What can I do if my rats hair is falling out?
There are many washes and treatments for lice and mites and in very bad cases the vet will probably administer invermectin; this is available on prescription only, can be expensive but is the treatment of choice for mites. Some fungal infections can cause hair loss; in particular the ‘ringworm’ effect where the hair falls out in a circle.
Is it harmful for a rat to have a haircut?
The patches are randomly shaped and are not harmful; most rats don’t mind being barbered and unless the rats are intended for show there is no real need to do anything about it, although giving the rats more to do in terms of toys or a larger habitat might minimise it.
Why is my rat losing hair on his neck?
Many owners feed their pet rats a diet far too high in protein, thinking that they are doing the best for the animal. This is not in fact the case, as a diet too high in protein can cause scabbing and hair loss around the neck and shoulders particularly.
What does a groomed rat do in slow motion?
Grooming consists of rapid little nibbles, in one spot or moving slowly to one side. Slow motion video analysis reveals that the groomer seizes folds of neck skin between his teeth (Miczek and Boer 2004). The groomed rat remains immobile, and may even be pushed into different positions. The groomed rat may peep or squeak softly.
What does it mean when a rat barbers another rat?
Rats may barber each other, in which case frequent areas of barbering and subsequent bald spots on other rats are the head, face, neck and shoulders. Dominant rats may barber subordinates (e.g. Bresnahan 1983).
What kind of behavior does a rolled rat have?
Also, the rolled rat becomes motionless, and motion is an important stimulus for attack (Thor et al. 1981). Lastly, the recumbent rat may track his opponent’s face with his teeth and whiskers, which may actively inhibit attacks as well (Blanchard and Blanchard 1977).
How are Rats supposed to box each other?
Box: Two rats stand on their hind legs face to face and nearly nose to nose, and push or paw at each other with their front legs and paws, usually around the head, neck, shoulders and front legs of their opponent. In high intensity boxing the rats stand erect on their hind feet and rapidly push, paw, and grab at each other.
