by Angela <:3---}~~~~ M.
Member since:
August 8, 2006

Rat-bite fever, what every rat,mouse and gerbil owner should know

April 16, 2009 06:09 PM EDT (Updated: April 17, 2009 12:29 PM EDT)
views: 108 | comments: 24

I have raised pet rats for many years and Ive never heard of this. I know when my dad was growing up many years ago he lost a little brother to a rat bite. I never did really learn the details of that but he grew up in a fairly poor family so I figured infection set in or something like that but maybe it was rat bite fever who knows.

 

I was just watching the news and  learned that now there are cases of rat bite fever from pet rats here in the U.S  So if your pet rat bites you I suggest you get some antibiotics is you start to fell sick soon after. Rat bite fever can be treated with penicillin or erythromycin.

Rat-bite fever due to S. moniliformis can actually kill you. yikes who knew! I guess you learn something new ever day.

For more information on Rat bite fever I suggest all pet rat owners read this article

http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/ratbitefever_gi.html#8

I was thinking about getting another one as a pet, but now Im not sure I want to. while the CDC says its rare the guy on the news said it was becomming more common.

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Comments: 24

Vivian P. Apr 16, 2009, 6:13pm EDT
antibiotics weren't around until the 1950e I have a g-g-aunt who died of strep throat
Vivian P. Apr 16, 2009, 6:14pm EDT
oh referring to your dads little brother
Melanie S. Apr 16, 2009, 6:22pm EDT
I hadn't heard of that. It's pretty rare for a pet rat to bite though, at least ones that have been raised well and haven't been mistreated and abused. Still good to know! My girls have gotten over excited about a treat before and accidentally started to bite my finger, but quickly reacted and didn't break the skin.
Elaine S. Apr 16, 2009, 6:36pm EDT
Thanks for the info.
Larry H. Apr 16, 2009, 7:05pm EDT
my wife no longer has rats thanks for sharing..
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Apr 16, 2009, 8:04pm EDT
Melanie S ive only been bit twice one was over having something that smelled good on me and one was an aggressive male he was an evil little monster so even though its rare it does happen if you have enough of the little guys I had 36 at one point LOL
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Apr 16, 2009, 8:05pm EDT
vivian it was the 1940's so ya that could have been the reason
Debby O. Apr 16, 2009, 8:28pm EDT
Just be a little more careful with them. You can't stop living or having pets just because of these things! There is also a cat scratch fever that can be pretty bad too!
Kat W. Apr 16, 2009, 8:40pm EDT
I don't plan on having a pet rat but this is still good information to have. Thanks, Angela.
Digital Diva S. Apr 16, 2009, 9:44pm EDT
I am not fond of rodents or snakes or spiders....
donna h. Apr 16, 2009, 9:51pm EDT
I didn't know about this..thanks
Janet "Jax" B. Apr 16, 2009, 10:27pm EDT
Wow, I hadn't heard of it either....and I use to have pet rats too....
Robyn F. Apr 16, 2009, 10:36pm EDT
good advice!
Marianne R. Apr 16, 2009, 10:37pm EDT
I was unaware. Thanks for the info.
Jerry S. Apr 16, 2009, 10:45pm EDT
Thanks for some good info.
Janet H. Apr 16, 2009, 11:32pm EDT
I guess I was lucky because I got bitten by rats several times and never got sick from it.
This is the first I've heard of this too. Thanks for the information.
Katie Scarlett (Site Bouncer Wanna Be) O. Apr 19, 2009, 11:19am EDT
Interesting.
JUDY M. Apr 22, 2009, 8:39pm EDT
thanks so much for sharing
Tina Coruth Apr 26, 2009, 8:40am EDT
This is disturbing. I had no idea.
debra g. Apr 27, 2009, 1:15pm EDT
This is good to know.
JUDY M. Apr 28, 2009, 2:12pm EDT
thank you so much for sharing
Fran S. May 10, 2009, 3:14pm EDT
interesting, i don't need to know it, but lots do (I'd run the other way if I saw a rat, even a pet one!) Good info that you shared here!
Robyn F. May 24, 2009, 8:46pm EDT

trying to de-troll with a 10!

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