My pet rats are scratching, losing hair, and have raw skin. What to do?

Hi there! Pablo does look pretty itchy by those pictures. Mites are usually microscopic, so if you can see the bug it may be something different. I have seen many rats with lice. Lice are species specific so they are not likely to affect you. You can bathe him and buy a tiny comb to start picking out the bugs and eggs, but he will also likely need to see a veterinarian for medication to get rid of the infestation. Thorough cleaning of the cage and daily bedding changes will also need to be done. I hope he heals quickly!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Medications such as Revolution are safe for rats for fleas and mites, however the dosing is important as they require less then cats/dogs, and the medication is formulated in packing for dogs/cats. It is important to know the weight of Butters and Lorenzo in order to treat them appropriately. I would recommend calling your vet where you have your cat seen and asking them about dosing for your rats, and see if they would be willing to recommend a dose without seeing Butters and Lorenzo, as they have a relationship with you with your cat. Getting a prescription from a vet without the vet having seen your animal is illegal, and therefore only if you have a good relationship with your vet, will they possibly help you out with this, if they know you and your cat otherwise. If this isn't possible you can try picking the fleas of Butters and Lorenzo, however this won't work for the mites. This will mean you need to save up and bring them to the vet, which is the recommended action. Best of luck with them!

In such a young rat the most common reason for hair loss is parasites, I would trear him for them anyway as they can be hard to see. If that doesnt help then I would consider allergy, dust free bedfing can help and good quality pellet food specifically formulated for rats.

What a cute little guy! Mice do get lice, and it's usually because they're in poor husbandry conditions (like being sold for food). This means your mice are likely infected with other parasites like dwarf tapeworm that definitely is zoonotic (meaning it can infect you). You should treat this little guy with Revolution for cats, which is a spot-on treatment you can get from your vet, and use it topically ever 3 weeks until the parasites are gone. Disinfect his cage and throw out all the bedding as well. If you spray the cage/furnishings with fipronil topical spray this helps kill all the eggs and disinfects the environment. Hope that helps, and best of luck!

He could have mites. A skin scraping should be performed and examined under the microscope. It could also be the beginnings of a growth that your rat is trying to bite or scratch off. I'd recommend an exam to better assess the affected area.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When I see patients like this the first thing I do is a skin scrape to check for residual parasites like mites (which I suspect here) If none are found, often I will do a culture to make sure no resistant bacteria or fungi (like ringworm-another possibility high in the list) infect the skin, and if so what kind. Thank you for attaching pictures! It is very helpful to us. The "blood" that you are seeing is likely a secretion called porphyrin...it can be released due to stress or illness. I hope this information helps! If you need further assistance or would like a consult please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for reaching out about Mike. Mites often cause scratching to the point of dermal scabs, often found around the shoulder area. Mites are more common in newly acquired pets. Being hyperactive is not necessarily a sign of illness, maybe being stimulated by smell or sounds. If the problem persists and you are concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.