Scabs and itching

[ratluv]

The older of my two rats, Gunther has been itching a lot for the past month or so. He has also developed some icky-looking scabs on his face and shoulders, which he recently is scratching and breaking open. I trim his back nails every day, spritz him with a small amount of Cortaid spray, and am in the process of changing his food from the Kaytee forti-diet blocks (which I know are crap) to Oxbow. I have a feeling that too much protein is causing this, because I can't imagine it being mites. Hopefully it will clear up, I just wanted to know if I was doing everything right or if any of you had ever had this problem. I feel so bad seeing him itchy all the time and I just want him to get better.

 

[TheHermit]

Is he in pain? It definitely sounds like mites to me. I have never had experience with mites but the major two symptoms are scabs and itching, and he may become scared of you touching him because, sad as it is, mites hurt. Just treat him gently and hopefully my reply will bump it enough to get someone in here who knows how to treat it.

 

[jorats]

I'd say definitely a bad case of mites. The sooner you get him treated the better. Ask your vet for Revolution, it's the best.