Follow-up on Dumbos scratching..

Question
Hi Sandra,
My computer crashed after i put a follow up post on so not sure if you got it. I know you are really busy.
My 2 girls are on lab blocks. Thats what they were on in the pet shop and they dont mind them (look a bit boring to me!!) They also have a hamster type mix as a treat only but i dont give them the peanuts as i know they arent too good for them. I give them fruit and veg and occassionaly cooked chicken, egg and apple/pear baby food, all of which they love.
Ive got a box of the usual treats such as chocy drops, reggie rat treats and cheese wedge treats which i use for training.
I noticed Fudge was starting to scratch more too and Toffee had a few cuts under her chin where she was scratching so i took them both to the vets. (i found one online that said small animal recommended)
He gave them both a shot of something. I asked if he was going to do a skin scrape to see if it was mites and he said he would have to do the area they had been scratching and it might make it sore.
Ive got to go back in 2 weeks for a follow-up jab. He said if they dont stop he will look into other things

I came home and throughly disinfected everything and washed all their hammocks etc.

Any ideas??

Thanks

V

Answer
Hi Vicky

Sounds ok about the diet...just be sure the protein isn't up there in the 20 percent range because that is too much. Rats cannot handle protein and later in life they suffer kidney disease from it which is why it is said to use 15 percent
and no more then 18 percent protein in their diet.

The shot that the vet gave them was probably ivermectin. I don't have a problem with it other than the fact its a painful injection when selemectin could be used just as well and is painfree...but it does stink and could cause a local reaction.
To be honest, if it isn't mites or lice etc...and its not allergies from whatever it may be their are having a reaction to, which is often the high protein in their diet, there isn't much else it could be. Process of elimination may be necessary.

Lets hope it is mites though. That would make it nice and simple. Ivermectin injection=problem solved.

BTW, did you like this vet??