Quarantine Procedures
Quarantine for
the NIRO show is
Length: 29 days
Quarantine Begins: May 16, 2008
No Litters Born at Rattery After: April 18. 2008
Last date for breeding pairs to be together: March 26, 2008
Litters must be weaned by: May 15, 2008
Given above are the MINIMUM guidelines for meeting NIRO's pre-show quarantine requirements. Please plan your breedings to give yourself AND your rats a healthy "cushion" of time before they begin quarantine.
Remember:
Quarantine is
more than simply closing your rattery to rats (no rats in or out), and putting
breeding plans on hold. If you have sick rats on your premises and/or rats
get sick or die from suspicious causes after you begin quarantine,
you are no longer in an official quarantine. Perhaps you started
quarantine before realizing that a virus was lurking at your home and before any
of your rats started displaying symptoms. If, for any reason, rats start
getting sick and/or dying while you are in quarantine then you must wait 10 full
days AFTER the last symptoms have disappeared at your rattery in order to begin
your official quarantine. Naturally, if you have sick/dying rats in your
home you should be under quarantine in so much as no rats should be coming in or
going out of your rattery and no rats should be bred during this time.
Once all the illness has left your rattery, you wait 10 days and then you can
start your official quarantine. Any questions or clarification needed?
Contact a NIRO Officer. If a rat dies at your rattery while you are in
pre-show quarantine, the rat can be removed to a vet's office for a necropsy.
The pathology report must be presented to the NIRO board and the board will
decide if quarantine has been compromised. If a rat has to go to the vet
due to non-heath related issues such as a broken leg, that rat must not return
to the rattery for the remainder of quarantine. The rat must be taken to a
different location. NIRO stresses the importance of proper vet care for
all rats. If a situation arises during the quarantine period, it is always
recommended that the rat be taken to a vet to receive proper medical care.