Bad wound...Just got worse

[Argent]

Marsh has a bite on his throat, right in the middle, and it's bleeding a fair bit...any way I can stop it or should it scab over? It's just like a small puncture wound but I'm used to them being on their backs etc and they tend to be shallow and heal quicker >.<

 

[lilspaz68]

Is it gushing or bleeding?

 

[Argent]

no, it's cleared up now and there's no more blood coming out thankfully >.< I must've seen it moments after it had happened :/ I really hope it just scabs over fine and doesn't abscess...

 

[Moon]

Necks are such a bad place to abscess. Keep it clean!!!

 

[Argent]

I'll be difficult as he thinks I'm trying to feed him the wet tissue XD Anyway, I'll check on it again tomorrow...I think it's Rufus being a bit rough with grooming everyone, I caught him powergrooming Seamus rather close to his throat...

 

[jorats]

So many times rats will zig when they should zag and this is what happens. Next time the best thing to do is apply pressure and they should clot and scab over fast.

 

[Argent]

Will do, it's looking okay this morning.

 

[Argent]

Checked on Marshy again and one bite has turned to many, all around his neck and mouth - is he being bullied or do you reckon it's still accidental barbering?

 

[jorats]

I'm thinking mites... are they gashes or little tiny scabs?

 

[Argent]

it's hard to tell...i've just manhandled him and they definately look like scabbed over puncture wounds, little tooth-shaped ones... ¬_¬ there's loads of them in one concentrated area down the left side of his throat, it looks as though someone's had a right go at him

edit: Also, if it was mite, I have no idea where they could've come from, and how they could make bites that big since you can't even see them with the naked eye. I bed them on newspaper only and they live in my bedroom. :/

 

[jorats]

You can hardly see the tiny scabs? Then it's most definitely mites. Mites can come from anywhere. You could walk into a pet store and one got on your shoe and you brought it home.
I'd get them treated asap. ...this could also be causing the scuffles.

 

[Argent]

Nooo I mean the scabs are so big I don't understand how tiny mites would be able to do that >.< they look like toothmarks, though I'll get my grandad to take me to get something to treat them just in case

 

[jorats]

Oh, ok... When you see scabs from mites on rats, it's not the mite bite that you see, it's the rat scratches. Because they are itchy they scratch themselves hard, that's why the scabs can be tiny or large, all depending how sharp are their claws.

 

[Argent]

ah right, well to me, these wounds look way more like punctures than scratches-Marsh's claws aren't that sharp, and if they all had it, Hugo would've scratched himself to ribbons by now as his claws are rather on the sharp side

 

[Pink]

Do you have any pictures?

Pink

 

[Dahr555]

Update on the situation?

 

[Argent]

Sorry, I've been away this weekend but my mum has been keeping an eye on them and said there've been no scuffles, only playing. The scabs are still there but healing, no abscesses so far, though he has a tuft of fur missing now...leading me to believe it is in fact Rufus going around powergrooming and barbering the others...
I noticed Hugo last night with rather scruffed up fur after he and Rufus had been messing about.

I'll come up with some boredom breakers to put in the cage to try and keep Rufus distracted and happy, and see if that changes anything.

 

[jorats]

I wonder if they might be playing?
It was a similar situation between two brothers I took in a long time ago. The screaming and scuffling was driving me nuts... I was about to separate them until I decide to hide and watch the cage for a good long while.
Vincent would run up the ramp and jump down on his brother. Pascal would proceed to flip Vincent on his back and dominate him all the while Vincent would scream bloody murder. (this is usually the point I run in and scold Pascal) But not today... I watched. Finally Vincent rights himself, runs up the ramp and what does he do? Jumps on Pascal, who then proceeds to flip him all the while Vincent squealing with delight. ...not bloody murder. This went on and on... Vincent having a ball and Pascal, looking a bit annoyed but played with his brother.

Sometimes you have to really listen to make sure those are really screams of fear/torture or just plain glee.

 

[Argent]

Lol they could well be having a ball in their 12 rat cage shared between the five of them Rufus even has a bite on his back-and he's a squeaker anyways, he squeaks if I go to pet him or pick him up or if anyone else grooms him >.<
Marsh and Mako also have these bites but Seamus and Hugo seem spared

 

[Argent]

I've been watching them really closely today and there seems to be a habit getting passed around of very very heavy overenthusiastic grooming...is this a sign of something bad?