How to detect and remove lice and fleas from a decorative rat

Domestic rats are clean animals, but they are not immune from infection by ectoparasites. If your rodent is constantly itching, you need to check its fur for crawling insects. However, some parasites are not visible to the naked eye because they are located under the skin.

Both species are extremely dangerous - they carry deadly diseases that can also infect people. Therefore, the owner of a decorative rat should know how to get rid of lice, ticks and fleas from his pet.

Adviсe

• Treat all your pets with flea treatment, even if you think they don't have fleas. This will help you get rid of fleas faster and reduce the likelihood of them appearing again.
• Clean the interior of your car, pet crates, and other areas where the rat may have been.
• If you still don't know how to bathe and brush your rat, you'll have to learn how to do it. Train your rat to come to your hands (this may take some time). If you have an untrained rat, grab it under its belly when you pick it up. Never squeeze a rat or pick it up by the tail or paws. Always handle the rat with both hands. Also, remember that a sleepy or tired rat is easier to deal with.[6]

Prevention measures

Preventing the occurrence of rat mites primarily involves timely getting rid of rodents that carry them. Includes the following measures:

• Control over the size of the rat population and constant measures for deratization in areas inhabited by rodents.
• Isolation of premises from rats. The sealing of manholes is carried out by residents.
• Maintaining premises in proper sanitary and technical condition.

You should know that rat mites reproduce in warm conditions and in the presence of food. It can develop all year round, but is especially active in the spring. Parasites are very easy to disinfest and die almost immediately. Most often, to get rid of them, a one-time treatment of the premises is enough. However, after a while they may appear again if preventive measures are not followed. If ticks reappear, acaricide treatment is carried out again.

How to treat an infected rat

It is advisable that the treatment of an infected rodent be carried out by specialists from a veterinary clinic. A doctor who deals with the recognition and treatment of rodent diseases is called a ratologist. He will clarify the type of parasite, prescribe the most effective tactics and recommend a drug that will help a specific breed of domestic rat. But if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to contact a specialist, you can treat your pet yourself.

Find out why your pet rat itches.

What can be processed

If signs of the presence of parasites are detected, you need to get rid of them using the following effective medications:

1. “Unoiled.” Dilute 2 ampoules with water, then thoroughly treat the entire surface of your pet’s body. Pay special attention to damaged areas of the skin. Keep the rat wrapped in a towel until the solution dries. This is necessary in order to prevent the animal from licking the drug. After 10 days, repeat the procedure.

2. "Frontline" (spray). Spray the product twice on your pet's body. Hold the rat in your arms until the preparation dries. After 7–10 days, repeat the procedure.

3. "Bars" (insectoacaricidal spray for cats and dogs). The solution must be sprayed onto the withers and also wiped over the affected areas of the skin. Repeat these procedures after two weeks.

A separate group of drugs has been developed to combat subcutaneous and ear mites:

1. "Stronghold" (drops, bottle comes with a purple cap). Dosage at the withers - 0.01 ml per 100 g of animal weight.

2. “Lawyer” (drops on the withers).

3. “Dironet Spot-on” (drops on the withers).

4. "Prasicide-complex" (drops). One application is enough to save the animal from subcutaneous ticks.

If parasites are detected on one pet, all animals living in the house will need treatment. In addition, it is important to carry out general cleaning and disinfection in all rooms. The cage, feeder, water bowl and all toys must also be disinfected. And the bedding and filler need to be changed. All wooden objects in the cage (sticks, toys) should be removed from the house.

What symptoms do the bitten areas show?

Ticks love to bite most of all where a person's skin is thinnest and most delicate. If anyone is wondering where to look for such a tick on the body. Where he likes to go most of all, we can say with confidence that these bloodsuckers really like to suckle in places such as:

1. under clothes that fit tightly to the body - under the belt, for example, where the collar, cuffs are, under the straps on the wrist, and so on;
2. in the depressions on the body - armpits, navel, ears, etc.;
3. inside folds of skin - in the groin, on the abdomen, under the mammary glands.

The symptoms of a tick attack and the appearance of the bitten areas can be represented by the following manifestations:

• There is a feeling as if someone is crawling over the body or moving in one place.
• The affected area is constantly itching.
• Redness of the skin at the site of the bite.
• A black or brown dot if the insect has attached itself to the skin.
• A red dot on the skin if the insect fell off on its own after drinking blood.
• A rash if enough time has passed after the bite for an infection reaction to occur through the blood.
• An increase in temperature already indicates infection of the body.

General symptoms persist for about two weeks, and the bite mark can still last 20 days. After this, the disease caused by the infection enters into an active phase if you do not rush to treat the bitten area in time.

Prevention of infection of decorative rats with parasites

In addition to the basic rules, owners of decorative rats should closely monitor other pets. If a cat or dog prefers to spend a lot of time outside, then they are thoroughly washed after a walk.

Attention! For better prevention, rat breeders observe a two-week quarantine for newly acquired rats. The animals are kept in another cage, shown to a doctor, and treated with drugs.

Read also: What to do if you miss the train

Keep the house clean. The main cause of the appearance of bedbugs, ticks, and lice is the person himself. Some owners call specialists every month to sanitize their premises.

If a rat breeder keeps several individuals, then each rat is processed. Otherwise, pests will be able to attack your pet’s clean coat again. The bedding is changed once a week. Wooden utensils are thrown away: they can become a breeding ground for parasites.

Gamas mite in the apartment

Predatory gamasid mites, which attack people and pets, most often end up in apartments for one of the following reasons:

• Parasites entered you on their own from the street through windows, cracks in window frames, and ventilation.
• We arrived with pet hair, shoes, clothes, and shopping.
• They crawled from the basement, attic or cavities in the structure of a building or house where birds nest, rodents, amphibians and other insects live.

In order for a gamas tick to feel comfortable in an apartment, it needs:

• Food sources - people or animals
• Darkness
• Air humidity above 50–60%
• Increased warmth

Gamasid mites do not live permanently on those they bite. In nature, attacking birds, animals, amphibians, reptiles and insects, they usually settle near or inside their burrows, nests or other shelters. In a person’s home, the insect will find a place similar to what it chooses in nature. It can be:

• Products made from down and feathers
• Products made from natural fabrics
• Houseplants
• Small and large household appliances
• Cracks, space behind peeled wallpaper
• Area under the window sill
• Interior items, especially from natural materials

Parasites are attracted to heat, movement and carbon dioxide. It is these criteria that they will be guided by both when choosing shelter and when choosing a food source. To avoid wasting time looking for food, ticks are likely to choose a place for nesting near a bed, sofa, armchair or chair where a person spends a lot of time. If there are pets in the house, this could be a bed, a scratching post, toys made of fleecy materials, bedding in a cage or a terrarium.

Appearance

These insects are divided into varieties; the most common type of flea is the southern rat flea.

With the naked eye it is impossible to distinguish them from other relatives - dogs, cats and domestic ones. Only a specialist can determine the species under a microscope.

The rat flea looks similar to other representatives of the genus: the body has an elongated shape, flattened on the sides, the back part is raised due to long jumping limbs.

It is covered with chitinous cover and has a dark brown color. Length – from 3 to 5 mm.

Description of insects

Adults

They have a flattened body of light yellow color, reaching a length of no more than 1 mm. The head is large, wider than the chest, shaped like a shield. There are no wings.

The oral apparatus has a complex structure and is of the gnawing type. It consists of an upper jaw covered with a chitinous shell, a thick upper lip, and a lower jaw, which, like the upper one, is entirely covered with denticles.

Three pairs of legs ending in claws are attached to the chest. It is they, together with the teeth of the jaws, that help securely attach to the hair of animals.

The abdomen is elongated and consists of segments, each of which is covered with setae. The antennae of lice eaters have three segments.

Larva

It is no different from the imago; its development goes through three instars, ending with molting. The break between them ranges from 2 to 12 days. The entire period of larval development lasts approximately 20 days.

Habitats

Lice eaters settle on the surface of the skin of mammals, localizing in the fur. They feed on epidermal cells, blood, secretions of the sebaceous glands, lymph, and keratinized cells.

Reproduction

Fertilization occurs by mating of a male and a female, after which the female

lays eggs (nits). Caring for the offspring is expressed in the fact that the female firmly attaches the eggs to the hair with the help of quickly hardening cement secreted by the glands of the insect. One adult is capable of producing about 100 eggs.

From the moment the egg is laid until the first instar larva emerges from it, 5–10 days pass.

Composition and effect of the drug

The product is available in the form of a concentrated emulsion. Before use, prepare a solution in the dosage specified in the instructions. The concentrate must be diluted immediately before use, or at least within 2 hours after preparing the solution. Under other circumstances of use, the drug loses its effectiveness.

The active components are new generation synthetic insecticides:

Remedies for rat tick bites

Before using any remedy for tick bites, you must directly remove the tick itself. To do this you need to do the following:

• steam the affected area, soften the skin with cream;
• disinfect the skin by treating it, for example, with alcohol, Chlorhexidine, Septocide;
• remove the tick using a special twister;
• consult a doctor.

After removal of the parasite, antihistamines are prescribed (for example, Cetrin, Loratadine). Medications with antiparasitic and antiseptic effects are also used.

Benzyl benzoate ointment 10%

It is an antiparasitic drug used topically. Available as an ointment in metal tubes or glass jars.

The duration of treatment is about 4 days.

The first treatment with ointment is done in the evening before going to bed. The skin of the arms, torso, legs, including the soles and fingers are treated. Treatment is carried out on clean skin. After treatment, you should put on clean underwear and clothes. In the next 2 days, it is necessary to take a break from therapy, and it is forbidden to wash off any remaining medication from the skin. On the 4th day in the evening, repeated treatment is carried out, similar to that on the first day. On the 5th day the ointment is washed off.

Sulfuric ointment

It is an anti-itch agent and is used externally. The product is released in the form of an ointment in metal tubes.

The duration of treatment is from 7 to 10 days.

The drug is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin 2-3 times a day for the specified duration of treatment. After completion of therapy, taking a bath is allowed; changing underwear and bed linen is necessary.

Wilkinson's ointment

It is a product for external use, which contains tar, sulfur, and naftalan oil. Has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiparasitic effects. The product is produced in the form of an ointment in tubes and glass jars.

Used externally. Once a day, the ointment is rubbed into the skin of the entire body, excluding the face and scalp. Duration of treatment – ​​3 days.

What do bites look like, treatment

The problem of rat fleas is relevant for residents in private sectors; they are extremely rare in the city. But after a bite, serious complications can develop.

The affected person begins to turn red, and multiple red dots may form. This indicates the development of an allergic reaction. The bite area itches very much, so it cannot be ignored. After a certain period of time, a blister appears, but it disappears very quickly, and a wound forms in its place.

Parasites affect the lower part of the legs: legs, feet. But other parts of the body may also be affected: neck, armpits, arms. This means that they have moved onto the bed, furniture, and clothes. You will have to do some general cleaning, a vacuum cleaner helps a lot, just don’t forget to disinfect it after use.

Treatment

After a flea bite is discovered, immediate action must be taken, especially if a child has been bitten. To avoid possible complications, you must adhere to the recommendations below:

1. Treat the affected area with any antiseptic composition. You should also use a soap or vinegar solution. They are prepared with water in equal proportions. If the skin is severely damaged, treat the wound several times a day.
2. To relieve itching, apply an ice cube or any other cold compress. Also, these measures will help relieve inflammation, reduce swelling, and the skin will take on a normal appearance.
3. Apply antiseptic ointment or cream, which is available in your home medicine cabinet. For example, it could be sulfur ointment, calamine lotion, Boro-plus. But a regular soda solution will also work. Furacilin and hydrocortisone are suitable as steroid ointments. They will relieve pain and itching. But before using them, get qualified advice.
4. If an allergic reaction occurs in the form of a rash, take an antiallergic drug. In this case, it is better to coordinate treatment with an allergist.
5. Lotions made from the juice of marigolds, plantain, burdock, dandelion, and parsley will help relieve itching, swelling, and moderate the inflammatory process.

Urgent medical attention is needed if a pustular mass, urticaria, fever, or headache appears.

Signs of rat tick bites

The favorite localization of bites is in places with the most delicate and thin skin. Most often, bites can be found in the following areas:

• under clothing that fits tightly to the body: belt area, collar area, cuffs;
• depressions on the body: armpits, navel area, ears;
• in skin folds: inguinal folds, on the abdomen, under the mammary glands.

Symptoms of a tick bite include the following:

• sensation of something crawling across the body, moving;
• itching of the skin in the area of ​​the bite;
• skin hyperemia;
• a black or brown dot if the parasite has attached itself to the body;
• a red dot if the tick has fallen off;
• rashes on the skin;
• rise in body temperature to individually high numbers.

Lifestyle

Bloodsuckers cannot remain on the victim’s body all the time. After eating, the flea jumps off and returns to its permanent habitat. They often settle in rat nests and lay eggs here. People know that pets have blood-sucking parasites, but do rats have fleas? They are present in all living organisms, even in humans, but are called a little differently. Females can produce up to 400 of their own kind. They lay 7 eggs per day. The development of the larva takes up to 16 days, then is wrapped in a cocoon.

An adult flea emerges from the pupa. Can go without food for a long time. But then, when it chooses a suitable victim, it will suck blood for a long time.

Description and photo of rat and mouse mites

Everyone knows about ixodid ticks. Instructions on what to do if you are bitten by an ixodid tick can be found at any medical facility. Few people have heard of Gamasidae. Even fewer people have thought about how dangerous these ticks are to humans. They are so small. Gamasid bloodsuckers usually do not tolerate tick-borne encephalitis, but they can also cause a lot of trouble. The rat mite is especially dangerous. It was he who previously carried typhus from rats to humans. Today his main “specialization” is tick-borne dermatitis.

Ways to combat parasites

The most effective way to rid your home of fleas is to call a professional. They will carry out comprehensive treatment of the premises using professional means. Exterminators can be ordered from the sanitary and epidemiological station or a private insect control company.

To prevent re-infection, it is necessary to poison the parasites from your neighbors, since getting rid of rat fleas in one apartment is not enough. They easily move around the entrance and penetrate through doorways and cracks.

It is also necessary to carry out preventive measures in basements and attics.

An important stage in the fight against insects is the treatment of all domestic animals, replacing their bedding with new ones.

Drugs

Aerosols are a popular remedy - they can be used to remove rat fleas from an apartment, as well as treat animal fur with special compounds.

Medicines for pets are purchased at a pet store, and for general treatment of the premises, sprays from hardware stores and supermarkets are suitable: Raid, Kombat, Raptor, Medilis Cyper, Karbofos.

Insect killing dusts are effective against flea larvae.

Modern microcapsule products GET successfully get rid of parasites. Their main active ingredient is chlorpyrifos. This is a toxic substance that quickly kills rat fleas, but precautions must be taken when handling.

It belongs to the third hazard class, so its use is permissible only with protective equipment, without people or animals nearby. After treatment, a thorough wet cleaning is carried out.

The drug is often counterfeited. One of the manufacturers chose a similar name Gett - this product is several times cheaper, but is less effective.

Drops

Since removing fleas from just one room is not enough to completely destroy them, pet fur is treated.

The drops are low toxic, do not harm the pet, but are effective against parasites.

They should be applied to the skin where the animal cannot lick it off. Any drugs that are offered in pet stores are suitable - “Clandestine”, “Bars”, “Stronghold”.

For additional therapy and prevention of new infestations, anti-flea shampoos are used - “Mr. Kiss”, “Frontline”, “Clandestine”.

The product is sprayed onto a piece of gauze and then rubbed into the animal's skin.

Folk remedies

When there were no special insecticides, people protected their homes from fleas using natural means.

It was believed that insects did not tolerate strong odors, so the main means of control were garlic and wormwood.

The following herbs are also used:

• chamomile;
• tansy;
• Bay leaf;
• mint.

They are hung in bunches around the house or an infusion is brewed and sprinkled. The garlic is crushed and placed in all corners where fleas may hide. After half an hour, wet cleaning is carried out. Vinegar is added to the water to enhance the effect.

Folk remedies do not guarantee complete destruction of parasites, but can be used as part of a set of pest control measures.

Infection of residential premises

Unfortunately, situations are possible when rat and mouse parasites infect apartments. This is a truly serious problem that requires the help of specialists. The first thing you need to do is make sure that the room is infested with rat mites. This can be done by a disinfectant. In the event that infection is confirmed, disinsection is carried out.

When carrying out disinfestation, potent drugs are used that are aimed at getting rid of parasites. In this case, it is necessary to treat all possible locations of insects. In cases where pets live in the house, be sure to visit a veterinarian who will recommend a remedy for treatment.

It is very important in this situation to find the cause of the infection; if this happened due to the presence of mice and rats in the basement, then this room must also be treated, since the situation will repeat itself.

Reproduction

In order to lay eggs, the female rat flea must be well fed . Females lay larvae in nests, animal cages, and also directly into their fur. After the eggs are laid under favorable conditions, after some time the larvae hatch from them. The larvae of rat fleas live in the nests and cages of their hosts, this provides them with constant nutrition. The larvae feed on the remains of animal hair, grass, and the excrement of adults. The fact is that the excrement of adult fleas contains blood, which the larvae like.

After some time, the larvae pupate. The insect will not come out of the cocoon until the environment is favorable. Scientists have proven that in a cocoon state, these pests are able to remain viable for about one and a half years.

After the onset of favorable conditions, an adult rat flea emerges from the cocoon and is ready to give birth to its offspring.

Depending on their habitat conditions, these insects can live up to several months . Over the course of her entire life, a female can lay up to 500 eggs.

Rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti)

An obligate temporary ectoparasite of rats, capable of feeding on the blood of other mammals. It was first discovered in Australia. But rats are not endemic to Australia. It’s just that some diseases were not previously associated with this type of tick. The rat mite was later identified in the United States as a source of dermatitis in humans. A few years later, it caused people to become ill in Hamburg.

The parasite was first discovered in 1913 due to its size. The length of its body is only 0.75-1.44 mm. If you look at the photo of a rat tick, it turns out that it is very similar to the common ixodid tick. There are also differences:

• there is no segmentation between the body and chelicerae;
• oval genital shield;
• cranial anus;
• pointed tail apex.

The color of sucked ticks is not light gray, but dark red in females or yellow in males. Hungry parasites are gray in color. After feeding, they are unable to move; when hungry, they are very active.

Symptoms of infection

Flea bites cannot be ignored - when the proboscis is inserted under the skin, they do not inject any anesthetic enzymes, like other blood-sucking insects.

In addition, the wounds are very visible externally - the parasites cause irritation on the skin, which is accompanied by itching, swelling, and redness. Most often, it is bites on a person that reveal their presence in the house.

If a rat has fleas, scratching marks, bald spots and scabs will be noticeable on its body. The pet will jump sharply from time to time, reacting in a similar way to painful bites.

Other pets exhibit the same symptoms as when infected with other types of fleas - nervousness, constant scratching of the skin, especially in hard-to-reach places.

Diseases

The parasite's bites cause an itchy skin irritation in humans called rat mite dermatitis. Children may have an eczematous or vesicular reaction to the sting. Rat mite attacks must be differentiated from other insect bites or skin irritations caused by the body's reaction to an allergen.

Treatment of rat tick-borne dermatitis is symptomatic. To alleviate the condition of the victim, use:

• oral antihistamines;
• topical corticosteroids;
• benzyl benzoate;
• gamma-benzene hexachloride;
• Crotamiton.

But often the irritation goes away on its own or people simply do not react to the saliva of rat bloodsuckers.

The reaction to rat parasites must be separated from the symptoms:

Laboratory studies have also shown that rat mites can carry dangerous diseases:

In unfavorable times, rat ticks, along with fleas, were the main carriers of typhoid and plague from rodents to people.

Parasitic diseases of rats

In decorative rats, parasitic diseases caused by fleas, lice, and lice are most often diagnosed. The reason for this is the lack of regular treatment of cells and household items, and unbalanced nutrition.

Fleas on rats

The causative agent of flea infestation in decorative rats is ectoparasites from the order Siphonaptera. This disease is diagnosed as aphanipterosis. It is accompanied by dermatitis, since flea saliva contains toxic substances that cause allergies in the rodent.

The danger of flea infestation is that one flea can drink up to 11–16 μl of blood per day. And with mass reproduction, this can cause anemia in a decorative rat.

Aphanipterosis is accompanied by itching, which leads to scratching on the skin. When bacteria and infections get into open wounds, they begin to fester. This leads to a chronic relapsing course of the disease.

Lice and lice in rats

Infection of a decorative rat with lice and lice-eaters is diagnosed as pediculosis. The incubation period of the disease can last about a month.

Main symptoms of the disease:

• constant itching;
• red dots, scratches in the muzzle, neck, shoulders;
• anemia, causing weakness, drowsiness;
• refusal to eat;
• sudden weight loss.

The danger of pediculosis is that its pathogens are also carriers of diseases such as typhus and hemobartonellosis.

Weight loss

What are the consequences of being bitten by rat ticks?

After a bite, the tick attaches itself to the skin, or more precisely to the blood capillaries located in it. It may well turn out that the insect itself is infected with certain microorganisms, because rats are unclean animals, they walk and sleep anywhere, and eat whatever they can find. Therefore, after a tick bite, the victim has a high probability of contracting the following diseases:

• typhus;
• plague;
• smallpox types of sores;
• coli;
• tsutsugamushi, which means “river fever” in Japanese;
• damage to the central nervous system;
• high degree of intoxication of the human body;
• Q fever, which causes severe kidney syndrome and other diseases.

Infection is transmitted through bloodstreams to other organs. Some of the diseases caused by tick bites are extremely dangerous. For example, the development of Japanese river fever in a person if treated incorrectly or delayed, can be fatal.

How to recognize the presence of parasites in a rat?

The most obvious symptom is that the animal continually bites the fur, gets restless, and scratches the skin so hard that crusts appear. Redness of the skin should also alert you: this is probably a consequence of the animal’s allergy to substances carried by parasites.

In addition, some parasites can be seen with your own eyes (for example, lice and nits), and then there is no guesswork, the animal needs to be treated.

Ticks

Ticks cannot be seen with the naked eye. But even a scraping done by a veterinarian may not be indicative. But their presence can be recognized by indirect signs: the hair begins to fall out, and red wounds appear on the body.

The exception is the ear mite: its appearance is immediately noticeable by the tubercles along the edge of the ear, and if treatment is delayed, lice can literally eat away at the ears, the tissue there is so delicate. Therefore, you need to examine your pet’s ears carefully and regularly.

lice eaters

Lice eaters are small red-colored insects. Their body is about 1 mm in size, elongated and covered with bristles.

It is difficult to recognize lice eaters on fur, especially if the rat is dark in color, but you can see their eggs. They are light-colored, dandruff-like, and inseparable from the fur as they stick to it, waiting to hatch. You can also guess the problem by the behavior of the rat: it begins to worry, refuse to eat, act nervously and lose weight.

Lice

They feed on the blood of the victim, so itching will constantly bother the animal. You can recognize them, like lice eaters, by their eggs: you can only see the lice themselves under a microscope, they are so small.

Fleas

They also suck blood, and their appearance is very dangerous for the animal. Their size is from 2 to 5 mm, and the body is elongated and has a brown color, so the insect is easier to see on the fur than previous parasites. In addition, fleas leave red discharge on the animal’s body, and when the pet is bathed, they color the water red-pink.

Bedbugs

Ordinary bedbugs that can be in a person’s bed are dangerous for animals: they attack them in the absence of food and begin to drink their blood. As a result, causing the same symptoms as if your pet has lice and lice.

Types of parasites and treatment

Ornamental rodents are subject to invasion by both external and internal parasites. In any case, the vital activity of uninvited “guests” does not pass without a trace for the fluffies. Therefore, it is necessary to start appropriate treatment as early as possible.

Ticks

Rat mites are very small blood-sucking insects, most of which cannot be detected with the naked eye. The presence of bloodsuckers parasitizing a small animal is indicated by the following signs:

• the animal has become nervous, perhaps even displaying unreasonable aggression;
• the pet is constantly itching, scratching the skin until it bleeds;
• loss of appetite;
• hair falls out;
• wounds and rashes appear on the skin;
• the edges of the ears become uneven, small tubercles appear under the skin.

If these symptoms appear, you should take your pet to a veterinarian. The doctor will take a skin scraping and examine the sample. The result obtained will allow us to establish not only the presence of mites in the animal’s fur, but also their type. After which the veterinarian will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Tick ​​infestations are the most difficult to treat. Usually the rat is given injections of Ivermectin. The drug is administered intramuscularly. Only 3 times - at intervals of 12-14 days. The external use product Stronghold is also considered effective. For convenience, it is available in multi-colored bottles. Each color corresponds to a specific pet weight. For decorative rats, buy a purple bottle. The required amount of the drug is drawn into a syringe and applied to the withers.

Lice

Blood-sucking insects measuring 0.4-1 mm. Attached to the animal's fur with tenacious legs. During feeding, it secretes saliva, which prevents the host's blood from clotting. This secretion contains substances that cause severe itching and discomfort in the host animal. The following signs indicate the presence of lice in a decorative rat:

• the pet is constantly scratching itself;
• if several rats live in a cage, aggressive grooming may occur;
• small grayish spots on the skin;
• scratches and scabs;
• nits stuck to the fur.

Lice are fairly small insects, and also translucent, so you won’t be able to see them. To make an accurate diagnosis, you will have to take the rat to the veterinary clinic.

The most convenient means for treating rats against lice are preparations in the form of sprays. For example, Bars or Troychatka. To eliminate parasites, 2-3 sprays per pet are enough. In this case, you need to hold the animal in your hands, preventing licking, until the solution is completely dry. After about a week, the treatment must be repeated.

lice eaters

Small parasites up to 1 mm long, red in color. They feed mainly on dead epidermal cells, sebum and blood. The following signs indicate the presence of lice eaters in a rat:

• scratching;
• wounds;
• inflammation of the skin;
• hair loss;
• the presence of white (wax-like) nits stuck to the fur;
• thickening of the skin.

If you look closely, you can see how the lice eaters move in the animal's fur. Any universal anti-ectoparasite remedy is suitable for treating a rodent. For example, Neostomozan. To prepare a medicinal solution, you need to dissolve 0.5 ml of the drug in 100 ml of water. After that, treat the rat’s fur with a cotton swab. However, the drug has one drawback - under no circumstances should you allow the animal to lick its fur.

Universal powder for animals (Clandestine) against fleas, ticks, lice, lice, and lice is considered a safer remedy. The method of application is simple - the dosage prescribed by the doctor must be distributed over the rat's fur (against growth). After that, carefully comb out the pet’s fur using a fine comb.

Fleas

Fleas are much larger than other ectoparasites, so they are much easier to see with the naked eye. The insects are brown in color, have an elongated body shape and reach sizes of 2-5 mm. These parasites feed exclusively on animal blood. Symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• the animal is very itchy;
• red dots appear at the bite sites;
• partial hair loss is noted;
• Small dark brown dots appear in the pet’s fur coat - waste products of the bloodsucker.

It is worth noting that fleas do not live in animal fur on a permanent basis. They only use the pet as a food source. And insects lay eggs within the home, in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, in addition to treating the rat itself, it is advisable to carry out disinfestation in the apartment.

You can cure a rat from fleas using any of the remedies discussed above. It is worth keeping in mind that the listed drugs can be dangerous for young, aging and weakened animals. In such situations, it is better to use an alternative treatment method. For example, using birch tar. To destroy parasites you will need:

• dissolve 30 ml of tar in 1.5 liters of clean water;
• leave the solution for 3-4 days, shaking it periodically;
• treat the rat’s fur with the resulting infusion;
• after 5 minutes, bathe your pet using shampoo.

Then 2 more treatments will be required - the next day and a week later. You need to prepare for the fact that the rat will emit an unpleasant odor for some time. But such a product is absolutely safe, and your pet’s fur coat will become soft and acquire a pleasant shine.

When treating a decorative rat for parasites, it is worth trimming the animal’s nails. This way the pet will be protected from strong scratching.

Bedbugs

Normally, bedbugs are found in every home - they parasitize mainly on the human body. These blood-sucking insects are not visible to the naked eye, so you cannot detect them yourself. In rare cases, bedbugs switch to pets. While a person does not feel the presence of bloodsuckers on the body at all, rats suffer greatly from them.

The pet develops the usual symptoms in the form of itching and deterioration of the coat. But the main danger of bedbugs is the possibility of causing blood poisoning. Therefore, the sooner you take the rat to the veterinary clinic, the more favorable the prognosis for recovery will be. To treat rodents against bedbugs, the drug Neostomazan is usually prescribed. Also, to prevent recurrence of tick infestation in your pet, you will need to carry out insecticidal treatment in your home.

Worms

Unlike cats and dogs, it is quite difficult to detect worms in the excrement of a small animal. The following symptoms may indicate the presence of helminths in a decorative rat:

• constipation followed by diarrhea;
• unpleasant odor from pet waste products;
• sudden weight loss of the animal;
• hair loss;
• scabies.

If these symptoms appear, you should not self-medicate. Deworming medications are dangerous for small animals such as rats. They have a toxic effect on the internal organs of the furry, primarily on the liver. Therefore, it is better to immediately show your pet to a veterinarian. Treatment can only be started if prescribed by a doctor, strictly following the dosage specified in the prescription. The most effective anthelmintic drugs are:

• Dirofen;
• Shustrik;
• Nemozol;
• Levamezole.

Since industrial anthelmintic drugs can be life-threatening for ornamental rats (especially baby rats), you can use traditional medicine to treat worms. For example, raw pumpkin seeds. It is enough to give 2-3 pieces a day in an unrefined form. The duration of the course of treatment is a week.

Precautionary measures

Carrying out disinfestation with Neostomozan against insects involves the use of personal protective equipment. Protect hands with rubber gloves, respiratory tract with a respirator, and skin on the body with clothing. After disinfestation against parasites, it is necessary to remove personal protective equipment, wash your hands with soap and wash.

Neostomazan has a specific, pungent, unpleasant odor. While working, you can take short breaks and go out into the fresh air. If dizziness, weakness, or headache occur, destruction must be stopped. Rinse your mouth with soda solution, take an activated carbon tablet.

In animals, the first time after using Neostomozan the following is observed:

• loss of appetite;
• drowsiness;
• apathy;
• weakness;
• increased salivation;
• lacrimation;
• redness of the skin.

Symptoms resolve within 3 days. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, you should take your pet to a veterinarian.

Consequences for animals

The animal becomes lethargic, exhaustion appears, and immunity decreases. As a result, chronic problems worsen, infectious diseases and colds become more common.

Anemia and vitamin deficiency may develop. Another danger of lice eaters is that they themselves are carriers of many diseases and can cause fungal, viral, bacterial, and helminth diseases.

In any case, infestation with parasites undermines the health of the infected animal, causing numerous problems.

Very often, lemon tree owners may notice strange growths on the plant - these are scale insects. Find out how to get rid of it by reading our article.

Rat flea bites are very dangerous, as these parasites carry many diseases. What to do if you find bites of these insects, read the link https://stopvreditel.ru/parazity/perenoschiki/krysinaja-bloha.html.

Bed bugs on rodents

Bedbugs are very rarely found on pet rats. Like fleas, a rat will only have bedbugs if another pet (such as a dog or cat) has them.

Make sure all your non-rat animals are on a high-quality flea (and bedbug, if necessary) preventative. Over-the-counter products are not always effective or safe. The best flea and bedbug treatments are recommended by your veterinarian. If your dogs and cats don't have fleas and ticks, then your rats shouldn't have them either.

Basic drugs for ectoparasites and methods of their use

If it is possible to determine which parasites cause discomfort to the decorative rat, it is necessary to carry out treatment. It is based on the use of special drugs.

Of the things that can be used to treat a rat against parasites such as lice, lice, fleas, bedbugs, the most popular are:

1. Unoiled. To treat a rodent, you need to dilute 2 ml of the product in 400 liters of warm water and mix thoroughly. Soak a cotton pad in the resulting solution and gently apply it to the entire body of the rodent, paying special attention to inflamed areas.
2. Spray Frontline. To treat a decorative rat from external parasites, you can only use an aerosol from this series of drugs, as it has a gentle effect. During the treatment process, you need to spray the product twice on the withers of the rodent, holding it in your hands.
3. Spray Bars. This drug should be used in the same way as the previous one. In addition, you additionally need to moisten a cotton pad in the product and wipe the inflamed areas on the body with it.

After treatment with any of the listed drugs, you should wrap your pet in a towel and hold it in your hands until it is completely dry, without allowing it to lick itself. After this, rinse the wool with warm water and then dry it with a hairdryer. If necessary, repeat the treatment after 7-10 days.

To rid an animal of ticks, you need to apply the following drops to the withers:

• Stronghold;
• Advocate;
• Prazicide-complex;
• Fiprist;
• Dana.

Before treating your pet, you must first trim its claws to prevent severe scratching of the skin. For treatment, just apply 1 drop of the product and lightly rub into the skin.

On the same day, you need to treat not only the pet, but also its cage. You should also replace the bedding and disinfect his household items.

Stronghold