Quarantine question

Question
QUESTION: Ok here is the problem I am having, I love rats. I have 4 right now healthy boys and of course I am going to get 2 more. But none of my family members or friends like rats and if they do they have pets. I know for sure none of them would let me keep one in their house for 3 weeks!! So I do not have a seperate place to but them. But My girls room is down stairs and our is up stairs would that be better than nothing at all. I know it is still in the same house but if I do all of the other stuff would that work! I am getting them from a very great rescue that already holds them in quarantine and gets the vet checked before they come here!What is your opiion on this

ANSWER: Your right, its better than nothing at all.  I have had to quarantine my new rats at the vets before and finally found I can put them in my walk in closet, which has its own air duct for the heat and cold so now I use my big closet for quarantine.  Its been a lonnnnnnnnnng time since I have had new rats though.  


As long as you remember to follow quarantine protocol with yourself, it should be fine, esp since the rescue is doing a quarantine for you there too as long as no other rodents are near the rat that is.

Remember that after handling the new rat, change clothes, blow nose, wash hands and arms for 3 minutes with soap and water, nothing fancy, just good old fashioned soap is fine if thats all you have.  Never wear the same shoes or clothes that you had on with the new rat and go near the existing rats because viruses can adhere to the clothing for several hours.  Blow your nose! Inhaling viruses can cause the germs to cling to the lining of your nose and pass the virus on to the rats this way too.   Me, I just stay away from my existing rats for 3 hours and wash up. Some folks even take showers and shampoo.  You can never be to careful!!  My critter city website has a big quarantine page but I think I have covered everything already.  Good luck!

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QUESTION: I was also wondering if there arein any good rat vet in bloomington Il. I can not find any my zip is 69774. I have called the ones that even say exotics and they have never neutered them.  So I dont know if I should go to them help

Answer
All Creatures Animal Hospital    
2001 North Linview
Urbana IL 61801
Phone:    217-328-4143
Website: www.allcreaturesAH.com


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Best place you can go, about an hour from you?  Either way its worth it for proper treatment.  Never use a vet that has never neutered before etc.....