Get a head start on your New Year's Resolution and put together a Rat First Aid Kit.  Here are some things we recommend you include in your kit:

1. Kitchen scale that weighs in grams.  You need to be able to accurately monitor your rat's weight, AND know their weight for correct dosing of medications.
2. ​Wound flush- sterile saline spray can. Saline is a wonderful as an initial wound flush to get any debris or pus out of a wound.
3. Hibicleanse - antiseptic/antimicrobial wash. Used as the second wash for superficial wounds and or scratches.  This may help avoid an abcess from forming.
4. Bluecote - wound spray. Final step in caring for a superficial wound.
5. Q-tips - cleaning sensitive areas
6. Peroxide - use diluted to debride infection.  Abcesses are common in rats, and bacteria needs to be cleaned from the pocket under the skin. Flushing with peroxide helps to bring that deep set pus to the surface where it can be washed away.
7. Non-latex gloves - to not spread infection.  Its important to keep your hands clean and to not spread infection between rats.  Gloves help.
8. Styptic Powder or Corn Starch. Both can be used on minor cuts as well as over trimmed nails.
9. Gauze pads
10. Cotton pads/balls
11. Vet wrap or Medical Tape
12. Small towel
13. Small scissors
14. Tweezers
15. Old sock filled with dry beans/rice - microwave for heat source
16. Single Dose Hypertonic Saline - for nebulizing
17. 1cc/ml syringes. These are important for accurate doseage of medications.
18. Childrens Ibuprofen
19. Terramycin Ointment. Rats can scratch their cornea which can lead to a bacterial infection of the eye. This opthalmic ointment is wonderful in treating minor eye infections.
20. Carnivore Care.  This is complete nutrition in powder form that you mix with fluids. Rats may be more willing to eat soft foods rather than rat block when sick.
21. Baby food. Mixing Carnivore Care in baby food can encourage rats to eat.
22. NutriCal - dietary supplement to help rats gain/maintain weight after an illness.
23. Box to store kit in!

Here is an Amazon list of all the supplies listed,

There is an ongoing outbreak of a strain of Hantavirus in the rat community.  It is the Seoul Virus that is carried by the Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) and Black Rat (Rattus rattus).  Rats are only carriers of the disease and don’t show any symptoms, but they can pass it to humans who can get sick, especially those with already weakened immune systems, small children, and the elderly.  It is generally passed through contact with rat saliva (bites), urine (soiled bedding) and feces, so good hygiene practices are ALWAYS encouraged to lessen your chances of getting sick.  https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/small-mammals/petrodents.html

Here are the current numbers associated with this outbreak (as of 3/14/2017):

• Number of laboratory-confirmed recent human cases of Seoul virus: 17
• Number of states reporting laboratory-confirmed Seoul virus positive results for humans or rats: 11: CO, GA, IA, IL, MN, MO, PA, SC, TN, UT, WI
• States with facilities (for example, homes or premises) currently under investigation: 15: CO, DE, GA, IL, ID, IA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, PA, SC, TN, UT, WI

*There is a rattery in the upstate of SC that has been confirmed positive.

As you may have noticed things have been pretty quiet here at RROW.  As a precaution, I decided to shut my doors, place my rats under quarantine, and not place any rats for adoption until I was able to get my rats tested.  I value my adopters, and your safety is of the utmost importance.

The Centers for Disease Control who is investigating the outbreak and working to locate affected ratteries, is contacting any Breeders who may have received rats from a confirmed infected rattery, or sold rats to a confirmed infected rattery.  They investigated a rattery in Utah in late February where the Breeder herself tested positive. Rainbow Row Rattery received rats from this rattery in August of 2016. The CDC came and tested my rats on Wednesday, March 15th.  I received my results today (March 23, 2017) and ALL WERE NEGATIVE, including the rats from Utah.  As soon as I have the hard copy of my results I will be posting them.

Representatives from The CDC, PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) ,  IDEXX, and The Rat Guide, other well respected members of the Rat Fancy Community, Breeders, and Pet Owners have been communicating via conference calls to ensure accurate dissemination of information, and to answer questions.  Here is a link to the CDC’s FAQ page, and a link to the Rat Guide’s own information pdf.  
https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/faqs-seoul-virus.html
http://ratguide.com/reference/SeoulVirus.pdf    
​
These are the BEST sources for ACCURATE and up to date information on the outbreak.  I encourage you to go and read the information and ask questions.  

If you have question, CDC-INFO (1-800-CDC-INFO) provides information about Hantaviruses to callers in the United States. You may also call CDC’s Hantavirus Hotline at 877-232-3322 and 404-639-1510.

Wherever you adopt your rats from, I encourage you to ASK TO SEE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS.  These should include individual rat’s results and complete summary of ALL rats tested.