Need rat help NOW - Page 2

EmbraceCalamity · 12-09-12, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Rodent mites only feed on rodents...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

BTW, they bite humans and it's itchy as all hell.

Wut.

~Maggot

Lankyrob · 12-09-12, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Wut.

~Maggot

Biting and feeding are to separate operations!

EmbraceCalamity · 12-09-12, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Biting and feeding are to separate operations!

Why do they bite then?

~Maggot

Kavyrie · 12-10-12, 10:38 AM

I'm not killing my rats.

Sorraia · 12-10-12, 03:46 PM

There's no need to kill them, it is treatable. The vet can do one of several things, but basically boils down to a topical or oral medication. I personally prefer oral ivermectin, but that can be tricky getting the right dosage. Many people use a topical product (which still needs the right dosage, but isn't quite as easy to overdose at the oral). If you are taking them to the vet, he/she will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication for them.

In the mean time...
You can bathe them with a kitten shampoo that contains pyrethrin. The pyrethrin is toxic to the lice or mites (depending on which your rats have) and will help kill some of them. An oatmeal shampoo can also offer your rats temporary relief from the itching. You can also put olive oil on them, which is completely non-toxic to the rats, will offer them some relief from the itching, and is said to suffocate the mites/lice. It will make a greasy mess too.

Make sure you clean their cages well. Any clean substrate needs to be microwaved or put in the freezer to kill and mites/lice living in it. That's the mostly likely way they got into your home in the first place.

**Aaron_S** · 12-10-12, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorraia

There's no need to kill them, it is treatable. The vet can do one of several things, but basically boils down to a topical or oral medication. I personally prefer oral ivermectin, but that can be tricky getting the right dosage. Many people use a topical product (which still needs the right dosage, but isn't quite as easy to overdose at the oral). If you are taking them to the vet, he/she will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication for them.

In the mean time...
You can bathe them with a kitten shampoo that contains pyrethrin. The pyrethrin is toxic to the lice or mites (depending on which your rats have) and will help kill some of them. An oatmeal shampoo can also offer your rats temporary relief from the itching. You can also put olive oil on them, which is completely non-toxic to the rats, will offer them some relief from the itching, and is said to suffocate the mites/lice. It will make a greasy mess too.

Make sure you clean their cages well. Any clean substrate needs to be microwaved or put in the freezer to kill and mites/lice living in it. That's the mostly likely way they got into your home in the first place.

That's a lot of work. Nix the damn things including all caging and furnishings. Done deal. No microwave. No freezing. No rubbing rats down.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-10-12, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's a lot of work. Nix the damn things including all caging and furnishings. Done deal. No microwave. No freezing. No rubbing rats down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kavyrie

I'm not killing my rats.

That's already been stated. Some people don't kill animals just because it's easier than giving them treatment for a simple issue.

~Maggot

Sorraia · 12-11-12, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

That's a lot of work. Nix the damn things including all caging and furnishings. Done deal. No microwave. No freezing. No rubbing rats down.

Whether or not YOU think it is worthwhile is irrelevant, because you are not the one doing the work. Hope you don't feel the same way about any other pets you have...

EmbraceCalamity · 12-11-12, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorraia

Whether or not YOU think it is worthwhile is irrelevant, because you are not the one doing the work. Hope you don't feel the same way about any other pets you have...

It's interesting how rats have a greater capacity for empathy than some humans, isn't it?

~Maggot

iBaman · 12-11-12, 10:46 AM

haha, i think he was thinking they were feeder rats, not pet rats. a common mistake on a SNAKE forum. ;P

Sorraia · 12-11-12, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

It's interesting how rats have a greater capacity for empathy than some humans, isn't it?

~Maggot

lol I also see it from both sides, since I have/have kept both animals. So many people even keeping pet rats won't bother to treat them for easily treatable illnesses. "It's a $10 rat, why would I take it to the vet? I can just buy another one." Then so many people hate snakes. "It's a snake! Just kill the darn thing. The world needs less of them any way." But then there are people who treat ALL animals that way too... Not saying anyone on this forum feels this way, it's just something I've seen too much of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

haha, i think he was thinking they were feeder rats, not pet rats. a common mistake on a SNAKE forum. ;P

That could be, and if so, my mistake! It's just not easy seeing someone speak in such a way about pets you love, and especially tough when you have more than one animal that is generally maligned by the public!

(I'm convinced people think I'm crazy... I went from keeping and breeding pet rats to keeping pet snakes! Why can't I just be "normal"? lol)

mykee · 12-12-12, 09:44 AM

My rats are feeders, not pets. If they can still serve their higher purpose of filling my snakes bellies WITHOUT causing any distress to me; awesome. In the freezer they go.
If you're a bleeding heart who wuvs her widdle watties so much, then good luck, you're on a huge uphill battle.

**Aaron_S** · 12-12-12, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorraia

Whether or not YOU think it is worthwhile is irrelevant, because you are not the one doing the work. Hope you don't feel the same way about any other pets you have...

Do you normally go through extra work to get the same job done? Do you do dishes by hand or with a dishwasher if it's available? No! That's foolish and a longer way to get the same result. Waste of time. That I could be spending doing other things for my pets.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-12-12, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Do you normally go through extra work to get the same job done? Do you do dishes by hand or with a dishwasher if it's available? No! That's foolish and a longer way to get the same result. Waste of time. That I could be spending doing other things for my pets.

So you're comparing living, intelligent, feeling, empathetic creatures to dishware. I see you're continuing your tradition of poor and offensive comparisons. Good job.

~Maggot

Gungirl · 12-12-12, 06:33 PM

Aaron gave you a method that will work well. You are being a block head.. stop taking offence to what he is saying and reread his other post. Using nix will not harm or kill the rats but simply take care of the mites..