Q: Do rats also get ticks and fleas? Should I treat my rat against these parasites?
A: Pet rats can become infested with external parasites but ticks and fleas are seen very rarely. The only time a pet rat would get them is if there was another pet in the household, such as a dog or cat, that had these parasites.
There are, however, other more common rat parasites. Mange mites cause itching and can cause scabby, cauliflower-like growths on the ears, nose and tail.
Fur lice can be seen crawling about in the fur and tropical rat mites appear as tiny black or dark red spots that move over the rat.
These mites live in the environment and only climb onto the host to feed. They will also bite people if given the chance.
It is a good idea to get any recently acquired pet rat checked out by an exotic animal veterinarian. They can then be treated for all the common parasites to prevent them from bringing pests into your home.
Healthy pet rats should not need regular parasite treatments so long as they are not exposed to sources of infection.
Dr Dorianne Elliott, veterinarian
