Abscesses
Abscesses are normally caused in rats due to bites, scratches or other skin trauma where bacteria enter the skin.
The skin can close over the affected area and create an infection under the skin. The infection causes swelling and the area to become filled with pus which eventually opens and drains.
Although generally, an abscess is a fairly minor infection which can correct itself, there are steps you can take to encourage the process from a swollen area to a clean wound that will heal with no other issues. Some steps we take when an abscess is apparent are to apply warm compresses to the area multiple times a day. This helps draw the infection to the surface and helps ease some of the discomfort.
An area of the skin where the abscess forms will become dark and eventually peel away allowing the pus to be removed either by the animal cleaning the area or you bathing it in a warm salt bath, saline or betadine (mixed as 1 part betadine to 5 parts water).
It is important during this time to make sure the living environment is clean at all times to give the wound the best chances of healing without trapping more bacteria within the wound which can result in another abscess within the same area.
An abscess should heal from the inside out otherwise a reoccurring abscess may result. The rats normally feel uncomfortable during the period where the abscess is swelling and the area normally feels warm to touch. The use of pain medication and antibiotics can be of assistance but is not generally required if the abscess is minor.
For reoccurring abscesses antibiotics are normally prescribed to help prevent more infections in the area. Most commonly Baytril is used for this treatment which is only available via a vet. Sometimes we can pin point exactly why the abscess happened and other times they occur and we have no known cause, apart from being aware that some trauma has allowed bacteria under the skin. You can also trim your rat’s nails if you think that the introduction of bacteria was from scratching, especially if the rats have been treated for mites and they are scratching at the scabs from the aggravation.
Sometimes, with reoccurring abscesses within the same area, vets recommend surgical removal of the affected tissue. These cases are fairly rare and most abscesses do eventually settle on their own.
We believe, and this is not scientifically proven or even tested, that abscesses can also be somewhat of a genetic or hereditary trait in rats.
Blood disorders may also be to blame for some abscesses that occur but no additional information on this has been concluded as far as we know.
NB – Abscesses can sometimes be confused with tumors and vice versa. If you are at all unsure please seek vet advice. An abscess should burst and heal within 1 week with the above methods.
If your rat has a suspected abscess that has been there for over this time then we seriously urge you to seek vet advise ASAP as it could be something life threatening.