UGG! I think my rats have lice...Help!

[mues155]

Well this morning I was inspecting the baby fuzzy rats like I do everyday and I held one of the berkshires.
I noticed little brown bugs stuck to his skin...friggin great!
My dogs just had some feas and now it looks like I have rats with lice.
Im sure my adults have had the bugs for quite some time and just passed it to the babies through nursing...Is there any sort of oral or topical treatment available for rodents? I assume most people wouldnt care about this stuff but I dont want my breeders infested! And I dont know if this kind of louse can be spread to humans or my dogs etc.
I was able to put a couple bugs on a paper towel and take some pictures.
Keep in mind these are FUZZY rats, so the hair in the pic is a couple milimeters long if even. The bug is VERY tiny and was hard to see any detail with the naked eye. If anyone has any info on a treatment or what to do I would appreciate it!

[kitedemon]

You might look into diatomaceous earth as a treatment. It is a mechanical treatment as it breaks down the exoskeletons. It is low toxicity and could be washed off before feeding if need be. It might not be great for pinkies as it is very dehydrating but adults and juvies should be fine.

[shelliebear]

Do you see any specs of blood or anything on the mice? Sometimes I believe lice or other parasites will leave behind a little speck of blood from feeding on their host but this one is probably too tiny to see it. Some species don't even feed on blood but rather loose skin and debris on the host's body.
Another thing, if it is lice you will probably see "nits", the lice eggs. Live ones are white in color, dead ones yellow; check your darker mice and see if you can find any.
As for treatment...gosh, I have no idea what's safe for those little guys (mice). Regardless, try to stay away from any chemicals--they only increase louse's resistance to the chemicals, so the next person this happens to it will be harder to eliminate.
I can't help on the treatment any more than that bit of advice.
Wipe down an adult mice you suspect of having lice with a wet towel and see what you find. I'd even try a special lice comb to see if you can comb any out to confirm they're lice before beginning treatment.
Best of luck. Keep us updated.

[RichsBallPythons]

Get a can of Provent a Mite and treat the cage when you clean the bedding. Should get rid of them if not might need to look for some animal lice sprays.

[mues155]

You might look into diatomaceous earth as a treatment. It is a mechanical treatment as it breaks down the exoskeletons. It is low toxicity and could be washed off before feeding if need be. It might not be great for pinkies as it is very dehydrating but adults and juvies should be fine.

Awesome thank you, I will look into that.

Wipe down an adult mice you suspect of having lice with a wet towel and see what you find. I'd even try a special lice comb to see if you can comb any out to confirm they're lice before beginning treatment.
Best of luck. Keep us updated.

Ill have to do that to all the rats and make sure every cage is infested, which im 99% sure they would be. I rotate one male per females so Im sure they all need treatment.

Get a can of Provent a Mite and treat the cage when you clean the bedding. Should get rid of them if not might need to look for some animal lice sprays.

Thank you! I will look into that!

thanks guys for the quick replys

[mues155]

Heres a pic you can clearly see a few lice in the pic. Theres a HUGE louse under the ear of the rat pup on the left....just makes me mad I hate bug problems..

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Be very careful with the provent-a-mite around the rats though. It's highly toxic. A great fix is go to the pet store and pick up the mite disc for birds. Peel the paper off and set it (holes facing down) on the top of the screen above the rats. Keeping a few of these mite discs around your cages or rodent tubs will help keep mites and lice away.

[mues155]

Be very careful with the provent-a-mite around the rats though. It's highly toxic. A great fix is go to the pet store and pick up the mite disc for birds. Peel the paper off and set it (holes facing down) on the top of the screen above the rats. Keeping a few of these mite discs around your cages or rodent tubs will help keep mites and lice away.

good idea! Ill go get some of those tomorrow, I never thought of those dics! Ill see if they work.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

I got the idea on a rat forum I was lurking at for info awhile ago. They said it worked so I figured why not? It's safe too because birds have incredibly sensitive lungs but the bird protector mite disc is harmless to them when hung on the outside of the cage.

I have a problem with wood mites from bedding sometimes. Those suckers get on me and bite! I need to go pick up some more myself.

[mues155]

Well Ive had birds since forever, so I know about the discs but never thought of them for rodents and such.
thanks for the awesome idea! its on my list for tomorrows errands.