I took all four ratties to the vet today for what I suspected was lice/mites. The vet said there were no lice and probably not any mites, but that they could have mange...?!?!
He said that some rats can carry mange and not show signs until their immune system is somehow compromised, possibly from age. Or it could be a skin infection. So... they are all on antibiotics for a couple of weeks. Also, they are being treated with Ivermectin; the injectable kind.
Let me tell you, restraining four rats in a row for a shot is no easy task. Zorro took it like a man. Herc squeaked and jumped a bit. Jack did pretty well, I think he's too ADD to even know what was going on. Apollo... He flipped out completely. He shrieked continually so loud that the people outside in the waiting room heard him. He ripped off 3 nails from one foot trying to escape. The
vet tech had to take him to the back and get help restraining him. She said they ended up covering his head and putting the shot in his rump.
After I got home, Apollo would not come out of his igloo for about 2 hours. I feel so bad about it, he seems traumatized. He's beginning to act better, but they have to go back for 3 more shots, each 7-10 days apart. Ack! I just hate that you can't communicate that you're trying to make them better.
Jack, Apollo, Phineas, Shiloh, Squid
Maximus the betta
