Omg... my rat keeps hurting himself.

[maria-mar]

I don't know what else to do... i think he's going crazy and now he's making me crazy too...

Last December my two older rats got into a fight. Fivela, my husky boy, got a little wound on his back. Then, he started scratching the wound until it got a lot bigger, and would never heal. I took him to the vet, i used creams and pills and bandages and anything possible, but nothing would work.
Slowly, the wounds started to look a little better, so i let him go on the other cage with the little ones company (not the agressor one). It went fine for a couple of days. Now, just about 15 minutes ago, i heard squiking sounds and run to the cage. Too late.

Fivela has no skin on his head, between the ears. It's so discussing and it smells so much like blood, i can't even look properly, cause i'm afraid i'll see his brain. I'm crying in shock. This baby is my favorite rat, but i have no idea what to do with him!... I could take him to the vet tomorrow, but will the vet do?... Nothing worked on the little wound on his back, what in the world will cure this????

I'm even thinking euthanasia... i don't want my baby to keep hurting himself... but we get to that point... i'll never want a rat again. I don't even think i'll have the strengh to keep the others after this. It's just too terrible...

What can i do?...

 

[Joanne]

Have you investigated why he has wounds and is scratching? Perhaps it is mites/fleas/fungal/bacterial infection.
Take him to the vet tomorrow.

 

[jorats]

One of your rats ripped open the top of Fivela's head? Is it bleeding? Sometimes small cuts bleed like crazy and it makes it look like it's huge when it's not. Go and apply pressure. A gash on the head is not exactly aggression from the other rats, it could be a hard grooming and Fivela zigged when he should have zagged.
How old are the other rats and how old is Fivela?

 

[maria-mar]

Of course Joanne, that's not the topic anymore. I've been with him to the vet three times in the last month, we've tried everything. I'm not so much worried about the scratch on his back anymore, but more with the top of his head missing.

I don't know Jo, maybe he did it himself. THERE'S NO SKIN ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD. I can see the flesh. I can't aply pressure, he screams like crazy just for touching close. I wouldn't have the strengh to do it anyway, i'm trying not to throw up just by looking at it.

 

[maria-mar]

Please don't treat me like a kid making a big deal out of nothing... my favorite rat has no skin on his head.

 

[jorats]

I can't see how he would do this himself, not the top of his head.
You might need to flush it, try to be strong for the little guy. If you have a needless syringe, use that for flushing with saline water.

 

[jorats]

Please don't treat me like a kid making a big deal out of nothing... my favorite rat has no skin on his head.

We are doing no such thing but it's clear that you are very worried about the situation and we are trying to walk you through it.

 

[maria-mar]

Have you investigated why he has wounds and is scratching? Perhaps it is mites/fleas/fungal/bacterial infection.
Take him to the vet tomorrow.

This answer really made me feel that way.
Of course i've looked into all that, long time ago!... Of course i've taken him to the vet before, and she has looked into all that, and we tried everything!... As said on the topic. And there's even another post on the forum about it. And now i'm not so worried about mites or fleas or whatever, but about my rat scratching himself to death!...

I understand you're trying to help and i appreciate it. Maybe now i'm not so reasonable... i'm in shock and my baby is just... very close to insanity.

 

[Joanne]

If he's that bad off, then take him to an emergency vet tonight. There doesn't seem to be any other alternative...

 

[jorats]

It really is scary if he's doing this to himself. Do you think he's reacting to the other rats? How is he when he's alone, still neurotic?

 

[maria-mar]

I have no car, there's no trains or bus or whatever... i'm trying to call someone for a ride, but it isn't that simple

Yes, he has been acting that way even when he is alone for the last month. I've been tricking him, distracting him with a bandage wrapped around his body, so he keps busy trying to take it off instead of scratching himself. But every time, he goes back to this. Just never this badly...

 

[jorats]

Oh my... he sounds very neurotic. I don't know what else you can do.
What about an allergy elixir, see if that helps, for some, it might have a sedative effect.

 

[maria-mar]

My baby... gosh. I'm not sure i'll ever want a rat again. This was always my special boy. His birthday was this day, only a year old... I got a ride to take him to the vet tomorrow, but i'm not sure he'll come back home with me. I'm praying for a miracle but i know it's not that probable.

 

[maria-mar]

Thanks Jo and Joanne for the support :heart:

 

[jorats]

Hang in there maria-mar.. :hugs:

 

[maria-mar]

He seems just fine, looking me with his huge black eyes and licking my fingers like always... but then all the wounds are looking real bad and i know they won't be better anymore. I guess i'm just going to make him some tasty baby food and wait until tomorrow...

:hugs:

 

[Fidget]

You know hon that this is not a normal thing people see often and have an answer for, and it really hurts to see someone else hurting & scared (we all know the feeling) and be unable to help, let alone being so concerned for Fivela. I'm sure we're all freakin' from your description, if someone sounds unaffected it's just cause they need to be the calm one - for you. I'm freakin' and that's not much help to you is it?
Rats are way tougher than we are, I've seen them doing fine with huge holes in them, walking when they're missing feet and seeing without eyes. Your kids's skin condition on his back doesn't mean this head thing can't heal up a-ok. I'd be freaking too if I was you, but just keep him alone tonight to protect his head and see what the vet says tomorrow. Know you're doing the best you can. Hugs for you & prayers for Fivela.

 

[maria-mar]

Thanks Fidget, i understand what you mean... :hugs:
After a couple of hours of sleep, i feel more calm, but i don't see the future much brighter. It's just that it took us two months to be able just to make the wounds on his back a little better, never totally fine. How can i cure something so big?

If this is a neurological problem, he'll never stop, until he hurts himself real bad... If it's not, and there's a chance for him to be ok... then believe me, i'll do anything possible!... Let's see what the vet says in a couple of hours...

 

[ashana]

Maybe something obsessive compulsive where mild sedatives may help over a short course. Is your little guy neutered? Anyone know if maybe hormones can cause such a serious action. At 12 months old he is in his prime.

All the best for your little man. It is very scary when these type of things happen and even more scary not knowing why. Hopefully something may twig in your vets memory and he will have some sort of solution for you both *hugs*

 

[Rachael]

He could have a bad fungal infection. Or could it be abcesses that have burst? Do you have pics (I totally understand if it is too distressing to take any!).