Am i allergic or does she have bugs?

[missnikki]

Couple days after getting my rat ruby I noticed lil bumps on the skin around my neck where she likes to spend most her time. I thought maybe it was just becoming irritated from her scratching when she crawls around, but yesterday she was crawling over my bare feet and now I have a red itchy bump on my foot. Do you think I may be allergic to rats, or does she have mites or bugs or something? She is going to the vet this weekend...

 

[Moon]

You probably are getting a mild allergic reaction to where her nails penetrate your skin. I do that really badly, but a wash up with soap and it goes away after a few minutes. Nothing to worry about on yours or her end!

 

[missnikki]

Okay I am a lil worried still because the bumps have been here for a couple days now since I started coverinhg up better so as not to get scratched so much... They look like lil mosquito bites but I know it is not that....

 

[jorats]

It sounds like hives which is part of an allergic reaction. I get those all the time. Try taking a antihistamine and see if that makes it go away. It could very well be that in time your body will get used to the rats and you will no longer get the rash.

 

[missnikki]

Thanks! I am not willing to part with her for anything lol.

 

[Joanne]

When I got my new crew I got itchy welts for four to six weeks, then they went away. I had forgotten that I had the same reaction the first time I got ratties. Guess I'm allergic, but I basically ignored it and now it doesn't really happen anymore. Hopefully the same will happen for you.

 

[Asheka]

Allergies. I have been tested positive for allergies to rats and except for my first two girls I always get this with rats. Anytime their nails even touch my skin it gets itchy and bumped up. It sucks, but they're so worth it haha Just remember our bodies "regenerate" every 7yrs so you may lose the allergy to them, as I almost have with cats now lol

 

[missnikki]

Now that I have seen the vet I feel a lot better about this - she told me to use cortizone cream on myself after playing with Ruby so that the bumps wont become inflamed, however I can alrdy tell I am starting to get past this allergic reaction, and it is slowly stopping.

Yay!!

 

[Smittenkittens]

Now that I have seen the vet I feel a lot better about this - she told me to use cortizone cream on myself after playing with Ruby so that the bumps wont become inflamed, however I can alrdy tell I am starting to get past this allergic reaction, and it is slowly stopping.

Yay!!

I'm glad you're starting to get over the reactions. I've had some of my rats for nearly two years and yet every time their little needle claws touch me that spot swells up like crazy. It's very unattractive and painful.. but, what's one to do? :roll:
I'm glad you're getting over it, though. :nod:

 

[missnikki]

So I thought I was getting over it but now I am still getting some small red irritated bumps but definitely fewer and farther between.