How can I clean my rats?

Question

I have 2 girls ages 5-6 weeks old.

How do I clean them and what can I clean them with?

Answer 1

My two rats would play under the running water of my kitchen sink, otherwise I never would bathe them. A damp cotton ball would be gentle enough, that's how I cleaned a rescued baby mouse.

Answer 2

use babywipes or buy a special shampoo from the pet store

Answer 3

i dont really know a lot about rats, but i found a vid of people cleaning a rat, hope it helps!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66X8r0sjy...

Answer 4

I wouldn't bathe them in the sink. My girlfriend had a mouse for a pet once and tried to bathe it in the sink. It had a heart attack and died. Maybe I would just get a wet wash cloth and soak it with soap and water and then just use that to clean the rat.

Answer 5

I would take a wet washcloth or paper towel and add about 2-3 drops of soap and wash the rat until you feel it is clean enough. Then rinse the washcloth thoroughly, if you are using a paper towel discard of it and get a new one. then get a new one and get the paper towel or washcloth wet and wash the soap off. then get a small dish towel or something to dry the rat with. repeat with the next rat.

Answer 6

Baby shampoo! I prefer the Johnson's with honey because it is not drying to the skin. Baby shampoo is good for a regular bath or a flea dip (for fleas just leave on for 5 min before rinsing. any soap kills fleas btw.) and it is not irritating to the eyes (which i think is super important). I have been using this for years on all kinds of animals, including rats, with great results. good luck with your critters!

oh, and also, bathing can definately be stressful especially to small animals. I just make a lukewarm shallow bath and slowly introduce them to it and I don't run the water. I just use a small cup to scoop up water and carefully rinse them off. Then a lot of snuggle time in your arms with a towel.  ;-)

Answer 7

BATH TIME!!!!

well here is my bath time advise, your rats are young enough that you can make this very enjoyable for them.  

Baby shampoo is fine, specific rodant shampoo is better.   I would actually say start in the tub not the sink because the tub is harder to jump out of.   Put in just the tiniest bit of warm water their first bath (a little over room temperature) and lower them into it.  I also used to put in bath toys and boats in the water.   Don't stress them out, make it light and fun.  After they get used to the water quickly lather them up and rinse them off then make a towel mountain for them to disappear into after.

Only bath your rats once a month-2 months.  Rats do clean themselves and eachother so you don't need to do it too often and it also strips their fur of natural oils that maintain healthy skin.    Also keep in mind that many rats don't like water, it scares them so even being gentle as possible they still might hate it.   It used to take me three people to bath my first two adult females and we would still end up with crazy scratch marks all over   oh,  cut their nails 24 hours before their bath   that way they can't scratch as hard but any jagged edges from the clipping would have worn down

good luck!

Answer 8

You can buy specific stuff for rats at a pet store, but I usually just use a baby wipe, bathing in the sink is extremelly stress full and hard.