[Chivahn]

I just got back from taking Curly and Charlotte to the vet.....they're both in great health!

Curly has been tearing himself up a LOT lately though, around the face and throat to the point that it's not just scratches anymore, some of them are looking like sores, but they did a skin test and didn't find any mites or anything, so they dont know whats going on, but gave me some stuff to put on it, and if that doesn't work, then I'm going to take him back for some Revolution.

Charlotte was so good! She didn't fuss at all when the vet picked her up, in fact, she was downright friendly. She's been eating well, which I was glad to hear, and aside from some bare patches on her back (she had them when I got her - they're growing back now!) she's totally healthy. She's been more friendly since I got her home too - didn't fight me when I took her out of hte carrier, didn't squiggle around in my hands......did a skin test on her, and didn't find any mites there, either! Yay!

$100 well spent, I think.

If anyone in the Seattle area needs a rat vet, I really highly recommend Dr. Karen Obegi at Roosevelt Animal Hospital

 

[Nazarath]

So good to hear that your little ones are healthy! money is always better well spent.

 

[dkirschling]

When my boy Twenty-Six had an abrasion on his belly, I applied clove oil to it. It is anti-bacterial, soothing, and tastes bad, so rats leave the area alone. I also used it on my girl's incisions after their surgeries to prevent grooming. I asked my vet and she thought it was a great idea. I would recommend it for any skin lesions/itchy spots/etc... You must get THERAPEUTIC grade oil; it's edible-natural stores usually have a brad or two. I use Young Living Essential oils.

 

[Stephanie]

do you clip curly's toe nails?

 

[Chivahn]

I actually have clove oil around....I keep it handy for the rare (and sad) occasion that I have to euthanize any of my goldfish.

I've tried clipping Curly's nails myself, but he was having none of it. The vet and I doubleteamed and got it done though.

 

[DonnaK]

I apologize if I've already asked this, but I've been away a couple of days and I've lost track a bit - is there anything in Curly's cage that could be making him itch? Anything that you've washed in laundry detergent? Another itch creator is too much protein in his diet?

Glad to hear the vet gave them a clean bill of health - that must be a great relief for you! Just two more to go in, right?

 

[lilspaz68]

Just a very quick FYI...often skin scrapings for mites done at the vets office come back with false negatives. It really really does sound like mites, and your best bet is to get that Revolution and treat them just in case. It won't harm and could do a lot of good. If the Rev doesn't have any effects then look at environmental things that could be causing allergies.

 

[Chivahn]

I've actually got 4 more to go in now. Heh.

Skin scrapings on both of them came back negative, and he's been scratching less since I started putting on the creme on his wounds - I think maybe his scratches were making him itch (like ours do) and so he kept scratching them and making them worse. She said if it wasn't better in 2 weeks, to bring him back in for Revolution.

The only things that are in Curly's cage is his food bowl, water bottle, carefresh, and a piece of fleece that I got from his tank at his previous owners house, that I haven't washed.

I think I'm gonna try to give him a bath today and see how that goes.

 

[DonnaK]

Good luck! :lol:

 

[Stephanie]

some of my ratties love their baths others not so much the best way to clip his toenails is to kind of put him in a head lock and pull his back legs out backwards (it is a completely natural movement) that is how i get all of my boys done and use baby clippers of course i just clip the very tips off i have to fight with them once in a while to stay put but they eventually give in to me because i am the mommy and what i say goes LoL