advice - skin/mites

[coreline]

well, I held out a week before taking in new rats

right now I have the sweetest man rat ever settling into a temp cage. he's about 3.5 months old.

the next step is trying to decide on a buddy. we're eying either 2 young girl rats (about 2 - 3 months old) or another boy rat that is about the same age as the boy we adopted. we didn't have time to make up our minds (it was near closing. because we were talking baby talk to the girls too long. we're not weak and easily charmed by babies ), hence not taking everyone home today.

the catch is, the other boy seems to have some severe skin problems. I am guessing mites due to the location of wounds and scabs (he's housed alone, it's definitely not fighting wounds). his skin also seems to be irritated in general. if I adopt him tomorrow, the earliest I could get to the vet is Tuesday. if they have any openings. due to it being right after a holiday, it's a toss up if they will. anyhow, I do have revolution at home, but due to his wounds being a bit angry/open I am not sure I want to put revolution on it. I'm thinking oral ivermectin might be a better option.

obv at this point, I am assuming everyone has mites, just not as bad as him. so everyone will be getting a dose of revolution or ivermectin this week.

so, in the mean time, until I can see a vet, is there anything good to soothe his skin with? ie baths, etc. if he's who I come home with tomorrow, I will try to get pictures.

edit: if we get the girls, he's getting neutered. heck, if we get the other boy they're both getting neutered. I'm not going to adopt 2 girls and toss them into the same cage, I promise. :lol: I have done dumb things, but that would be too much even for me :lol:

 

[lilspaz68]

Angry like Livvy's were?

Just dose him where they aren't any scabs...the location for Revo is not that important.

 

[coreline]

it was even worse than that honestly. I was a little over stimulated from falling head over heals for the boy I brought home all ready, so I need to go back and refresh my memory. but he was nearly all scabs on his back neck and I think his skin was darker pink/red than it should be. there was definitely excess porphyrin (not on his nose, but the bedding he was sleeping on). so while he wasn't uncomfortable enough to not play, it's definitely stressing his system. (in contrast, the boy I brought home has scarce signs of excess porphyrin, even though he likely has mites as well. just not as bad.)

his wounds/scabs basically coat his neck. they're fairly deep/angry too.

this shelter doesn't specialize in rats, but has on site vets most of the week. the rats are also handled daily by volunteers, I'm really surprised this went unnoticed. because his fur is greasy, he has scabs under his chin as well. his skin and wounds look super angry. I think there might be a mild skin infection. it definitely seems like mites though, because it's all classically based around his head. I've seen rats with mights scratch in other places, but the neck/chin has always been the most common.

I'm seriously thinking of bringing him home so I can nurse him back to health. he was so cute. he wasn't bothered by the other boy's smell at all and kept bouncing to the back of his living space and then back to the door. then trying to climb out on his own. <3

they haven't lived together, but next door to each other (separated by a glass panel) and I think were both born in the shelter. crossing my fingers intros would be easy and neuterless lol.

 

[coreline]

awww he was adopted when we got there. I hope he went to a good home.

we got the monsters 1 & 2 girls to get spayed