2006-12-24 06:51:37 · 13 answers · asked by Grmafrog 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Just like you'd bath any other animal. Use Dawn original, if it's a male.
You can use it on females too, or you can use Johnson's baby shampoo.
Avoid getting water/shampoo on the head and around the eyes/nose.
2006-12-24 06:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Contrary to popular believe, not all pet rats like water, but for some reason, some time, you are going to have to bathe your rat (buck grease, marinating in their hammock, got into something that has to be removed from the skin or coat)
DO NOT use dust, ie chinchilla dust. Rats have delicate respiratory systems and the dust can damage their lungs.
DO NOT use human shampoo. The pH of a rat's skin is different then the pH of human skin. Using a human shampoo will disrupt the pH balance and cause skin problems.
A good choice would be an Oatmeal Dog Shampoo.
Male rats, Bucks, older then 5 months old can get what we in the Rat Fancy call "Buck Grease". It's an unsightly Orangey-brown splotching on the skin. The more Testosterone in the Buck's system the more Buck Grease he will produce. We have found that only Dawn soap has the power to break up the grease.
The following websites are "people" that I know and trust in the Rat Fancy.
More on bathing rats:
http://www.afrma.org/pp_ratbathing.htm
http://ratguide.com/care/grooming/bathing.php
http://www.rattyrat.com/guidebook/bathing.html
http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#bath
spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
2006-12-24 17:23:58 · answer #2 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pet stores carry shampoo for small animals and bunnies, get something like that, or a very mild baby shampoo.
We would put ours in the bathtub or in a deep sink if you have one in some warm water up to it's body and try to be as fast as possible, rinse, work the shampoo in all over body and stop at the face, don't forget the tail and private bits. At this point, your rat's patience will of run out if not already, and there's going to be some jumping. Don't take biting personally. Having a helper rinse all the soap off while you hold the rat helps, otherwise let your rat wrap around your arm and let the faucet gently rinse for you. Then wrap your rat in a towel and rub for as long as he'll let you.
It helps to have a clean cage to go back into also. What I would do is put my rats on my bed and let them roll between the covers.
There might be a grudge, but it won't last long, especially with a couple cheerios in hand!
2006-12-24 15:09:20 · answer #3 · answered by Bluebear 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There really shouldn't be a reason why you should have to wash your rat. Your rat is going to smell no matter what and this is more of an issue of keeping your cage cleaned in which if you have one rat and a decent size cage you should change his bedding once about every 5 days give or take a day. And don't go with any bedding, get yourself a good Kaytee bedding that will absorb rather well.
2006-12-24 15:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rats do NOT like dust baths, that's a chinchilla!
Anyhoo... I get some cheap garden gloves to cut down on the scratches. I put some Dawn on my hands and wet them down before I pick up the rat. Once I get some of the soap on the rat, I alternate getting water and scrubbing them. I get an old toothbrush to rub the tail, in a motion away from their bottoms, and be sure to rinse them well. I don't dunk mine, because they don't really like it. I only bathe mine once a year, usually in the warmest part of the springtime, and dry them well with a towel.
It is a good idea to wear long sleeves too, they'll crawl and claw you to death!
2006-12-24 17:10:14 · answer #5 · answered by pisces_dreamer_dreaming 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are 2 methods and dish soap will dry their skin out so you DON'T want to use that. Use regular people shampoo. I use suave. you put a little water in the sink .. hold them firmly yet gently and dunk their bodies . .not head ... then soap them up and use the same method to rinse them off. the second method is basically the same only wet them by holding them under slow running water in the sink. Mine get baths every other week ... half one Saturday ... the other half the next. that keeps the boys from smelling from their pheromones and such. After a while they don't mind it much at all
2006-12-25 01:36:09 · answer #6 · answered by Precious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most rats love warm water! I used to wash mine in watered down baby shampoo. I used a large plastic dishpan & had a large pitcher (or 40 oz cup) of clean warm water to rinse all the soap off of him/her. If your rat won't take to water, then you can just use a warm wet washrag to wipe them off. It helps to cut down on that pungent odor that all rats have...especially the males!
2006-12-24 16:19:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well they are usally very clean themselves, and would prefer a nice dust bath(can be bought at pet stores). But I would agree with other people about the dawn if the rat fell in something nasty.
2006-12-24 15:02:29 · answer #8 · answered by MindyCindyLindy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Usually with soap and water in the shower...it's poor hygiene to not wash one's "rat"...
2006-12-24 14:58:51 · answer #9 · answered by The ~Muffin~ Man 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
wipe him down with a damp rag. be prepared to be scratched. have treats and several dry towels nearby
2006-12-24 15:01:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋