Rat & Mice Care & Allergies

Rats and mice are capable of developing allergic reactions to their surroundings while also causing allergies to develop in their human handlers. Being cautious with your small pet's food and bedding is crucial while also taking care of your own skin as well.

  1. Food Allergies

    • Food reactions can be caused by either an immediate or delayed hypersensitivity, or a food intolerance. Signs include itching, inflammation, lesions caused by scratching and/or patchy hair loss.

    Treatment for Food Allergies

    • If the food that is causing the reaction is known, eliminate that food from the diet. If not known, follow an elimination diet, meaning eliminating certain foods until the reaction has improved. Then treat the skin lesions if present by clipping the rear toenails and applying antibiotic ointment to the lesions as needed.

    Dermatitis

    • Dermatitis, or superficial skin inflammation, produces itching, redness, swelling, lesions from scratching, yellowish or reddish bumps, crusting, scaling, oozing, and/or patchy hair loss. There are a multitude of causes and types of dermatitis; visiting your veterinarian for diagnosis is ideal.

    Treatment for Dermatitis

    • If the substance causing the skin allergy is known, remove it from the rat or mouse's environment. Since these pets are prone to scratching itchy areas with their rear feet, clip the rear toenails using human fingernail clippers, then apply antibiotic ointment to any wounds. Medications may be prescribed by your veterinarian.

    Allergies to Rats and Mice

    • Rats and mice carry allergens in their dead skin cells, saliva and urine. When their toenails pierce the skin, allergens can enter the open area and cause itching. Statistically, very few rat and mice owners are allergic to rats; often the cause of the allergy is simply the bedding in the cage.