My rat has small scabs all over its back. Whats wrong with it?
There are several reasons why rats get scabs, the most obvious being mites which can be picked up from bedding or food. Your vet will need to take a skin scrape to check for mites and then he’ll usually prescribe ‘Invermectin’ to kill them. Medicated washes can also be used but, if your rat is not used to being washed regularly, this can cause undue stress and great care must be taken to ensure your rat does not get cold while wet. Scabs can also be an indication of too much protein in the diet or an allergy to a foodstuff – try eliminating foods such as dog biscuits, peanuts or sunflower seeds for a period of time to see if the scabs improve. Over-long back nails can also contribute to scabby skin, so keep them trimmed back. Rubbing a small drop of olive oil across the shoulders of a rat can help relieve the itching caused by scabs and dry skin.
