Over Grooming

[maria-mar]

Lately i've noticed that my older boy has been over grooming his front paws, loosing some of the fur, so there's a little naked "sleeve".
The vet saw it on his last visit and confirmed it was "just" over grooming.

Is there any way this can be a problem? Doesn't seem to be, so far.

And have any of you noticed this behaviour on rats? Why does it happen?

 

[jorats]

We call it barbering. Some rats do it to others or to themselves. I've noticed a few reasons for this: a) bored b) buggies c)stress or d) just because they feel like it.

 

[Godmother]

I've had a rat who did this. She was otherwise OK, though.

 

[maria-mar]

Ahah Jo, i hope it's just d) then!...

Oh also, i had a rat who would trimm his own nails using his teeth. He never got hurt doing it, he'd just... trimm them. Has anyone else noticed this behaviour?

 

[jorats]

I'd say 70% of my rats have trimmed their own nails.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I have a boy right now who barbers both of his front arms, I think he was "taught" it by one of my other rescue boys and does it just because. As for trimming their own nails I didn't really pay attention in my boys until one of them got HED and hasn't needed any trimmings yet.

 

[maria-mar]

Why would rats trimm their own nails? It's really a weird behaviour, seeing as on the wild, nails would come in handy!...

 

[MissGuardian]

I think mine sometimes trim theirs too..