Loss of hair

[Big Ears]

Stella has alot of scabs coating her body. Her biggest one is on her head, a little behind her ears. Up close, I have noticed that it is the size of my pinky finger nail. Also, around all her scabs, especially the one on her head, she is loosing hair. I am curious to know if this is normal or not. I am not sure if I am able to, but I will try to post some pictures of the head scab tommarow morning.

 

[Tarah]

It sounds like mites to me. Might want to get her on treatment for it, just in case.

 

[Big Ears]

We are putting Protopic, Eledil, and Neopsporin cream on her not-so-deep scabs.

 

[Godmother]

Sounds like she really needs Revolution or Ivermectin. If the scabs are that obvious and numerous, she has a pretty bad infestation.

 

[Tarah]

Agreed. She sounds just like wolf did when i first got him..
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11304&hilit=wolf <-- Page 2

 

[Big Ears]

Are Revolution and Ivermectin creams, and where can I purchase them?

 

[Tarah]

Vet.

 

[Big Ears]

Oh, that's a toughy. I'm not sure my parents will take me to the vet. They aren't really hot on information on the health and care of rats. They don't believe Stella has a mite/flea/lice promblem. She's had the scabs all her life, for two years.

 

[Tarah]

Is this the first time you've posted about them?

 

[Big Ears]

Yes, I didn't think it was a problem until the scabs started to get worse, big time. I feel horrid not doing so.

 

[ryelle]

Lilspaz68's Faith:
http://www.jorats.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13006&start=0

I believe she is being treated for mites/lice at the minute, and also for the sores incurred by them. Have a read and maybe show your parents

 

[Tarah]

Aww yeah, poor faith..

But hopefully it will convince your parents. *fingers crossed*

 

[ryelle]

quick note: if one of your rats has mites then you will have to treat all of them

 

[Tarah]

Ugh, yeah i forgot to mention that. When i found out Wolf had mites i had eight 3 week old babies. Gr.

 

[henry's_mum]

you need to get either revolution or ivermectin paste. the revo you get online, or at a vet, and the ivermectin paste you can get at a farm store...
You will NEED to treat ALL of your rats, lice and mites are going to be on ALL of them now....

Keep in mind this is painful and if left, it can be a cause to a slow death.

 

[Big Ears]

I read about poor Shelagh's Faith. Fortunately, Stella's boo-boos aren't even close to being that serious. I can't find anything in her fur that is moving. My parents think it's from scratching, but then again, they aren't vets, so I'm not so sure. As I said, I will try my best to post pictures tommarow morning so that it may be easier to diagnose.

 

[Tarah]

It was not meant to see if it was the same as Faith (IMO)
I think it was more for your parents to see what COULD come out of it to hopefully change their opinion on bringing Stella to a vet.

 

[Cigar]

You can put a "bandaid" on the problem by covering her [always careful of the eyes/ears] in olive oil. It will drown the adults but not the eggs that will hatch and continue to bite her.

Remember that this isn't a long term solution or a cure like Revolution and Ivermectin. Poor baby.. two years of being eaten by bugs. Just the thought makes me itchy.

 

[Big Ears]

Olive oil?!?! :yikes:

 

[ryelle]

Mites are micoscopic. Vets sometimes take a hair and put it under a microscope to diagnose mites, most tell from the scratching, and the red 'spots' mostly around the neck/shoulders, chin and sides, which are from the animal scratching.

HOPEFULLY i will be getting a new rat in a few weeks, and wether she has the symptoms or not, she is going to be getting a mite treatment whilst in quarantine before she goes anywhere near my boys