Strange black worm thing

[Melissa]

One of my ratties had a strange, hard black worm type thing on the end of her ear today. It was really small, only about a cm in length. I was able to pull it out cuz there was a bit at the end sticking out. It was hard and fell apart in my hands when i crushed it. Her ear bled a bit where the wormy thing was when I took it out.

Any ideas?

 

[lilspaz68]

Did it look a little like Sunny's ears?

http://ratguide.com/health/figures/ecto ... gure_2.php

If so its sarcoptic mites and Revolution will NOT work on it, you will need Ivermectin or something else.

 

[Melissa]

Hmm, it's hard to tell from that photo. Ok I looked for pics and no it was not like that. Maybe similar, but all black and thin.

 

[lilspaz68]

Hmm, it's hard to tell from that photo. Ok I looked for pics and no it was not like that. Maybe similar, but all black and thin.

Well it sounds like parasites so an anti-parasitic is in order...Revolution or Ivermectin.

 

[Melissa]

Here's what it looks like now. You can kinda see there is still a tiny black spot left. I dosed them Friday with Revolution. Maybe it was one that died?

 

[lilspaz68]

If they recur then it is sarcoptic. Selamectin (Revolution) doesn't work for them.

 

[Melissa]

If they recur then it is sarcoptic. Selamectin (Revolution) doesn't work for them.

Ok, I can get ivermectin. I guess I would have to wait another few weeks before I can use it since I just used Revolution?

 

[lilspaz68]

I would wait ..but it will give you time to determine if it was just a one-off type of thing