Help rat is hurt!! (New rat owner)

[KellyP]

Hi I’ve posted before but havnt has any replies and I’m really freaking out my rat has a large and sore wound on his back. It seems that either his brother or him are irritating the scab and not allowing it to heal. I separated them last night I left one in a carry cage in the cage and let him out this morning. Is it cruel to do this and alternate between them as I can’t keep an eye on them when I’m asleep. I’ve added pictures so you can see what it looks like. I also noticed blood splatters all inside there house and up my wall!!! I don’t know what to do. No vets round my area treat rats as they are classed as exotic pets!! So I’m really stuck with what to do! What can I do to help him heal as he’s been like this for a couple of weeks now. It just seems it’s being irritated by one of them so it hasn’t had chance to heal!! The photos are on 3 seperate occasions over 3 days.

 

[SQ]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry no one responded earlier.
I sent lilspaz68 a message so hopefully she will soon respond to your post.

It looks like he may have been accidentally scratched and it is gaping open.
Here is some info on wound care: Health Guide: Wounds
IMO he should see a vet and may need to be put on antibiotics

Rats do heal fast so hopefully he will soon be feeling better if the wound is kept clean and no infection develops.
Personally, I would not separate the boys unless you have noticed signs of aggression - ask lilspaz58 about that.

I see that you are in the UK. It would be good to add that info to your profile because things differ in different countries. Having a good vet that likes rats and is willing to learn is essential to owning rats. Rats are prey animals and will hide illness thus by the time you notice they are ill you are well into a medical emergency. You need to find and establish a good client relationship with a vet. My vet is not an exotic vet but he likes rats, is willing to learn, consults with other vets online, and in the last 15 years of treating my rats and rescues he has pretty much seen it all. You may find helpful info in our Reference Thread REFERENCE Thread - Read Only

 

[lilspaz68]

Do you know when this happened?how long ago? Does your rat scratch at it?
Does it look orangey pink and angry like this ?6

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ynbvjk6u5agpgoh/Faithsbackdoesntlookasangryjul15.jpg?dl=0

 

[KellyP]

So he’s had it for about 2 weeks maybe, I think either him or his brother are knocking the scab off. It does kind of look like that, but it looks more like a big scab.

 

[KellyP]

Do you know when this happened?how long ago? Does your rat scratch at it?
Does it look orangey pink and angry like this ?6

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ynbvjk6u5agpgoh/Faithsbackdoesntlookasangryjul15.jpg?dl=0

I’ve found ur post thanks!! It doesn’t look like that. It’s more of a scab

 

[KellyP]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry no one responded earlier.
I sent lilspaz68 a message so hopefully she will soon respond to your post.

It looks like he may have been accidentally scratched and it is gaping open.
Here is some info on wound care: Health Guide: Wounds
IMO he should see a vet and may need to be put on antibiotics

Rats do heal fast so hopefully he will soon be feeling better if the wound is kept clean and no infection develops.
Personally, I would not separate the boys unless you have noticed signs of aggression - ask lilspaz58 about that.

I see that you are in the UK. It would be good to add that info to your profile because things differ in different countries. Having a good vet that likes rats and is willing to learn is essential to owning rats. Rats are prey animals and will hide illness thus by the time you notice they are ill you are well into a medical emergency. You need to find and establish a good client relationship with a vet. My vet is not an exotic vet but he likes rats, is willing to learn, consults with other vets online, and in the last 15 years of treating my rats and rescues he has pretty much seen it all. You may find helpful info in our Reference Thread REFERENCE Thread - Read Only

Okay thanks for your advice I’m going to try ring round all the vets in and around the area tomorrow to see if any of them can help. Thanks!!

 

[SQ]

As lilspaz68 was suggesting, it might be Pyoderma. Lilspaz68 has a lot of experience treating rats with this.
Here is so information that might be helpful Health Guide: Pyoderma ratguide.com is a vet approved medical site for rat owners. Some vets consult it too.

If you think he has Pyoderma, Lilspaz68 would be a good person to make suggestions as to what to do and what to ask your vet for

 

[SQ]

How is your rattie doing?