My rat has a bald stripe on her face.

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Redladyjayne - 14 May 2007 14:50 GMT

Hi

Last year I brought a pet rat (Pip) and then read that it was better to keep
them with other ratties as company so I brought 2 more females just before
Christmas (this makes Pip about 3 months older than Bubble and Squeak (Twins).
I introduced them very slowly in the bath tub (empty of water) and gradually
introduced them into the same cage. Their cage is large with ferret tunnels
going from inside the cage to outside and around the cage (this is where they
usually make their beds). They are always grooming each other, but lately I
have noticed that one of the younger girls in particular seems to be
constantly following (chasing in fact) Pip and jumping onto her back (if I
didn't know better I would think she was male judging by the movements she
then makes). Both of the young ones are constantly sniffing around Pips bum
and the one that jumps on her is constantly grooming Pip causing all manner
of squeaks from Pip (who is normally lying on her back by this time). I'm
not sure what to make of this as although I have had rats before I have never
had more than one in a cage. Pip now has a bald spot on her face along the
top of her nose in an almost straight line up to her eyes. Is this a sign
over overgrooming or is it something more serious? Can anybody out there
help me please.

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Dewi - 16 May 2007 04:07 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> over overgrooming or is it something more serious? Can anybody out there
> help me please.

Hi there,

It seems like there are some dominance issues going on. I'm not sure
how to deal with it though as I've never had any problems like this
before. What power strugggles that have occured with my rats, have
resolved themselves over time. I did a quick seach and came across
this link: http://www.ratz.co.uk/temperament.html which may offer some
tips. Hopefully someone with more experience will have more to
suggest.

Dewi.

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Redladyjayne - 16 May 2007 09:06 GMT

Thanks for the response and the link, I will look into that. I did consider
dominance issues myself, but I feel really sorry for Pip as she was the first
and is the oldest and to have a newcomer trying to dominate her, I know how I
would feel. However not being a rat I don't want to put my feelings onto
them.

Jayne

>> Hi
>>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
>Dewi.

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The Rat Lord - 16 May 2007 11:27 GMT

sounds like pip may be in heat and it is bringing out a bit of lez in the
other rat. don't laugh, it happens more than you may think.

as for the bald spot, i did have one rat once who started going bald as he
got older but other than that i have not seen it before in any of my rats.
i'm fairly certain that someone in this NG will know what it means.

> Thanks for the response and the link, I will look into that. I did
> consider
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>>
>>Dewi.

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Redladyjayne - 16 May 2007 12:17 GMT

Thanks for that, I've never heard of it before, but as mentioned in my first
post I have never kept a group of rats together, although I have bred them
before. The bald spot only seems to have happened since the other one has
been chasing and cornering her to either jump on her or groom her.

>sounds like pip may be in heat and it is bringing out a bit of lez in the
>other rat. don't laugh, it happens more than you may think.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>>>
>>>Dewi.

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Joanne - 16 May 2007 12:32 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> over overgrooming or is it something more serious? Can anybody out there
> help me please.

Your Pip was in heat and the others kind of "accommodate" her. But the
stripe, it's just one of the girls barbering, it's normal, nothing to
worry about. I'm sure soon enough Pip will hold her own and show these
girls where they stand. Remember... sometimes the squeaking is not a bad
thing, it can be a "oh ya, oh ya, you got that itch, a little to the
left, oh that's good, thanks". ;)

Signature

Joanne
Owned by 23 rats.
Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

-------------------------------------------------------
~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning*

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Redladyjayne - 16 May 2007 12:54 GMT

I hope so, I will leave it for a couple of weeks and see what happens. I'm
just concerned that poor Pip is being made miserable, especially as it was
her home in the first place. I checked her again last night and noticed that
the patch is a bit bigger it is now practically symetrical up the bridge of
her nose and around both eyes. Could this be anything else, has anybody
heard of any disease that she may have that causes this kind of result? I am
inclined to believe it is over grooming, but if there is a chance that it
could be some kind of skin problem/disease then I will get her straight to
the vets.

>> Hi
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>thing, it can be a "oh ya, oh ya, you got that itch, a little to the
>left, oh that's good, thanks". ;)

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Joanne - 16 May 2007 13:04 GMT

> I hope so, I will leave it for a couple of weeks and see what happens. I'm
> just concerned that poor Pip is being made miserable, especially as it was
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> could be some kind of skin problem/disease then I will get her straight to
> the vets.

If it was something dermal, then it wouldn't be symetrical.
It's definitely over grooming.
How big is your cage, do the ratties have lots of toys and things to
distract them and entertain them?

Signature

Joanne
Owned by 23 rats.
Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

-------------------------------------------------------
~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning*

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Redladyjayne - 16 May 2007 14:19 GMT

The cage they are in is a FerreTrail Funnel Home measuring 47" W x 20" D x
38" H with 4 levels and a bubble wave tunnel going out of each side to meet
in top centre going back into the cage. I have also added a couple of 'T'
junctions so they have another section of tunnel at the back of the cage.
They have a rope ladder, a hanging corner snuggle bed, a hammock and plenty
to chew, plus plenty of space to climb the bars.

>> I hope so, I will leave it for a couple of weeks and see what happens. I'm
>> just concerned that poor Pip is being made miserable, especially as it was
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>How big is your cage, do the ratties have lots of toys and things to
>distract them and entertain them?

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Joanne - 16 May 2007 18:37 GMT

> The cage they are in is a FerreTrail Funnel Home measuring 47" W x 20" D x
> 38" H with 4 levels and a bubble wave tunnel going out of each side to meet
> in top centre going back into the cage. I have also added a couple of 'T'
> junctions so they have another section of tunnel at the back of the cage.
> They have a rope ladder, a hanging corner snuggle bed, a hammock and plenty
> to chew, plus plenty of space to climb the bars.

So it can't be that... That cage sounds like a palace of fun!!

Signature

Joanne
Owned by 23 rats.
Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

-------------------------------------------------------
~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning*

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Redladyjayne - 17 May 2007 12:25 GMT

Only the best for my girls! My husband brought me the cage for Christmas
last year and every birthday or other time I get presents I ask for things
for my animals. I have two dogs a cat and 3 rats so they all get the best.
They're spoilt rotten, but I get as much fun out of watching them as they do
playing.

>> The cage they are in is a FerreTrail Funnel Home measuring 47" W x 20" D x
>> 38" H with 4 levels and a bubble wave tunnel going out of each side to meet
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>So it can't be that... That cage sounds like a palace of fun!!

Reply to this Message

Joanne - 17 May 2007 12:42 GMT

> Only the best for my girls! My husband brought me the cage for Christmas
> last year and every birthday or other time I get presents I ask for things
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>>
>>So it can't be that... That cage sounds like a palace of fun!!

Same here! In January, for my birthday, my husband bought me a Ferret
Nation cage. Getting gifts that are actually for my pets is way more
fun. lol
If you go to the link in my signature, you can see the pics.

Signature

Joanne
Owned by 23 rats.
Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

-------------------------------------------------------
~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning*

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / May 2007

My rat has a bald stripe on her face.