Rats biting each other?!

[ViciousCurse]

With how much you say she keeps scratching, part of me is wondering if it's a skin infection with mites or something. Rats often heal very quickly, unless they are constantly picking at the site. It almost reminds me of mange on dogs.

 

[lilspaz68]

How long was she on the Bactrim, these bacterial infections can be long haul treatments. Antibiotics and pain/inflammation relief for 4 weeks or more.

 

[RebeccaRP]

How long was she on the Bactrim, these bacterial infections can be long haul treatments. Antibiotics and pain/inflammation relief for 4 weeks or more.

She was on the antibiotic and steroid for about two weeks, and she hated it. I'm starting to wonder if you were right about the mites, considering how much she's been itching. Do you have any thoughts on administering Moxidectin? Perhaps the mites are resistant to Ivermectin.

 

[lilspaz68]

I would try to get Revolution instead, it's faster, a LOT safer, and easier overall for everyone. You can order from Pets Megastore online. I would treat all your rats just in case.

 

[Rocket99]

Good evening,

I have had rats for YEARS, and have never experienced anything like this.... one of my rat has bite marks all over her (not from mites, fleas or any parasite, but from one of the other rats)!

They ALWAYS have food and water, there are so many fun toys, huts, hammocks, ladders to clime, and hide always in their cage, so I’m not sure what is happening. I have witnessed little fights before, but it was nothing to where I needed to separate anyone.

Now, the one female that the bites are on has always gotten along with the other rats, and they’ve been together for a little over a year. They still all snuggle up together during bed time, and then get along during play time when I get them out to play and pet them daily.

Any idea what’s happening?

 

[Rocket99]

Yea, ive had this happen before. Most likely overgrooming, which can become infected if not treated and excessively licked by the poor rat.

 

[lilspaz68]

Rocket you are incorrect. Most pyoderma is caused by staph infections. Staph is naturally in a rats skin and it's only due to excessive scratching (like from a parasite) infection that breaks the skin, and causes the staph to create the staph infection. Staph aureus is the most common bacteria, it's usually what's in abscesses, causes bumblefoot, pyoderma etc. http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/pyoderma.php

 

[lilspaz68]

I've dealt with pyoderma multiple times and most are surface (upper layers of skin) but there's also deep pyoderma which ultimately is less painful (more nerves in skin) but difficult and longer to cure.

This is a severe superficial case in an elderly rescue who had been neglected for a long long time...poor wee Faith

And here's my case of deep pyoderma - Selene's case history is on ratguide.

 

[Rocket99]

Rocket you are incorrect. Most pyoderma is caused by staph infections. Staph is naturally in a rats skin and it's only due to excessive scratching (like from a parasite) infection that breaks the skin, and causes the staph to create the staph infection. Staph aureus is the most common bacteria, it's usually what's in abscesses, causes bumblefoot, pyoderma etc. http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/pyoderma.php

How many times does the OP have to tell you that its NOT pyoderma. But ok, youre always right, thats what it is. Her vet must be wrong, and you are right. Im not going to argue with you because youre never wrong. Smh

 

[Petunia]

vets are often wrong, and many have not had as much experience with rats as lilspaz68 has.

 

[Rocket99]

Yes, vets are very much sometimes wrong, or, moreso, just dont know rat health or are uninformed and inexperienced, sure. But that doesn't mean he is ALWAYS right either, but he thinks he is, and therein lies the problem. Anyone who thinks he is never wrong quite often is, and that is a liability.

 

[Petunia]

Yes, vets are very much sometimes wrong, or, moreso, just dont know rat health or are uninformed and inexperienced, sure. But that doesn't mean he is ALWAYS right either, but he thinks he is, and therein lies the problem. Anyone who thinks he is never wrong quite often is, and that is a liability.

where did you see that lilspaz68 (who is not a he, btw) said she is never wrong?

 

[lilspaz68]

Rocky the pyoderma info was for YOU to show you . The poster is going to try to treat for ectoparasites. You put up a lot of casual and wrong info as facts and I want the members to have better info. Excessive licking doesn't cause infections. You put forth a lot of opinions as facts and I have to refute them. I'm a medical contributor on another page, and I often admit I don't know something and refer it on to a different person. If I haven't researched or dealt with it personally then I cannot advise on it. Rats are a Learn on the job pet, and there's a lot of info IN people's heads that could help others but you still have to make sure it's correct or a possible option before posting it.

 

[lilspaz68]

Btw very much a she

 

[Rocket99]

Rocky the pyoderma info was for YOU to show you . The poster is going to try to treat for ectoparasites. You put up a lot of casual and wrong info as facts and I want the members to have better info. Excessive licking doesn't cause infections. You put forth a lot of opinions as facts and I have to refute them. I'm a medical contributor on another page, and I often admit I don't know something and refer it on to a different person. If I haven't researched or dealt with it personally then I cannot advise on it. Rats are a Learn on the job pet, and there's a lot of info IN people's heads that could help others but you still have to make sure it's correct or a possible option before posting it.

 

[Rocket99]

That is true what you said about licking not causing infections. But i iever ssid that it did, nor did i imply it. What i ssid was excessive licking can cause loss of hair, as in overgrooming. If i worded it incorrectly then i apologize. And a lot of what you consider wrong is not necessarily incorrect, but a matter of opinion. As with Wettail, which MANY people will use the terminology to label excessive diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection other than a gut flora issue. Just because the specific bacteria for which it is named for only causes the severe, deadly diarrhea in hamsters does not exclude it from being used to refer to other bacterial infections causing diarrhea in other rodents. So if you want to argue that point and correct every single person who uses the term wettail in a general manner, by all means knock yourself out. I can see you have plenty of free time in which to do so, lucky you. If it makes you happy i will use IMO from now on to clarify that my statements are just that. Hope that relieves you of always having to comment and correct everything i say. Too bad you dont do likewise, maybe you should consider it, huh?

 

[Rocket99]

That is true what you said about licking not causing infections. But i iever ssid that it did, nor did i imply it. What i ssid was excessive licking can cause loss of hair, as in overgrooming. If i worded it incorrectly then i apologize. And a lot of what you consider wrong is not necessarily incorrect, but a matter of opinion. As with Wettail, which MANY people will use the terminology to label excessive diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection other than a gut flora issue. Just because the specific bacteria for which it is named for only causes the severe, deadly diarrhea in hamsters does not exclude it from being used to refer to other bacterial infections causing diarrhea in other rodents. So if you want to argue that point and correct every single person who uses the term wettail in a general manner, by all means knock yourself out. I can see you have plenty of free time in which to do so, lucky you. If it makes you happy i will use IMO from now on to clarify that my statements are just that. Hope that relieves you of always having to comment and correct everything i say. Too bad you dont do likewise, maybe you should consider it, huh?

Oh, and BTW, its not Rocky, so you are incorrect. Maybe you could correct yourself so i don't have to. And i apologize for the (s)he error, if i haven't already