Question
Fi Fi and Lucy playing
Hi Sandra,
I have 2 rattie girls that are almost 3 months old now. They are our first pet rats and we have fallen in love with them. A little over a week ago my 3 year old daughter was hospitalized for almost a week and the Infectious Disease specialist says her symptoms are classic Rat Bite Fever and he treated her as such, she did get better shortly after treatment was started. The blood culture never grew any bacteria to confirm and he said he would like it to have to confirm it positively, but he is still very confident this is what she had. Her hands and arms were scratched up pretty good from the rats, hers more than anyone elses. Everyone is telling me to give up the rats and my husband wants me try and turn them into the local animal shelter. I am very sad and torn because I love them, they have become very special to me and without solid proof I am having a much harder time. Ofcourse my Mom is giving me guilt and saying that I will know for sure if my kids end up in the hospital again (which I also could not bear). Any advice or do you know anything about Rat Bite Fever or how I can find out if my rats have the bacteria? Apparently there have been 16 cases in Ohio this past year already and 2 at Childrens Hospital before Kendall was admitted. I can't just keep them caged up all them time, but I really can't bear to get rid of them. Please help with any advice. Thanks so much.
Shelly
Lucy and FiFi are our two sweet little ratties.
Answer
Oh wow!! You are the third mother that has written to me about this and frankly I am at a loss about it.
Here is one of the questions she wrote in. You can search about about 6 or 7 pages for more letters from this person. She also will not get rid of her rat, either, so your not alone in feeling this way.
Please check out what she and I talked about as far as getting her rat tested and treating him with antibiotics. I feel the same as you, I wouldnt get rid of my rats either and would have them treated. I am so surprised how this is happening, and it seems its more in PA and Ohio. Makes me wonder if these rats are not from the same breeder who is breeding carriers of this bacteria. It really is so uncommon not enough is even known about it which is why its so hard to get a concrete answer from anyone!
****
Susan Armstrong
Category: Pet Rats
Private: No View Published Answer
Subject: Rat bite fever
Question: QUESTION: I am sorry to be asking for help again, but I can not get any answers from anyone, including Matthew J. Ryan Hospital. I have taken my sons rat to the Animal Medical Center in Trappe, PA. They took a culture of the rats throat and nasal cavaity, but gave me no antibiotic for her. She said she would post our case on a site for vets and let me know if she hears anything. I am at wits end here. My son has a few days of his antibiotics left and then I am afraid that if nothing is done, he will become sick again. I have joined two forums, rats rule at goosemoose and the Rat's Nest. No one has any answers for me. Thanks for your time.
ANSWER:
Your on my forum, the rats nest? I dont remember you posting on there about this, but again, I dont think anyone will be able to help there either. They usually leave stuff like that up to me.
There is one bacteria that causes rat bite fever that is most common with this which is called S. moniliformis and responds to penicillin. I would be very aggressive with the vet and INSIST your rat is given penicillin. They are probably waiting for test results to come back to be sure this rat even has the disease before treating her but I think its pretty silly to wait if its obvious this is the rat that bit or scratched your son and after that, he developed the disease.
I cant remember how it happened.....I assume he was bitten? Please refresh me here, I get so many messages daily I just cant remember every one word for word. Was he bitten, scratched or....?
Where is the rat now? Who handles her? What did the vet say, in detail if you can remember?
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Sugar is still with us. She has never bitten anyone. My son has red scratches on his neck and arms from her but none have bled or scabbed, they are just tiny red lines. He did confess to sharing tea with her from the same cup and there was an incident when he was eating a peanut butter sandwich and she was on his shoulder, that she stuck her head in his mouth. She is also a licker, even if your hands are washed and no smell of food she loves to lick, especially my son. We are all still handling her, but are aggressive with hand washing and sanitizer. My son is no longer sharing food or drink with her either. I saw a Dr. Bridget Hanley from the Animal Medical Center in Trappe, PA. She said Sugar looked very healthy and was extremley friendly and well behaved. She took a culture of her from her throat and back of her nasal cavity (she took the rat out of the room to do this). She said it would take 3-4 weeks for results and also that she would post our case on a national vet site and let me know what she learns. I have not heard back from her, Penn, or the infectious disease people at CHOP. In your opinion is there a specific antibiotic I should request. I have used the same vet here in Philly for my dogs and cats for 15+ years and am sure he would give me the meds today if I go there. He just does not routinely see rodents. I was only accepted as a member of your site today and posted, I am sorry for being aggressive, but I feel like I am running out of time. I SO appreciate your quick response to me and the information.
Answer: Your not being aggressive, I would want answers the same as you.
Being that this is just not something that happens every day, there just isnt enough information out there on it, unfortunately.
It seems that it is found in the rats saliva of course since it can be transmitted from a bite, and their feces and urine, hence the transmission from the nails from scratching, and yes, a kiss and lick that enters the persons body could indeed transfer the bacteria from the carrier to the human host. Sugar obviously has it and when someone has a weaker immune system, they seem to catch it faster than other people. However, it doesnt even have to be someone with a weak immune system, it could simply be just the wrong time for whatever contact that took place....well....took place! There is a case where someone got it from getting scratched by a cage where a rat used to live and he caught it just from that!!
Your rat could be treated with amoxil and this should take care of the bacteria.
.20ccs per pound for 21 days.
I am going to make a call tomorrow and may have more answers for you. Hang tight!
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