First Aid

[AMJ087]

Thanks to Lilspaz68 for all the help putting this list together.

If there are things you want to see added let an MOD know.

First Aid

Minor Scratches/bites- Clean out with hydrogen peroxide, saline, or antiseptic wash and keep an eye on it. Apply Neosporin if it lasts a few days to help heal.

Sprained limb- place rat in quarantine cage with no levels. Swelling will go down on its own. If rats in pain administer infant motrin. One drop on the tounge.

Dry/cracked skin- Use humidifier in room with rats. Rub olive oil on dry parts or body.

Cracked nail- Clean out and keep an eye on it.

Bleeding nail after trimming- Put nail/toe in styptic powder or flour.

Abscess- See sticky on abscesses

Removal of stitches- Some rats pull out stitches after surgery. Talk to your vet after surgery to see if they think liquid bandage is an option for your rat if they choose to chew out stitches. If your rat keeps trying to pull stitches out try tying a piece of cloth around their neck, not tight obviously but knotted. This often distracts them from the wound. Wrap it in gauze and keep them distracted until you can get to a vet asap.

Asthma/Respiratory- If in an emergency give your rat a small piece of dark chocolate. Also place your rat in a steamy bathroom for at least 10 minutes.

Rats that are not eating due to illness- Supplement food with vitamins, ensure, and high calorie supplements. Feed baby food, cereals, produce. If rat refuses to eat/drink you may have to force feed baby food with supplements mixed in. You can use a syringe if its easier. Be sure to get syringe just in mouth not much further.

Ill rats- Keep warm with heat pad or wheat/rice sacks.

Lice/Mites- See sticky on Lice/mites. This is where the Ivermectin is used.

Bumblefoot- If its not infected or open try to get Naylor's Blu-kote (get the dauber not the spray), a large animal antiseptic. Rub the Blu-kote on the bumbles, it dries out the "bumbles" and shrinks them.  Bumblefoot rarely goes away but its controllable.

If your rat has lost a lot of blood, wont eat or drink, is lethargic, having a hard time breathing, or you are still concerned about its well being consult your vet as soon as possible.

You can do at checks to keep an eye on your rats health. Heres a few things you can do:

Check your rats mouth for foul smells or injuries
Listen to the lungs by placing each side to your ear. If you hear squeaking, gurgling, or
             congestion these are signs of a sick rat.
Make sure your rats skin color remains the same
Keep nails trimmed to decrease scratches
Check to make sure you don’t see lumps, lesions, etc anywhere on their body