Scabs on face and upper body

[Zooy]

I noticed today that Hansel has a lot of scabs covering his face and upper body. This is the first time I've noticed them (so I feel like a horrible owner for not dealing with this sooner).
I bathed everyone else and noone else has them. I advantaged the cage just in case. But mites don't appear do they? And wouldn't the whole cage get them?

He's eating and acting fine, just has all these scabs. Help?

 

[NezumiNeko]

Could it be mites? I've never dealt with mites... so it's just a guess.

 

[Zooy]

We're going to make a vet appt tomorrow so that'll be covered.
I've never dealt with mites either, I've never dealt with anything like this before.

 

[lilspaz68]

Those are definitely mites. Just remember that mites are actually IN a rats body already, but when they flare up is when they are stressed out from illness or compromised in some way or have been exposed to even more mites as in infected bedding, a new rat that already has mites.

Btw I found Advantage absolutely useless on mites

 

[jorats]

Yep, I agree, looks like classic mite symptoms.

 

[September555]

All rats already have mites regardless? Can they pass those to us or other animals or only in direct contact? I never knew that. I am guessing they never bother them unless they flare?

 

[Zooy]

Okay, wash bedding, soak cage in bleach (wash cage off thoroughly), freeze bedding (not sure how I can do this) and revolution everyone??

 

[lilspaz68]

Freeze your bedding in small portions every 2 days, just rotate it through your freezer in batches.

Once I have done the Revolution, I don't worry much since the buggies will all die within that 30 day effective period, since their life-cycle is shorter. The big scrub down is for Ivermectin since it only kills one life cycle, the adults, and when the next batch of adults are born (7 days later), you treat again and again...its like 3 treatments to kill the adults and the life cycle is done. Lots more work for you though.

 

[jorats]

All rats already have mites regardless? Can they pass those to us or other animals or only in direct contact? I never knew that. I am guessing they never bother them unless they flare?

No, they can't pass it along to us... and you are guessing right. When the rats become a little weaker or stressed the mites take over.

 

[Alicemcmallis]

People have mites living on them all the time too, in our eyebrows and eyelashes and such. In immune compromised people they start to get out of control. This article sums it up quite succinctly: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... _113302303

 

[Zooy]

Just an update. The vet is looking into just doing the revolution and not having me bring Hansel in since he doesn't want to bring mites into the clinic (understandable).
Hoping that we don't have to bring him in as that'll save me a bit of cash as well.

 

[Zooy]

Just an update.
We've got revolution. Enough to dose all rats and the cats if they show signs.
Now for the one degu in this room, do I need to dose him? Or will he be okay?

 

[lilspaz68]

I would treat just in case.

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/degus/illness.html

PARASITES - Degus can get parasites, such as mites and fleas from other pets and animals.
Symptoms : They tend to scratch themselves, or even bite themselves. Ear mites can be spotted from sore ears, and loss of fur around the ears.
Treatments : Use treatments that your local vet recomends, and then follow the instructions.

http://degu.leliveld.org/deguinfo.html

Degus can get parasites like mites from other pets (for example from mice or rats). If they get parasites Degus will scratch themselves, or even bite at themselves. If a Degu acts like it hurts if you touch his ears (pull his head away or a giant 'Ouch!' weep) he got an ear infection.

 

[Debbie]

Didn't you say you already gave everyone Advantage? If so, I wouldn't give them Revolution so soon after. However, if you haven't used Advantage, I would ward against it anyway. It's not good for rats. Revolution rocks!

 

[Zooy]

Didn't you say you already gave everyone Advantage? If so, I wouldn't give them Revolution so soon after. However, if you haven't used Advantage, I would ward against it anyway. It's not good for rats. Revolution rocks!

Yeah don't worry. I rethought the advantage and we're good. Don't worry.

 

[Zooy]

Just letting you guys know that his scabs are healing and I've noticed nothing on anyone else. I think we might almost be out of the clear!

 

[mamarat]

:joy:

 

[jorats]

That's great news!