If after trying to clip your Rats nails they are still itching and scratching their skin we recommend treating your Rats for mites. Although you can have your vet do a skin scraping on your Rat to test for mites, this often results in a negative result even though they may be present, we feel it is best to progress right to treatment.
Mite and mange spray by Aristopet is specifically formulated to safely control lice, sarcoptic mange and mites on small animals including Rats & Mice. The Aristopet spray is applied by spraying the animals fur (avoiding their eyes and face) with the treatment ensuring to get it all over the body. Brush the fur backwards as you spray the treatment to get a better all over coverage. It is also recommended to use this on the bedding and cage as mites will inhabit and lay eggs in secluded places. Treatment is best twice weekly for 2 weeks and then once a week thereafter.
Ivermectin is nearly always prescribed by vets for mite infestation, generally given orally or via injection. Too many side effects have been reported using these methods of administering this medication, even resulting in death with some very sensitive Rats. Present recommendations are to use it topically as the Rats tend to ingest a certain amount of the Ivermectin anyway, when the Rat is grooming, which will enter the bloodstream and subsequently enter the mite when it bites and draws blood.
Do Not use Permethrin, this is a synthetic version of pyrethrin and has been shown to be toxic to small animals.
