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	Hair Loss in Pet Rat Q: About two months ago I noticed that the fur on top on one of my six rats was going thin, eventually it got worse and became more of a bald patch on her head. She is a female of about 11 months old who lives with two other females both aged about 8 months old. She was treated with Baytril as it was suspected that it was a minor skin irritation, that didn't work. The bald patch is smooth, and although she tends to scratch a tiny bit more there are no sores or cuts nowhere near. Recently though we noticed one of the other rats grooming her and as she was doing so hair was coming out on her mouth. We were unsure whether this was just the case it was coming out anyway or that it was being pulled out. Only one other rats showed similar symptoms of baldness and she made a full recovery. She was treated for mites, again nothing seemed to work. Then we tried worming her, once again nothing. What I would like to know is, is it possible that she is being picked on or could the baldness be a sign of something more serious. Thanks, Hannah.

A: It seems a little odd that just one of your rats is affected with the problem. However it is always a good idea to eliminate possibilities. She has been treated for mites (presumably using an injection at the vets?). Were any of the other rats also treated or was it just her? The other rats may be harbouring a problem without showing signs. The fact that you saw another rat grooming her and hair was coming out may be an important point. Grooming, or over grooming, often leads to hair loss and so this may be the reason for the hair loss. Is the rat well in herself? Is she bright, with a normal appetite? Has she lost or gained any weight? If she appears healthy, then it may be that the baldness is a behavioural or social baldness due to interactions between the rats where she is being groomed by other rats. This would not be a serious problem so long as it did not become a form of bullying. It may be helpful to check the weight of this rat (and all your group) regularly to see if there are any changes. If she is stressed by the grooming attention then she is likely to begin to loose weight. If she seems unwell in any way then you should talk to your vet again. It may be that she is sick in some other, possibly serious way, which means that other rats are tending to groom her. Angela Bodey MRCVS (Vet for PetPlanet)

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