Bitten by rat?

[Red357]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question but...I was just bitten by a rat that I was going to dispatch and feed my ball python. It flipped on me and took a little bit. Didn’t draw blood or anything but I could feel he bit me. Didn’t hurt at all either. Question is, should I take some kind or precautions? I used peroxide, alcohol and some type of Neosporin cream. Anything else? Breeder rats are not nasty street rats. They can’t carry many deceases, can they?

[Caitlin]

I wouldn't worry about diseases in a lab/breeder rat. The only thing I'd suggest is making sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot, but honestly if the skin wasn't broken you probably don't even need to consider that.

[Red357]

I wouldn't worry about diseases in a lab/breeder rat. The only thing I'd suggest is making sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot, but honestly if the skin wasn't broken you probably don't even need to consider that.

yikes. I haven’t gotten a tetanus shot in years. Many many years actually. It was more of a scratch. It did break the skin a tad. But didn’t bleed at all. It was a bite though. Not a scratch.


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[Caitlin]

Well, your risk is likely very low. There's also an extremely low chance of contracting Rat Bite Fever, which is caused in the U.S. by staph bacteria. I work in public health, so am just passing the info along in terms of what the standard recommendation would be - which is probably a tetanus update and advice to see a doctor if you develop a fever, rash, or joint pain.

I'm sure rat bites aren't all that uncommon among folks here, so maybe someone who's recently experienced one can chime in.

[Luvyna]

I think it shouldn't be a problem, sounds like you've already done all you need to do to keep the wound clean. Just keep an eye out for swelling, pus, or a rash which would indicate an infection or something more serious. Sounds like it wasn't too bad of a bite which is good. Rats can do some serious damage when they want to. I once got bitten by a rat at a pet store and those teeth went in deep. That's also why it's super important to supervise live feedings always!