There are several reasons why rats get scabs, the most obvious being mites which can be picked up from bedding or food. Your vet will need to take a skin scrape to check for mites and then he'll usually prescribe 'Invermectin' to kill them. Medicated washes can also be used but, if your rat is not used to being washed regularly, this can cause undue stress and great care must be taken to ensure your rat does not get cold while wet.

It is possible that he has mites, but most often scabs are caused by too much protein in the diet, which causes hot spots that the rats scratch. Try eliminating high-protein items such as sunflower seeds, peanuts and dog food. If the scabs persist, the problem may be mites. The horse-wormer paste products "Zimecterin," "Rotectin 1," "Equalvan," or "Equimectrin" (1. See similar questions...

This is commonly found on older rats as older rats have a higher risk of falling ill. Here are some of the diseases and ailments: Pet Rats Health See similar questions...

Nothing is wrong, but your rat may be a bit nervous of you, especially if it is still quite young. Once it has got used to being handled, these sort of 'accidents' generally stop, though male rats will lovingly scent you as their own....! This is, however, usually only with a tiny drop of urine which barely smells. It is still good hygiene to wash your hands after handling your rats though: if you have rats of both sexes, wash your hands after handling one sex before handling the other. See similar questions...

Your pet could have any number of problems that are fairly complicated. Animals get may different skin problems ranging from overpopulation of yeast and bacteria to dry skin. All of these problems need to be addressed by your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis and ensure proper treatment. See similar questions...

In brief, rat owners bring their rats to be seen by the public. Rats are shown in suitable tanks. During the day, the judges choose the best rats and award prizes. Rat shows are also social occasions where friendly rat owners share their common interest. Many shows will have a variety of other activities taking place – these are usually listed on the show calendar. See similar questions...

This is a sign that the rat is ill and it should be taken to the vets, especially if its eyes are half closed, it has red staining around its eyes and/or nose and it shuns other rats or contact. The red staining is called porphyrin and is often mistaken for blood, though it is more like coloured mucous. It is produced when the rat is particularly stressed or ill. See similar questions...

You don't have permission of the audio device. Most distributions already set this up to allow normal users use of that device. But in some cases you need to manually fix it. Start by su'ing to root and issue this command: See similar questions...

The last place you should get your rat terrier is the pet store. Yep, thats right. Instead, find a local breeder with a good reputation. Better yet, get a rescue. There are a lot of Rat Terrier's looking for a home. Check out Ratbone Rescues if you're interesting in rescuing a buddy. See similar questions...

Have a towel ready before you begin. Fill both sides of your kitchen sink with lukewarm water. Dip your rat in one side of the sink in the water, but only up to the neck. Use a soap made for cats or kittens, or even dish washing liquid (like Dawn on male rats for the oily buildup on their skin) and apply several drops on the rat's back. Begin working the soap into a good lather and scrub well with your fingertips. See similar questions...

Naked mole-rats cannot be kept as pets. They must live in large colonies, and they have fairly strict temperature and humidity requirements. They are high-maintenance animals and can live from ten to 30 years. Removing them from the wild in Africa is expensive, risky, and disruptive to the habitats of naked mole-rats and other animals. Naked mole-rats are kept and bred in highly controlled enclosures in some universities and zoos. Under no circumstances should they be kept as pets. See similar questions...

Nothing. All hamsters have these. They are called 'hip spots' and they are a scent gland. Sometimes these can be very prominent and look like scabs. You may often see your hamster rubbing its side along the side of the cage, it is marking its territory. See similar questions...

Accurately identifying the cause of spinal pain or other discomfort almost always requires a thorough consultation and examination. Individuals should not assume their pain stems from the same problem, for example, their neighbor had, and thus what has helped their neighbor will help them. Just as every individual is unique and different from the next, so too are the health conditions they suffer and the treatments they require. See similar questions...

Men and women equally cause infertility. 40% of the time the infertility is the result of a male factor and 40% of the time it is the result of a female factor. Because infertility is such a common disease, about 20% of the time, there are both male and female factors to address. It is imperative that you undergo a complete basic infertility evaluation before speculating on the causes and treatments. This information is not a substitute for a physician consultation or infertility evaluation. See similar questions...

Rat Terriers come in three sizes: Toy (less than 10 pounds), Mini (10-17 pounds), and Standard (17-30 pounds). See similar questions...

Actually, yes. Especially when they are shedding their "winter" coat. It can be very misleading because they are shorthaired dogs. Their short hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, and stick to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. Just be sure to brush them often with a soft brush or rubber curry mitt to remove dead hair. And don't wear black clothing! See similar questions...

Because of their calm temperament, rat-terriers tend to get along with other pets just fine. They will likely see their pet siblings as members of their family, and will be very protective of them. See similar questions...