (see a vet for this) at least three times each with 10 - 14 days between shots. If your rats have mites this is the cure. And this is probably the reason for the symptoms you see.
I have often been told that these sores are caused by the rat eating too much protein, but I have found out that was just a lie.
If the scratching is more dispersed or in other places of the rat's body it might be lice. Then you need to bathe the rat (and all other rats that have come in contact with this one) in louse schampoo. Here in Sweden we use louse schampoo for dogs & cats that we buy at the pharmacy.
Rarely a rat can get a bacterial infection, that has the same symptoms as a mite infection.
Many people say that treatment with ivermectine (Ivomec) makes the rat immune to parasites for a month - or some other length of time, but that is not true!
Here is a booklet (in Swedish) about parasite problems in rats for sale Booklets for sale!.
Copyright Eva Johansson.
Last update: 11th of August 2006.