Are red bumps n your skin normal?

So I'm relatively new to the community. I've noticed that after playtime with my rats, some places they've scratched me left little bumps. I don't want to freak out and automatically think I've gotten rat-bite fever, but it is one of the symptoms. I was just wondering if some people get little bumps too from their rats...

It could just be your skin irritated. It happens to me as well and if you don't have anything else wrong I wouldn't worry. Are your babies nails long/sharp ?

Yeah they are pretty long. This week I'm hoping to get them trimmed, but they're still young and squirmy so it's hard. Thank you!

nshortfinger said:

Yeah they are pretty long. This week I'm hoping to get them trimmed, but they're still young and squirmy so it's hard. Thank you!

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Not a problem.! With long rattie nails the pokes and scratches tend to get irritated and become red, itchy and sometimes painful.. Like I said if there are no other symptoms or anything else strange I wouldn't worry about it.

Your skin may also be irritated with the feces and urine that collect under their nails. I wash my arms and the itchiness stops, but the hives stick around for a while.

You may have sensative skin. It's pretty normal. Just wash it like viciouscurse said. Also, you can try benadryl and see if that helps. Put a couple of lava ledges in their cage to help with their nails. I put one under one of their water bottles, so they have to perch on it to get a drink. Don't get the chinchilla ledges. Those aren't as good. I think the ones I get are for birds. They are like the chinchilla ones, but a little smaller, and more durable.

I get similar bumps on my skin sometimes especially when I haven’t cleaned the cage in awhile. Like viciouscurse said I think it’s to do with their little nails being dirty and irritating your skin! I wouldn’t panic about it

wear long sleeves and if you do get a scratch, wash your arms right after and that will help a LOT. Even rinsing with water will help.

lilspaz68 said:

wear long sleeves and if you do get a scratch, wash your arms right after and that will help a LOT. Even rinsing with water will help.

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I agree with you there but the problem with my rats is they climb into my shirt Good thing I don't have a problem with the bumps ! I have too many animals to worry about a few bumps.

My female, Macaroni, is a shirt diver! I LOVE it when someone new holds her, and she surprises them with that! You could always wear a tight shirt under a loose one. Not that that helps with shirt divers...Mackie will paw at the tight one and dive in it too. But maybe yours won't.

Dena said:

My female, Macaroni, is a shirt diver! I LOVE it when someone new holds her, and she surprises them with that! You could always wear a tight shirt under a loose one. Not that that helps with shirt divers...Mackie will paw at the tight one and dive in it too. But maybe yours won't.

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Yup Its always great to see their faces lol