Scruffing Rats

[Turkeyman]

Can rats be scruffed without physically harming them? Sure, sure, the websites and books all say no. To never scruff a rat. Because they squeak and go crazy. I'm not satisfied with just reading it...because frankly, I don't believe it. Rats are some of the most insecure(maybe the most insecure) animals on this planet. Of course they're going to freak out when you scruff them. But does it cause them pain? Lots of animals can be scruffed, especially baby animals. I'm just wondering if rats can be. And no, please don't give me textbook answers. I like personal experience or reliable sources. For some reason, I'd like to wager that it doesn't cause them any physical pain -- just makes them very insecure.

[mulder]

just do it gently you're fine, i did it to timmy to separate before him and peter were friends. the second there was nastiness i scruffed and gently picked up and relocated timmy. remember to be gentle and it'll be harmless

[Turkeyman]

Yeah I figured, I've had to do it a couple of times to get them out of this little house I have to clean it -- or if I want to replace the bedding within it. Some of them squeak and flail and some of them just take it like a rat. It's the only real way I can pull them out, but I only do it for maybe 10 seconds max. Just got me wondering...

[mulder]

mmmm yah they'll live, i only do it when i have to be disciplinary, otherwise i just scoop em up with one hand

[luvnature]

i am curious and probably sound dumb but ..what is scruffing??

[Turkeyman]

When you pick an animal up by the back of their neck, holding just the skin in your hand -- like a mother dog does to her puppies

[luvnature]

thats what i thought but wasnt sure cuz you made it sound kinda bad and painful.

I dont think its bad or painful...animals do it to their babies. Of course you would do it gentle..goes without saying.
I dont have rats but i think it would be necessary to do to them sometimes in various circumstances

[APoetCalledAnya]

I am assuming that it means, picking them up by their scruff, the fur/skin behind their head. Like a mother animals picks up her babies.

I have never done that to my rats before. I usually do not have to. I have done it to the mice before. It is very hard to catch them and it proved easier to pick them up like that when I needed them quick (like when I would let them have a play date and I'd have to gather them quick to get the phone, door, etc.). They never made any noise or even fought being picked up like that. It actually seemed to relax them.
(In most baby/young animals, when you pick them up by the scruff, it will trigger the release of an endorphin that calms them. They are then ready for the mom to transport them. The humans who were raising tiger cubs used to grab them by the nap of the neck all the time and the cub would just settle down and look peaceful. Then they explained why it happens.)

[Turkeyman]

Wow, I've done it to mice before too and they bit the heck out of me. Not my mice, though...just fidgety mice I wanted to examine before possibly buying -- as you said it was the only way to immobilize them for a bit.

[APoetCalledAnya]

My mice were little butterballs. They actually liked it. It calmed them down after play time and then when I cupped them they cuddled.

Whenever I am at a pet store (when I picked out mice or my rats) I was always rushed. They would always try to just hand me some. I was like, "Ahh, no. I would like to pick my own and hold them first." I wasn't buying for food, I was buying for a pet. So I wanted friendly ones who weren't sick. They just didn't seem to understand.

[Turkeyman]

Haha petstores are dumb like that, I've had that happen before too. *internal hatred meter for pet stores goes up a quarter inch*

[Padfoot]

When I took my lab animal class, we restrained mice, hamsters and gerbils by scruffing them, but we had to restrain rats by putting their head between our index and middle finger and the thumb and ring finger around the thorax (leaving the front paws, 1 between thumb and index and the other ring and middle). We saw a video done by a university that said that rats should never be scruffed, but I don't remember it giving us an explanation why. The tech told us that a rat can't be properly restrained for lab procedures (inject SQ, IM, IP, give oral meds, ect.) by scruffing them, that you needed a firmer hold of the rat for it.

That's all I know... heh

[Vanilla_Rat]

I do not and will not scruff my rats.One of my rats ~Sterling~ had to be scruffed at the vet once,as she only trusted me and everyone else couldn't touch her or she would freak.She was sick and the vet couldn't examine her any other way and scruffed her.She totally freaked and peed and pooped everywhere,while screaming "bloody murder".

Because of that,I refuse to scruff any of my rats and when I go to the vet now,I will not let them scruff my rats...if the rat needs to be restrained,I help them!My vet is pretty good tho.

I have scruffed mice before when I used to breed,just to check the sexes of them.I only scruffed skittish or nervous mice,ones that would otherwise run away and were hard to sex.When I scruffed them,as Anya mentioned,they just relaxed.

I noticed a big difference in the way a rat and mouse act when being scruffed.

[Kendalle]

i guess i did to force feed my rat when she was sick but i didnt lift her up that way.. i dont think i would it seams like they are soo back heavy and they dont naturally bend to be scruffed like cats and dogs do. i havent ever had a reason to do it to any of my rats in the last few years

[rodentz]

I would never scruff a rat, its just as easy to pick them up. Also, scruffing rabbits breaks blood vessels. I dont want that to happen to my little rats.