Rodents belong to an order of mammals with extremely sharp incisors that grow continuously. Today, many people choose to raise rodents, affectionately called exotic pets. Caring for them is a real treat for many. But sometimes these beloved creatures suffer from itching, which is a source of discomfort. What are the causes and manifestations of itching in a rodent? How can its owner relieve it?
Dermatitis
This is one of the major causes of itching in rodents. It is an inflammation of the skin generally caused by parasites, fleas, fungi, etc. Small arachnids take up residence on the animal’s hairy skin and lay eggs.
A rodent suffering from dermatitis is very itchy. It inflicts terrible bites on itself in the hope of relieving itself. The owner must be particularly attentive to these signs to avoid the development of more complex problems. Other external signs of the disease are the appearance of scabs and the progressive disappearance of hair. The scabbing can be found on the head or neck.
Dermatitis can be fought with products containing antibiotics. Don’t forget to treat other rodents with an anti-parasite product. Regular treatment will reduce the risk of recurrence.
Scabies
Scabies is another common cause of itching. Psoroptids and sarcoptids, mites, are some of its transmitters. They lodge on the skin, burrow into the skin and lay their eggs.
The most visible manifestation of scabies is a very strong itching caused by the saliva of the transmitting agent. By scratching constantly, the rodent loses its hair in various places on the body and sees its skin covered with scabs. Sometimes, this condition affects the animal’s ear canal.
Various highly effective treatments have been developed to combat scabies. These treatments must be repeated several times depending on the extent of the disease and the veterinarian’s instructions.
Ticks
Ticks, other blood-sucking mites, can make life more difficult for rodents. The problem usually occurs when rodents leave the house or come into contact with infected animals.
A tick-infested rodent will also scratch very often. Its owner must act as soon as possible to relieve it because ticks are vectors of many diseases.
In the event of a tick invasion, it is necessary to obtain an anti-parasite treatment and remove the parasites with a tick remover.
Lice
Rodents can fall victim to lice due to poor hygiene or contamination.
When lice come onto your pet’s body, they don’t just live there. They leave behind many eggs that will eventually lead to more lice. As a result, your rodent will scratch.
To fight lice, a broad-spectrum pest control product is the best choice.
