Hair loss and scabbing

I've been noticing that a few of my rats are losing hair in some places and are developing scabs on some of those areas. I can not visually see any external parasites and my entire colony is not affected, just two. I have read that too much protein in their diet can cause this. Any insight?

I have read also that certain foods can cause allergies, which makes them scratch and lose hair. Also dry skin, fungus, lice and mites can cause hairloss and scabs. There is also the practice of shearing, but that is just a weird activity and it doesnt actually break the skin.

I put neosporin on my boy's face when he does that, two times a day and it goes away very quickly. It is also inheritable to a degree, (the allergies) and both of his daughters exhibited some scabs once in a while. They get neosporin as well.

If you know it's not lice, it could be a fungus like ring worm.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

If you know it's not lice, it could be a fungus like ring worm.

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Could possibly be ringworm although you'd think my family and I would have contracted it, too.

http://www.afrma.org/med_ringworm.htm

Anyway, I found this article.

http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#itchy

I'll buy some meds to treat. Form some readings, it looks like it is ok to treat the rats as a precautionary method.

Ringworm isn't as contagious as many people believe. The best thing you can do is take the rat to a vet, they will scrape the affected area and be able to tell you if it is some form of fungus. It may or may not be ringworm, but it's an idea. I think if it doesn't clear up in a week or two, a visit to the vet is in order. Also, normal quarantine practice should apply in case it is something a little more serious. :)

Also, in the link you provided from the afrma, they have this

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They are not thought to represent a significant zoonosis to humans. Definitive diagnosis is made by fungal culture of hair or skin scrapings

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Meaning it's not likely for you or others to get the fungus from them. But it is always something to consider.

My boy had a fungal infection a few months ago, and the vet prescribed a shampoo for him. When he is wet, you can clearly see the infected skin, it isn't a whiteish pink color, instead it looks waxy and irritated. It has an orangy color, and you can see speckles of the orange stuff in his fur. She had also done a scraping and grabbed some hairs to diagnose it. It was very easy to treat, if your animal doesnt mind taking a bath.

Thank you. I plan on following the guidlines from AFRMA. In the event it doesn't clear up, we'll be seeing the vet. :)

I'd go for the first, most likely thing which would be a protein reaction. It may be that you need to adjust down the percentage protein in their food a bit. Some rats react to an overabundance of protein more strongly than others.

Parasites, allergies, diet too high in protein could be the cause.

I agree with Jo I would try to eliminate the causes one by one.

Are the two rats showing the problem house together or are they with other rats?

Do you provide a diet high in protein?