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What causes scabs on my rat's ears and head if she's not itching?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Rat | Female | unspayed | 2 months and 26 days old

My little rat Tofu has some weird spots and parts in her fur. I’ve found some scabs around her ears and head but she doesn’t seem to be scratching or over grooming those areas. Her sister does not seem to have these same spots. They were born 1.7.19 and I adopted them from a rat rescue group

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on April 2nd, 2019

The scabs could be from fighting with her other rats, scratching or it could be related to mites or lice. I recommend to make an appointment for Tofu with a veterinarian who sees small animals. There are a few simple diagnostics that the doctor can perform to check for these parasites and provide appropriate treatment. Also watch for any excessive itching and you may trim her back nails as well to make sure they’re not too long and causing damage. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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