Arrgh... Mites or lice?

[Isobella]

Sorry to push in here - I am also having a case of whoddunit with bites. They've got something but the vet literally just said 'yeah there are scabs, I think I saw something crawling...here try this'. It's Xeno 50 mini - but they've licked it off. I change their bedding every day which is linen/towels and it all gets boiled wash once a week, so that shouldn't be a problem, have washed their play area too, is there anything else I need to do? They're licking the treatment off eachother when grooming will this mean it doesn't work?? Ooooooh, the stress.

[unlikelyfather]

Not a problem. I'd recommend finding yourself another vet, though. He(she?) doesn't sound terribly knowledgeable about rats.

[unlikelyfather]

We return from the vet, down $158. I was sent home with Revolution for kittens and puppies, meloxicam and a vetericyn hydrogel spray. His skin looks very irritated and inflamed, the doctor was concerned that he may be having allergies and was knowledgeable enough to ask me about what I was using for substrate/litter. Even though he recommended carefresh (which shows he may not be up & up on dust issues), he seemed concerned about breathing issues and I'm due back in 2 weeks for a follow up weighing and Revolution dosage.

Ras, who's never been handled by anyone who isn't me, was terrified out of his mind but ultimately tolerant of the doctor - it didn't seem to occur to him to bite in his own defense. He spent most of the visit squirming or trying to scurry up my arm and hide in the hood of my shirt.

[lilspaz68]

That's a good result, did he say it was fleas or lice?

[unlikelyfather]

That's a good result, did he say it was fleas or lice?

He actually said that he couldn't see anything on his scrapings and tape samplings, but that that didn't mean there weren't pests - mostly because the thinning of his hair, irritated skin, and itching, seemed to point to pests. I'm thinking whatever is on him is either in small amounts and knows how to hide well or, in the case of fleas, is hiding in towels.

Whatever the case, the Revolution and medications for inflammation & irritation should help a lot with his itching and keep the bugs away. I'll be washing and changing out the towels frequently in hopes of eradicating the majority of the bug population.

All in all, despite the cost, this vet was a good choice and I feel better after having seen him. I'm confident in his knowledge and ability, and he was very patient while handling my squirmy brat.