RMFRA Show Quarantine Procedures
Quarantine Procedures for Rocky Mountain Fancy Rat Association Shows
3 weeks minimum quarantine~
Viruses can spread quickly between rats. If you suspect any rats in your care are sick with a transmittable disease; Please do not enter them in the show! RMFRA wants to continue with shows in the Rocky States and we need your help by following proper quarantine procedures.
This means:
1. Not allowing people who own rodents to be in contact with your show rats if you keep them in the same "contained air space"* as your other rats. If you have rats that are to be placed with current rodent owners, meet them outside or at an offsite location. Explain to them why you are in quarantine. If they would like to meet your other rats set a date after QT is over.
How does this effect ride sharing and staying at another's home the night(s) before a show?
If a person chooses to carpool or share residence during QT for a show, then it is their responsibility to make sure that all rats entering the car or home are free from any health problems. If any airborne problem shows up during health check, then none will be allowed to enter. If parasites are found, then only those in the same cage as the affected rat will not be allowed to enter.
2. Absolutely NO NEW RATS may be taken into the same "contained air space" as the rats intended for show during this three week period. Rats can be traded, purchased, or accepted via shipment as long as they are not brought to the area of your show rats. You will also need to make arrangements to clean yourself if you come into contact with any new rodent before entering the area you keep your show rats. Ideally, trades, shipments and purchases will be conducted after a show. (This is good practice and is recommended.)
4. If ANY rat having air contact with your show rats becomes ill, dies unexpectedly or have unexplained issues you should withdraw entry from the show. If you have questions on their illness or unexplained issues, please report this immediately to either the show director or the RMFRA board. They will make final decisions as to wither the show rats are safe to enter the show or if you need to withdraw entry.(If you withdraw you will get a refund for you entry fee.)
5. Quarantine ends after health inspection at the show. If you have one rat found to be ill, then you will be asked to leave with all your rats! Please, do not bring ill rats and reconsider bringing any if you suspect a problem. Contact the show director or a member of the RMFRA board for help deciding.
*This means any room that has the possibility of the same air flow affecting both spaces.
Show and beyond:
1. Plastic show boxes are preferred on the judges table. If you present your rat in a wire cage, the judges will ask that the next show you bring a plastic show box. Eventually, plastic show boxes will be required for showing.
2. While attending an event, do not handle others rats or allow your rats to be handled. If handling occurs insist on the use of hand sterilizer before and after. Do not allow rats to come into contact with your clothing.
3. Do not allow rats to run loose on cage tops or carry rats around a room that are not in a plastic show box.
4 . Beware of rat sales in the parking lot. RMFRA does not condone rats being traded, sold, or transferred outside the show building. These rats may not have been through a proper quarantine. If you see such a sale, please notify a RMFRA member or the show director. Improperly QT'ed rats may still pass on viruses to rats in the show by people who have handled them and unknowingly bringing it into the show. If you have rats that did not make the age mark of 6 weeks for the show you will need to make other arrangements for delivery.
5 . After show quarantine is recommended for a minimum of 2 weeks with 3 being best. We recommend that all cages at the show also be disinfected with a bleach and water mix or another disinfectant. If a health problem occurs, quarantine should begin over. Some viruses require a period longer than 3 weeks to be eradicated.
Please remember that these guidelines are in place to ensure that your beloved rats, remain safe and healthy throughout the whole process of showing, before and after the shows have ended. If you have any question regarding the quarantine procedures please feel free to contact a member of the RMFRA board.
