Bugs!!!

[papercrow]

So as long as I've had my ratties they have always scratched, but I assumed it was 'normal' since there was no scabbing or hair loss or anything. So I started reading about lice and mites and decided to look. Well the boys have lice (of course) from which I understand are the red/brown bugs you can see.

My question is: Is there a reason that everyone uses Revolution rather Advantix or Frontline? I went to the local petstore and they carry the latter two and they are both good for lice. I'm going to put a call into the vets before I do anything but wanted to see what you all had to say.
Thanks as always for your advice and help!

 

[jorats]

I remember reading once, a long time ago about concerns with the over the counter stuff. Something about sick pets.

 

[lilspaz68]

Both of those items are not the same as the stuff you get from the vet, probably not strong enough either. If you are going to get one try the Advantage since Frontline is toxic to rats and shouldn't be used.

 

[Shelley]

I believe Advantage and Advantix are two completely different things. All I know is that some over the counter stuff meant for dogs has labels that it can actually kill cats! Doesn't sound safe to me :/

 

[lilspaz68]

I believe Advantage and Advantix are two completely different things. All I know is that some over the counter stuff meant for dogs has labels that it can actually kill cats! Doesn't sound safe to me :/

Ooops missed that!!

 

[Bati]

I always have used frontline and been happy with it - BUT be very carefull you get the right one, many around here got something too strong, and then their rats died a horrible death. But newly we got revolution (called Stronghold, but I think it's revolution) and most are changing to that one, because it's supposed to be more effective and less dangerous

 

[papercrow]

So I talked to the vet (via messages) and he said thad the recommendation is to use lice powder on 'pocket pets'. Then I mentioned you guys and your successes and he said that it was okay to give it a try.

He is a FANTASTIC dog and cat vet and I trust him 98%. He was comfortable examining, and helping when Junior had pneumonia and he fixed him up. The thing that I love about him is that he really takes the time to talk to you and make sure that you understand everything. He is also open to suggestions and dosen't have that 'holier than thou' attitude that I find so irritating in alot of medical professionals.

Long story short I treated all of the boys with Revlution and they just couldn't understand why I kept shooing them from grooming. They would stop, give me the evil eye :evil: and try to keep grooming. It took almost two hours to scrub and bleach everything but now we are done. Yah!!!!

 

[lilspaz68]

Buh-bye buggies!!!! :evillaugh:

 

[RatsForever]

Interesting your vet suggested lice powder has my vet was concerned with the sensitivity of their breathing so only uses Revolution. Anyhoo, it's a good thing your bugs have been sent packing!

 

[Melissa]

To continue my ranting about my recent upset of a vet visit...

The last one I went to (who really was clueless) said she would have gave me powder of Starla wasn't pregnant at the time.

 

[LA]

Not to Hijack this thread... what do mites look like. The rats that I took from Michelle, Jo you had said had mites. My mom is concerned that the cat they got had mites (just in case) how can you tell??

 

[lilspaz68]

Mites are host specific, so they won't be on your cat or you for that matter.

Mites are microscopic but there are telltale signs for them, thats how Jo knew. As long as you didn't handle your girls right away adn changed clothes afterwards you'll be fine.

 

[mamarat2]

Interesting your vet suggested lice powder has my vet was concerned with the sensitivity of their breathing so only uses Revolution. Anyhoo, it's a good thing your bugs have been sent packing!

Yah lice powder is a no no for us here too.

 

[papercrow]

Lilspaz--from what I understand it's the opposite. There is the saying "lice are nice" because they are host specific. They will jump on you but won't stay because the prefer their particular species.

My rats have lice because you can see them. They are little reddish/brown bugs that are about the size of this: _ You can also see the nits (egg sacks) that look like little teeny miniature grains of rice. I googled rat lice and was horrified by what I found :shock:

Mites are microscopic and you need a skin scrape from the vet to tell what kind you have. The good thing about Revolution is that it also treats some kinds of mites.

Please correct me if I am wrong!!!

 

[lilspaz68]

Hmmm I was told lice are species specific and mites are host specific. I had a woman who had taken this in her vet ass't class recently explain it to me...the difference between host and species specific.

from http://www.rmca.org/Articles/bugs.htm
LICE ARE NICE. Keeping that little phrase in mind helps you to remember that lice are species specific. Infestation by lice is called pediculosis. Although rats and mice may both be infected with lice, those lice will not cross over from one species of animal to another. The lice of rats and mice are the same genus, but they are not the same species.

Mites are different than lice because they are not species specific. However, they are generally host specific, meaning they will usually attack only a certain species host, but they will sometimes cross over from one species to another. They will do this if their choice of host is not available.

 

[papercrow]

ahhhh. That makes sense! I knew you would be able to make sense of my confusion. Thanks Lilspaz! I was just concerned that me, my son, my cats and dog would end up with them, but luckily that's not the case. Nasty little buggies!!!!

 

[mamarat2]

Yah I was always told the lice and mites are species specific.

The only thing is, with the mites, even if they are species specific...when the rats had mites last year I somehow got "infected" with the nasty things. I had a patch where the nasty things dug into my back and it just itched and itched LIKE MAD and then when I scratched it, it hurt like mad! Talked to one of the vets I work with and she said it definitely looked like mites, said that they are species specific in that they can't reproduce in us. So although they nasty little things dug in or whatever they do, I just had to let the things die and litterally grow out of my back, can we say EW EW EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Took about 4 weeks for it to totally be gone.

mg: soo not fun

 

[Melissa]

ale: uke:

 

[mamarat2]

ale: uke:

uh huh, Yah that's about how I felt.

 

[ratamataz]

Oh mamarat2, that's awful!!
I wonder how it happened, and I'm sure we'll all be a little on edge if our ratties get mites now!