How can you tell if a rat has mites?

My rat scratches a lot, but when I give her a bath there's nothing on her skin. It doesn't even look irritated or anything. I can't figure out why she scratches so much. I use Aspen bedding, and sometimes Carefresh when Aspen isn't available. My older rat scratches a lot more than my younger rat does, though. Is this just normal behavior or could they have mites?How can you tell if a rat has mites?
Mites are usually characterized by constant scratching, missing fur, and scabs.





Rats groom themselves by scratching, so if you're not seeing any scabs or missing fur, then I'd say she's ok. You could always go to the vet and have a skin scraping just to be sure. They would give you a topical treatment called Ivermectin (or something like it) that you place on the back of their necks.





Good luck!