Rat Fur loss

Question
QUESTION: First my rat had a small bump on her head (between her eyes), that looked just like a small patch of fur sticking straight up. This was here for about 1 and a half days. Then this morning I saw that my rats fur in that area is gone. The skin is white, and the area around it is pink (almost like blood). It almost looks like the skin was peeled off, like some insane skin eating thing. It looks bad, but my rat looks like she is in no pain. Her and her cage mate sometimes fight, but nothing ever happened, and they seem to be getting along good (the cage mate even seems like she is protecting her as they sleep together). Should I be worried? Is she going to be okay?

ANSWER: First - don't worry unless it gets much worse.

My guess is that she hurt herself (scraped her face against something, argued with a cagemate, etc.) and ended up with a skin tag that still had fur on it. Once that wound began to heal, the scab (the skin tag) fell off, and now she hasn't had a chance to grow new fur back. She'll be alright!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, but now both my rats seem to be itiching much more than normal, itching their hair, and then putting their foot to their mouth. It seems like their tring to eat whatevers on them. Can I get them a Cat, and Kitten flee and tick spray, and dilute it? I don't think that I can buy Rat spray from my pet store.

Answer
No, do not get a flea and tick spray for them if you're unaware of whats going on! Never treat for fleas unless you see them, and then your treatment needs to be supervised by a vet. Kitten flea sprays are often MUCH too strong for rats and can make them very ill. I don't believe they make a rat flea spray, either.

The most common parasite that causes discomfort (itching/scratching) is mites or lice. Both are easily handled by a little dose of ivermectrin. Your vet can help you with this, or you can go to Ratguide.com and look it up for home instructions. Ivermectrin is a horse wormer paste, bought at any tack store. For an adult rat of standard size, the dose is the equivalent of a grain of rice, once a week for two weeks. If they need further dosing, you repeat for two more weeks. After 4 doses/4 weeks, your mites/lice will be gone.