rodent mites

[justinO]

Hey.. a friend of mine has a single pet rat that has some mites.. would a nix treatment similar to how we treat snakes be suitable?

thoughts?

Justin

[sapphire_moon]

I wouldn't think so, snakes don't clean themselves, so they can't eat the stuff. But rats clean their coats. So they would end up eating it, which can't be good.

[BoidKeeper]

It doesn't have mites it has fleas. Even if you wash the rat with nix what about the cage?
A rat with fleas, now that's nasty. Say, isn't this how the black plage started? lol
Trevor

[sapphire_moon]

oh also, tell your friend with the rat, that rats are very social, and even as a pet rat, that they do need "friends" and that they can live in same sex groups. So after your friend cure the fleas/mites whatever it may be, to get that rat a rattie friend, and to have a cage atleast 24"x12"x24" for 2 rats.

[Youkai]

BK, I've never heard of a Rat with fleas, but rat mites and lice are VERY common this time of year. I just finished treating mine (they got rat lice from some bedding I bought) with ivermectin. I bought the paste stuff meant for hourses. Dosed differently, of course.

You'll find most people use Revolution and Invermectin (paste, injection, liquid) to treat mites and lice.

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/bugs.htm
http://www.ratpalace.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=181&page=1

[Syco]

Could you use a cat flea powder? Cats clean themselves too, so I guess if it doesn't hurt them it wouldn't hurt the rat.
I really don't know for sure..... but it sounds right. :)

[Lisa]

for treating rats with mites we use a rice grain sized dose of invermectin. 3 treatments one week at a time.

you can pick it up at a farm coop

[HeatherK]

I have had my share of rodent mite outbreaks. I had success with Dri-Kil, was very inexpensive at the feed store, I think you can get it online as well. It's normally used for killing ectoparasites on livestock, and is safe for use on rodents (as long as you don't cake them over with powder :) ). I disinfected the caging and accessories regularly (helps to know the life cycle of rodent mites, the information can be found online) and sprinkled dri-kil in with the bedding, also rubbed some into the fur of the animals. I can't recall if it kills the eggs, thus the successive treatments to kill the newly hatched mites until the life cycle is stopped. Reason why I actually prefer snake mites seeing as you can use the Nix :)

There's also something else I've used on guinea pigs, not sure how it would be on rats, I bet it would be okay for them as well. Endalsect (pet store product) which is a mousse you rub into the fur. I only had to apply it once or twice for it to work, disinfecting the caging wasn't needed.

Rodent mites are definately nasty and can bite humans, sometimes causing very visual marks afterwards. Just like snakes, a rodent with a lowered immune from stress, age, etc. can let the mite infestation get out of control and will make the animal sick. I really hate the little @#%$@

[justinO]

Thanks for the replies. i'll forward the info to my friend!

[annieb_mice]

As an alternative, I use Tea Tree oil diluted with some olive oil. Do NOT use Tea Tree oil full strength. I use a dilution of about 60% tea tree oil and 40% olive oil. I have only had a few minor problems, but have found that when I "spray" the area where the rodents are kept with the tea tree dilution, I haven't had any serious problems. This also cuts down any problems with flies and other pests. :)
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~