How to treat scabies in rats?

How to treat scabies in rats? - briefly

Effective treatment requires a veterinary‑prescribed topical acaricide such as ivermectin, selamectin, or benzyl benzoate applied to the affected skin, with dosing adjusted for the animal’s weight. Concurrent environmental decontamination—cleaning cages, bedding, and surrounding surfaces with a suitable disinfectant—prevents reinfestation.

How to treat scabies in rats? - in detail

Scabies in rats, caused by the mite Sar­cop­tes scabiei, requires prompt intervention to prevent severe pruritus, skin lesions, and secondary infections. Effective control combines pharmacological therapy, environmental sanitation, and monitoring of colony health.

Pharmacological options include:

  • Systemic acaricides administered orally or subcutaneously. Recommended agents are:
    • «Ivermectin» at 200 µg/kg body weight, given once and repeated after 7 days if clinical signs persist.
    • «Selamectin» at 10 mg/kg, applied topically once weekly for two consecutive weeks.
  • Topical treatments for localized infestations:
    • «Benzyl benzoate» 25 % solution applied to affected areas twice daily for three days.
    • «Sulfur ointment» 5 % applied once daily for five days, especially in pregnant or lactating females.

Environmental measures:

  • Remove and discard bedding, nesting material, and any contaminated substrates.
  • Clean cages with a 1 % sodium hypochlorite solution, followed by thorough rinsing and drying.
  • Treat the entire colony enclosure with a residual acaricide spray (e.g., permethrin 0.5 %) to eliminate residual mites.

Monitoring protocol:

  • Conduct weekly skin examinations of all individuals for erythema, crusting, or hair loss.
  • Perform mite detection using skin scrapings examined under microscopy.
  • Record treatment outcomes, noting any adverse reactions such as lethargy, anorexia, or dermatologic irritation.

Supportive care:

  • Provide a high‑quality diet to promote immune competence.
  • Ensure adequate hydration and warmth to facilitate healing.
  • Administer broad‑spectrum antibiotics only if secondary bacterial infection is confirmed.

Record keeping:

  • Document drug lot numbers, dosages, administration routes, and dates.
  • Maintain a log of environmental cleaning cycles and acaricide applications.
  • Review colony health status monthly to adjust preventive strategies as needed.
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  • ⏱ Date of published 2025-10-09 15:55.
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