surface bumps

Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:21 pm

last nite i discovered 3 skin tag type bumps on Mowgli's back, they are within 3/4 of an inch area. they actually look like a skin tag with a scab at the end, they are red and when i was examining him, he eeeked on my so i know it hurt. what do you think? If needed i can send pics.

Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:39 pm

Pictures would be better to get an idea of what you mean. Could be a few things but I can't really say without seeing - so yes, pics would be appreciated.

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Andy & The Rats

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~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:51 pm

OK I hope these pics turn out good, my wife took them and she is camera challenged...

Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:51 pm

those suck, i'll try again

Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:01 am

try again

Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:09 am

Could they be bite wounds, perhaps? It's the skin tag bit I'm not sure on... it's possible that if they're bites, there is a flap of skin and the scab might have formed around that... otherwise.... I'm not sure. How long are these "skin tags" and does the skin around them, and making up the tags themselves look normal, inflamed, open wound etc?

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Andy & The Rats

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~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:30 am

skin around the area is normal, he does not have a cage mate, but there are 3 of them. they are not subsurface, i don't have a clue.

Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:16 am

no ideas?

Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:27 am

How big are they? And how much do they stick out from the skin surface? Are they smooth or bumpy? How long have they been there?

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:03 am

	LittleWillow wrote:
	How big are they? And how much do they stick out from the skin surface? Are they smooth or bumpy? How long have they been there?

about 1/8" long, rough, they do stick out from the skin, and have a crusty scab on the end, only been there 3 days.

Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:16 am

Could they perhaps be insect bites or stings that he's scratched up? In all honesty, I'm a little puzzled. They could be small abscesses or infected hair follicles perhaps... but I'd expect to see some redness around the bump. They could be small skin tumours, but it seems unlikely (how old is he?). They could be maybe some kind of mite or parasite - I know that sarcoptic mites can produce lumpy, bumpy wart like growths but that's usually on hairless skin like ears, tail etc. They could be some kind of bacterial infection - some bugs (similar to leprosy and TB) can cause lumpy growths in the skin, but that's not a common thing in pet rats....

I think, really, as they're sore and paining him, you'll have to get a vet to check.

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:10 am

Gee, thanx for the help (sarcasm) I have an appointment the 22nd at the vet. They are still getiing bigger, and I shaved the area around them to get a better look, not a clue.

Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:34 am

I do apologise if my posts weren't helpful but I tried my best, considering I only have photos to go from and I'm not a vet. Confused

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:11 pm

	roadkill wrote:
	Gee, thanx for the help (sarcasm) I have an appointment the 22nd at the vet. They are still getiing bigger, and I shaved the area around them to get a better look, not a clue.

An attitude like that isn't going to get you any help at all. LittleWillow is trying her best to find what she can and you just write her off. Nice. Real nice.

And if you're saying that for the lack of other replies, it's most likely because no one knows. Rudeness is uncalled for and will not be tolerated.

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RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:08 am

	roadkill wrote:
	last nite i discovered 3 skin tag type bumps on Mowgli's back, they are within 3/4 of an inch area. they actually look like a skin tag with a scab at the end, they are red and when i was examining him, he eeeked on my so i know it hurt. what do you think? If needed i can send pics.

It's mites. after reading the article under health and sickness and checking my other male, he has on down by his tail. i have a vet appt next week but i will change and boil, bake, shake, bleach everything tomorrow, am freezing litter now, my question is where do they come from? could my dogs have infected them?

Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:49 am

Mites and lice are generally species specific - though certain types of mites can be cross contamitated, though rarely. The most likely cause is the bedding you are using. Freezing it, as you are, should take care of it. You will need to get your rats treated for mites by your vet and thoroughly clean the cage. Remove and wash or toss all fabrics and wood items. Anything else that is washable should be scrubbed and the carpet/flooring around the cage should be very well vaccuumed or mopped. The sooner you can get them treated, the better. It is best to treat bugs orally rather than by injection. Injections often cause unintentional overdoses or hot spots.

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RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:42 pm

OK, sorry for the sarcasm, just worried because i could not figure out what they were. Am I doing this bassackwards? i have already disposed of all their toys, and was going to bleach cages and do the carpet tonite and change litter with the stuff that i froze, but shouldn't i wait until they see the vet on the 22nd before changing and carpet cleaning? It would seem to me that it would be a waste of time until they are under treatment? advice, now or wait? thanx

Thu Feb 16, 2006 8:59 pm

If you're worried about parasites, the ones you eliminate today won't be laying eggs tomorrow. Eggs take about three weeks to hatch, so even if you were to eliminate 100% of the living parasites today, they'll be back as the eggs hatch. I know it's a royal pain (believe me, I know!), but eliminating parasites is a full-time job for a month or more.

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Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:56 am

	Victor wrote:
	If you're worried about parasites, the ones you eliminate today won't be laying eggs tomorrow. Eggs take about three weeks to hatch, so even if you were to eliminate 100% of the living parasites today, they'll be back as the eggs hatch. I know it's a royal pain (believe me, I know!), but eliminating parasites is a full-time job for a month or more.

OK then what do you suggest that i do, clean the cages, floor, room before or after the vet appt when they will get treated? Seems like I should wait, I'm off work the day that I take them in, so get them their first dose, lock them in the bathroom, clean both cages, and the rest of the room. just so happens that a guy is coming to clean my oriental rug in the living room and if i dust the room with flea powder 30 minutes before he comes that would really free the carpet of bugs. what do you think?

Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:14 am

	roadkill wrote:
	Gee, thanx for the help (sarcasm)

What the heck is that about? I'm reading thru this thinking yeah, you're interacting, sharing info, right questions, best answers, and Mad

Come on man!
(ok, I see your apology further on, kudos to Little Willow btw)
(kinda rough on your wife tho too)

Yeah, you need to clean the cage & plastic things with bleach, get every nook & cranny, take any wood things, put them in a plastic bag and in someone's deep freeze for a month.
Give All your ratties (even if in different cages) a run of ivermectin. I would suggest buying a tube and having it on hand, but you must mix it very well.). Phone around to farm supply stores, look under mercantile in the phone book. It's easy, once a wk for 3 wks, and it's a teeny bit easy to put into something tasty.
Initial outlay is a bit, but it will last you forever. If little bugs are the problem, it will fix it, it that's not the problem, it won't hurt your kids.

I use newspaper here. Not bought bedding. I still treat my boys twice a year cause they get those sores from where???? and it does clear them up. God knows where they come from but if it works, it works.

Good luck.
And try to go easy on the ladies in your life eh? wink

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