Dermatitis

Question
I adopted a 6 month old rat, and after a few days of bringing it home, I noticed what looked like an ulcerative dermatitis under his chin that spread down the side of his body. After changing diet and only using paper towel strips that I changed every night, it still didn't get better. After that I simply slipped his nails and the scabs and wounds went away. Now I have to clip his nails at least once a week or the sores come back. Is there any other way I can be helping to prevent him from inflicting these wounds? I am in school to be a vet tech, so access to a vet is no problem for me. He is now in a cage with indirect bedding with strips of cloth that I wash weekly. He is fed a pellet diet with one yogurt vitamin drop every morning. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Answer
Hi Michele

Congrats on going to be a Vet Tech!!  It would be awesome if you could get in with a vet that treats exotics. You would be a huge asset being your a rat owner yourself!

That said, I wanted to ask if you know the amount of protein in the diet he is being fed. It should not be more than 15% protein with corn either not being part of the ingredients or at least not the first listed ingriedient.  
You can feed him a variety of foods such as vegetables and fruits daily, esp the vegtables.
More info on diet here:

As for treating what does sound like ulcerative dermatitis (maybe allergy related) but we will call it non specific for the time being, you can start with using an antibiotic ointment on the lesions during active outbreaks.  1% Cortisone cream can help with itching.

If this doesnt seem to clear it up, he may need treated by a vet, possibly put on corticosteroids such as prednisone and oral antibiotics in case this becomes infection such as pyoderma.