AboutSandra Conti-Todd Expertise NOTE:
I am sorry for any long delays in responses. I have been going through some personal issues with my life but things are looking up for me and I am getting my life back on track again and will promise to be here for all rat lovers to help guide you on proper care. Love to all of you!
To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both you and I. There is no time limit on weekends or after 99pm M-F or if your cell phone carrier is Verizon Wireless. There is no charge for a telephone consultation. I offer my advice free of charge since my goal is to simply keep your rats happy and healthy for as long as possible. My reward is knowing that people learning as much as they can on rat care in order to provide the best care possible. Thats all I need to know. You cant put a price tag on love:)
As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats.
I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents.
I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior.
I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself .
Experience My expertise
Includes the following:
1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too.
2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors.
3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease
4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few.
My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian.
However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**
Organizations I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!
Publications My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area.
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. I am a member of the ASPCA.
Awards and Honors Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008
Past/Present Clients My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.
Question Hello, My daughter is taking care of the class pet for part of the summer. He sneezes several times a day. From what I am told, that is normal for him and he did that at school often. However, he has been scratching himself to the point were he starts bleeding. I noticed a couple dried blood spots. I checked him for ticks because I have a golden retriever and I wasn't sure what the hard spot was. That is when I noticed the dried blood spots. Today I noticed there were fresh blood spots on my hand when I was holding him. He has a couple spots that are scabbed over and it looks like he scratched the spot bald. I am not sure what to do. I talked to the teacher and he wasn't sure what to do either. Do you have any suggestions. I'm not sure if this is from anxiety or if he is sick and needs some type of treatment. I hope you can help answer my questions or reassure me. Thank you so much, Jeannie Schimdt
Answer Hi Jeannie
There are several reasons why a rat can become itchy and develop sores from scratching. It stems from fur mites to poor diet that is too high in protein or even something more simple such as dry skin.
Starting with the process of elimination (and I am going to ask you do to an exam for me, you can be my eyes and hands since I cannot examine him)
Sneezing daily when a rat first comes to a new home is fairly common because of all the new smells they take in and sometimes their excitement makes their histamine levels go up which in turn, sneezing starts. Once the stimuli is removed, the sneezing subsides. However, if the rat has been sneezing all the time, there may be a chance that there is something in the cage that is causing it which is why I am asking these few things now.
What type of bedding is he on and what kind of housing does he live in; cage or glass tank? The answers to these two questions are very important.
Next, check his fur very carefully looking for very tiny mites that may move across the skin. Carefully examine the fur and see if you notices any types of nits that may be attached to the fur. Does the coat seem dull? Does his fur seem as if it were singed with fire and broken, like really bad split ends?
Do you notice dry skin or patches of orange waxy substance on his skin?
Next I must ask about his diet. What kind of food does he eat daily?
A diet high in protein not only causes skin problems but it is also very bad for their kidneys and kidney disease will eventually set in as the rat ages.
Once we go over the answers to these questions I will be able to hopefully come up with some reasons for the rats skin problems and how to resolve it.
