Mites and Lice

It is advisable to your rats regularly for signs of mites and lice. Unfortunately, no matter how clean we keep our cages, any rat can suddenly show signs of infestation.

A lot of vets, and owners, believe that these parasites are actually endemic, but become a problem for the rat at times of ill health, when the rat is stressed etc. For example, one rat, out of a cage of six, may appear to have mites while the rest are fine.

A lot of rat owners have also reported finding lice on rats that are close to death, but not on their cagemates.

However, it’s always worth checking all of your rats.

Lice can, and will, spread to other rats, and probably around different cages if you don’t treat soon enough. The nits and lice can hitch a lift on your clothes, and before you know it, all of your rats are infested.

 Signs:

•Excessive scratching

•Scratches to the back of the neck/shoulder area (click photo to see larger picture)

•In more severe cases, the sides of the body and under the chin may also be scratched.

•Lice - are only just visible, are orange/brown in colour, and move! The lice are easiest to see on light coloured rats (they look like tiny head lice about 1 to 2mm long), while the eggs (nits) are whitish and easier to see sticking to the hair of darker rats. Lice tend to congregate just above the tail base, but you may find them throughout the fur.

•Hair loss

•Dermatitis

 

Other Types of Parasite

Sarcoptic Mites – leave crusty lesions on the outer edge of the ear, the nose, tail, and also feet and genital area. The ears are usually affected first.

 Fleas – your rats may be bitten by fleas from other household pets. Treating cats and dogs with preventative flea control is to be recommended.

Vet Treatment

The vet will examine your rat, including weighing and give a spot on treatment or a quick injection.

There are various products your vet may use, after calculating the suitable dose. (Ivomec, Stronghold, Revolution, Advantage, Panomec etc.)

You will then be asked to return a week to ten days later for a second dose, and then again for a third dose if needed.

Mites – it is usually sufficient just to treat the affected animal.

Lice – it is advisable to treat all of your rats simultaneously.

 

Home Treatment

Until recently pet shop treatments were largely ineffective. However, there are now various products available, which contain ivermectin, and these have had good reviews.

Look in your local pet shop for spot on treatments for small animals and follow the pack instructions carefully.