EDUCATION POST
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Todays Topic: “Quarantine – What is it and WHY?”
Quarantine sounds like a laboratory word, or something a veterinarian might say in the back with the nurses amidst other medical mumbo-jumbo. However, quarantine is important for everyone who owns rats – yes, EVERYONE.
Quarantine is the act of completely separating an animal(s) for a period of time determined by what exactly you are monitoring for. What quarantine means is zero cross contamination between two completely separate spaces – separate air space, not just a separate room. This means garage, neighbours, friends etc.
Between handling the new group and the old group, you need to wash your hands, change your clothes, or even shower depending on how much handling you did. Anywhere that may have been contaminated by Group A must be handled before handling Group B. If you do not follow these protocols you may as well skip quarantine altogether (PLEASE DON'T) as you will be carrying any existing viruses on any one of your body or clothing surfaces.
NOT all viruses and pathogens that make rats ill will physically show themselves immediately and some will not affect the new rats entering the home, but rather could infect and kill the original rats in the home. Some things have a long INCUBATION PERIOD in which it may shed (infect others) but not show physical symptoms (yet.) Symptoms may never occur, and may only show up in other animals when quarantine is foregone.
Any breeder OR rescue that does not follow quarantine procedures themselves or explain and expect the same from you, is NOT an organization you should support.
The unfortunate thing is that there will always be lazy pet care protocols, and quarantine is one that many roll their eyes at and consider extreme. I honestly understand this. Quarantine is an incredible pain in the butt – it's inconvenient as heck! But the fact is that you can skip quarantine and be alright 9/10 times, but the 1/10 you're not alright, every single one of your rats dies or ends up with lifelong lung scarring that will shorten their longevity significantly. Quarantine, like housing, feeding, socializing, etc is something you need to choose to be responsible about and put the effort into. I can tell you from experience that when that 1/10 happens, you'll kick yourself because there is nothing you can do and you will watch all of your friends die slowly.
I see mentioned a lot that since so many people skip quarantine and nothing bad happens, that it must be alright to forego. The frustrating thing about this is that many people manage to skip quarantine with no problems because of two things: one, they purchase from someone who quarantines themself and actually has clean stock, they got INCREDIBLY LUCKY that their feeder/rescue animal that wasn't quarantined, doesn't have one of many many awful viruses or pathogens that kill rats quickly with no mercy.
A very important point that everyone should also realize – even IF the rescue or breeder you bring home rats from does quarantine, the following viruses, bacteria etc exist in our environment. You're just as likely/possible to infect your animals by bringing them outdoors to play or by visiting a pet store and not cleaning up properly afterward. We don't need to live in fear but we should be mindful of the risks at all times. Rats unfortunately are both hardy and pathetically weak in various ways... Stress, immune system, respiratory incidence (all affected by your local climate) means we need to do the most we can to avoid illness.
This link to an official health guide has lots of information I need not repeat on time frames for quarantine etc. https://ratguide.com/health/basics-health/quarantine.php
Viruses we quarantine to defend against: • SDA (Sialodacryoadenitis virus/Rat corona virus): https://ratguide.com/health/viruses/sda.php • Sendai Virus (SaV/SeV): https://ratguide.com/health/viruses/sendai_virus_sev.php • Seoul Virus: https://ratguide.com/health/viruses/seoul-virus.php • Kilham Rat Virus (KRV/RV/RPV/parvovirus r-1): https://ratguide.com/health/viruses/kilham_rat_virus.php
Bacteria we quarantine to defend against: • CARb (Filobacterium rodentium/CAR bacillus): https://ratguide.com/health/bacteria/car_bacillus.php • Mycoplasma pulmonis – the only rats who do not have Myco would be laboratory animals born via c-section. It is endemic in the pet population of North America.
This link contains information on ectoparasites and how to diagnose and treat them: https://ratguide.com/.../dermatologic/ectoparasites.php ** quality breeders/rescues should have a prophylactic program that will reduce likelihood of ectoparasite incidence, and/or treat prior to rehoming
Here is a link to PNEUMONIA information (LRI) to learn signs of extreme respiratory distress: https://ratguide.com/health/lower_respiratory/pneumonia.php
Signs of illness may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
• Porphyrin secretions from eyes or nose • Sneezing • Wheezing • Rough coat • Labored breathing • Lethargy • Hunched posture • Swelling on neck or body • Abscesses • Scabs or itching • Diarrhea • Constipation • Lack of appetite • Eye ulcerations, bleeding, or swelling • Visual identification of parasites, including lice nits • Abnormal odour from the rat • Abnormal smelling feces or urine • Respiratory distress • Head tilt or abnormal gait • Thinness/weight loss
All of that being said, make a point to ask your breeder and/or rescue(s) what their quarantine protocol is and what information they have to offer adopters. If they have little or no protocol and/or have no information to offer, run far far away! There have been outbreaks in the last 2 years that have caused many a Rattery to lose hundreds of animals total in heartbreaking, unstoppable ways.
Introductions between current rats and new additions must begin no sooner than 2 weeks after they arrive in their quarantine space.
Quarantine is responsible! #responsiblepetownership #responsiblerescue #responsiblebreeder
Every person who forgoes quarantine adds another layer of risk. It's a small period of time and effort to 'put out' to ensure your pets safety. Be responsible.
@unitedrodentcommunity #URC #URCbreeder #URCliaison