The Cows

Well wow...it's been a while since I've posted here...but I thought I better renew my efforts at keeping up my blogs. lol. We'll see how long this lasts. ;)

In the spirit of this blog, I thought I'd update ya'll about my Cows. I've got these three adorable ratties living together and they are all hooded black and white ratties (aka, The Cows). There are two boys, one girl. Max, Petey, and Mollie. I think I've described them briefly in an earlier post. Now I don't know exactly how old they are because all three of them were adopted from various humane type societies, but they've got to be getting up to the 2 year mark...if not surpassing it.

So here's my first update:

Before we moved into our new house (YAY!), we were living with my in-laws in a single bedroom. A very small one at that. By the time were about 6 months into this arrangement and had added 3 more rats to the 5 that I already had (a co-worker needed us to take them), the Cows were none too happy about sharing there space. So they started getting really patchy fur. I figured they were just over grooming because they were stressed. I wish I had taken pics so I could show you what it looks like, but I didn't. Just know that if your ratties start to get patchy, and there has been some change to their environment, it may be more than just stress!! Take them to your vet! It took me a while, but I finally did and it turned out they had developed mites. My vet explained that all animals have the potential for mites, but that as long as they are healthy and have good immune systems they naturally fight them off. But when your rattie gets sick or too stressed to fight, guess what takes over?? The Mites! Ewww! Don't worry, you can't even hardly see them. But they are itchy little buggers and your ratties will itch themselves raw trying to alleviate the irritations. Hence, patchy fur.

What to do?? It's actually a very easy fix. Especially if you create a safer, less stressful environment for your rats in addition to the medication. Which, luckily is what we were able to do. The meds are really easy too. It's just a liquid that you try to get as directly on the skin as possible (below their fur, otherwise they will lick most of it off) twice. Once right when the vet gives it to you and once in three weeks. My vet said sometimes ratties are immune to this method and then she says shots will be needed....but I would bet the first method would work for most rats. It did for mine. There fur has all grown back and they seem happier, so I'm pretty sure they are all better.

So, that's my experience with mites. I feel bad that I let it happen. I can't help but feel like it was my fault. And I don't know why it took me so long to get them into the vet. I just couldn't believe that would happen to my ratties. But, it did. So that's why I wanted to write about it. Maybe this will help someone else someday.

More on The Cows on my next posts. I've got Max's weight issues to discuss and Petey's leg problems. OH! And I almost forgot that I need to tell you all about the major traumas we had when we neutered them! How could I forget!! :( Ahhh, the joys of rat ownership!

Until then....

~ Melissa

P.S - Oh, and here's a Random Rattie Video for evidence that Rats are awesome pets despite the sometimes morbid nature of my posts. I think this one is Lulu attacking her favorite plant. I came home the mess you see in the video practically every day. I used to smell her paws to make sure it was her...they always smelled like dirt. I used to tell her that that is how she was always convicted of her heinous crimes. lol. She was such a cutie pie. :D Lulu passed in September 8th, 2010. She was surely one of the best rats who ever lived. She is greatly missed. XOXOX