How to Bathe Your Pet Rat

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posted on 17 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Rats are very clean animals and usually do not require a bath at all, and even if they do get dirty most times a sponge bath or quick wipe off is all that is needed. However, from time to time you may need to give your rat a full bath if they're stinky or filthy or if they're elderly or ill and unable to clean themselves properly.

Steps

Ensure your rat is comfortable being semi submerged in water. Do not force your rat to go into the water.

Fill a sink about halfway with warm water.

Lay a towel down next to the sink. So they can jump out and shake off the water.

Hold your rat in one hand. Have the shampoo in the other. Dog shampoo, preferably oatmeal shampoo is recommended for its soothing and hydrating properties. Do not use flea and tick shampoo.

Gently place your rat in the sink. Just enough to get them wet. Make sure you don't get water in their eyes or ears, this can lead to a respiratory infection. They might not like this much so talk to them, reassure them, pet/stroke them.

Remove the rat from the water. Place it on towel and scrub the shampoo into the fur. Don't use too much and don't get any on its face or head.

Place your rat in the sink again. Rinse off the shampoo.

Continue as necessary.

Let your rat jump out of the sink and shake off.

Use a towel to dry your rat. Find a small animal shampoo with natural oils, especially if you have to bathe them more than once a month. It's important to clean your rat more than once a month if your rat has been ill or is elderly. However, be careful not to bathe your rat too often. If you bathe your rat too often, the supply of natural oils on your rat's skin and fur may become depleted, causing your rat's skin to get too dry. Be sure that you use baby shampoo or animal shampoo. Regular shampoo used for humans can cause serious skin problems. EXPERT TIP Brian Starr Brian Starr Rat Specialist & Breeder Brian Starr is a Rat Specialist and Breeder and the Owner of OC Dumbos out of Central Florida. As America’s only breeder of pet Roof Rats, Brian and OC Dumbos specialize in rat breeding, training, and care. Years of experience and several generations of careful breeding have allowed Brian and OC Dumbos to create a line of tame Roof Rats, bred to make friendly, fun pets. In addition to offering rat accessories and training resources, OC Dumbos also offers free Roof Rat adoptions. Brian Starr Brian Starr Rat Specialist & Breeder Be careful when bathing rats. Avoid fully bathing rats unnecessarily, since they both self-groom and find water stressful. If submerged, they may panic, ingest fluid into lungs, or develop respiratory issues from inhaling water. If your rat is consistently dirty or has a parasite of some kind, seek care from a vet instead.