Tail Skin

Question
Thank you very much for your reply to my question about the skin on my rats tail. However it is not Degloving, i know what that is. The skin is in tact so far as it is on his tail. But for about 3 inches from the base towards the tip looks saw and irritated even though the rest of his tail and skin is ok (so i dont believe it is mites). It looks as if the scales hav come off. He also keeps cleaning it and some times makes him self squeek doing it. It almost looks like what eczma does in humans.
Sorry if the last question caused confussion, i hope this discribes the condition better
Thank you very much for your time.
Emily

Answer
Hi Emily

Thanks for clearing that up. I am happy you know what degloving is...and glad to know that is NOT what he has.
I have to close my eyes and try to get a visual on what it looks like. I am going to assume it is not "ring tail" either since you did not describe it as encircling his tail all the way around like a ring of open raw skin around his tail.
Eczema is pretty common in rats so I wouldn't rule that out at all. There is another condition that is common that can affect areas of the body, but namely the base of tail, but can affect the entire tail as well. Its a fungus that causes hairloss, itching and irritation, oozing, scaling and crusting and the culprit is a fungus.
If you want,it wont hurt to hit the drug store and pick up a few rat safe ointments to help. We can treat it for both eczema related local skin infection caused by an unknown pathogen and use hydrocortisone cream and also clotrimazole for possible fungal infection, neosporin for secondary infection. I would alternate twice a day, first using the cream for fungus and later, the neosporin.
Hydrocortisone can be used if the rat is really itching at his tail and it is bothering him. It is also good for inflammation.
All of these are "rat safe" but of course use common sense and don't use globs of it. Keep him busy for a bit so it can absorb, dab any excess off and let him go. He probably will go straight for the tail once he realizes something greasy is on his skin.
I would rinse the tail area before applying new ointment by gently removing old debris or left over ointment (which I imagine that the rat took care of that part!LOL!!) and wash area with chlorhexiderm  not exceeding a 1 percent concentration,or rinse with a simple saline solution (the contact lens stuff is fine as long as it is free of preservatives!) Do this before applying medicated cream or lotion daily.

Its pretty impossible for me to be positive this is what is wrong with him without seeing him in person,  but the medications should take care of what ails him unless it gets worse or doesn't improve, and of course if that is the case, its time for a vet as he may need a systemic antibiotic and further evaluation.

I hope this helps.

Feel free to contact me at Sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com

Regards

Sandra