Bathing Norman?

[Pixie]

Hi,

I just adopted Norman from Henry's Haven today, and the poor boy had been peed on an enormous amount by Fiona. He reeks like urine, poor boy and I am wondering if it is worth bathing him. My concerns are that one I will stress him out as he is in a new home. And secondly that once he is clean Fiona will just mark him again with urine. He doesn't seem to stressed as he is sleeping beside me on the couch at the moment.

Maybe Henrys_mum can help me out here and let me know if she ever bathed Norman when he was living with her?

What does everyone think is best?

Thanks

 

I would let him settle in first. Bathing rat's is not good for their skin, but you have to do it in some cases.

 

[Dazzle87]

You can try wiping him off with baby wipes if it doesn't stress him.

 

[Pixie]

That is a good idea. I will try that first before I attempt to bath him. I have never had to bath any of my previous rats but they didn't pee on each other either lol. If it does get to the point that I have to bath him, is it ok to use dawn dish soap?

Thanks

 

[rat.charmer]

I would use a gentle baby shampoo over dish soap.

 

I would also use gental baby shampoo or small critter shampoo.

 

[sketchi]

I've used gentle baby shampoo as well as (small amounts!! dilute with water, even) dawn dish soap, and I prefer dish soap as long as you're not going to wash them too often! I wash my boys once.... every 3 or 4 months, or if they are unusually dirty (mass pee'd on, lol!), or for new intros. do it quick, and dry them well.

what I do is have a dry towel nearby, rinse them under the sink (mildly warm), quickly soap them up, rinse them off again, then it's towel time. the whole process takes less than a minute. toweling them dry would take the longest. x) the first time I gave them a bath I actually ran a whole tub full of water... :emb: it was very messy since I didn't hold them firmly and they scratched my arms up and got me completely soaked and etcetc... so just be firm, and make it quick. xD don't worry too much about it! (though if you think it may be too much stress at the moment, just hold off for a while until he settles in?)

I actually enjoy bathing my rats now, and they don't mind so much either.

 

[Moon]

What they said.... unscented baby wipes work for the vast majority of rattie clean ups unless you're dealing with a rat who is no longer to clean themselves.

 

[lilspaz68]

Her peeing all over him should pass in time once she decides he knows his role of her Slave. :laugh4: For now just use baby wipes (it would only be on his back/head) or dampen a cloth and just wipe him off. No need for a complete bath.

 

[Roo]

Her peeing all over him should pass in time once she decides he knows his role of her Slave.

:whip:

 

[missnikki]

Poor Norman! Lol. I use a puppy shampoo very small amount diluted with warm water to wash mine - not often at all tho. Good luck!

 

[Pixie]

I will stop into shoppers after work and pick up some unscented baby wipes for poor Norman. I will let everyone know how that goes. He is rather large and I'm not sure if he can clean the very top of his back lol. Otherwise he is settling in good and slept in a hammock last night after he pushed all the fleece out of it. And Fiona seems to be calming down, I've only seen her grooming him, no more humping or peeing. Hopefully in a few days they will be cuddle buddies.

 

[lilspaz68]

I will stop into shoppers after work and pick up some unscented baby wipes for poor Norman. I will let everyone know how that goes. He is rather large and I'm not sure if he can clean the very top of his back lol. Otherwise he is settling in good and slept in a hammock last night after he pushed all the fleece out of it. And Fiona seems to be calming down, I've only seen her grooming him, no more humping or peeing. Hopefully in a few days they will be cuddle buddies.

Pampers unscented are the best ones out there...I use them for wiping my cages, counters, walls etc

 

[Moon]

I bought a huge case at Costco, cost $20 for a ridiculous number of wipes. Shelagh, next time I visit I'll bring you a case.

 

[Pixie]

I bought the pampers sensitive, fragrance free baby wipes and they seem to have helped a bit. He still smells a bit like pee, but I am too worried to bath him and make him stressed and hate me.

 

[Pixie]

I have been using the baby wipes on poor Norman but he still really smells like pee. I think I will have to give him a bath but I am really dreading it. I think I will attempt it tomorrow after I clean their cage. I will let everyone know how it goes.

 

[henry's_mum]

Norman was always a clean fellow, so bathing wasn't really something I had to do to him... Only once, when he first came in.
However.....
LOL
I did meet Fiona, and watched her pee on poor Norman quite a few times, so I can see the need for this bath ATM....
I use baby, johnson and johnson no tears, yellow soap for the rats...
It's one of the only ones I could/can use for Cole in the winter due to his skin issues, so I do the same for the rats!

Give him a snuggle for me????
<3
Let me know how it goes....

 

[Pixie]

So I did it... Norman has had a bath. :joy: He was very well behaved, only a few poops and one squeak. Now I'm just waiting to see if Fiona is going to pee on him again now that he smells different. Hopefully not, and then I will keep my fingers crossed that I never have to bath Norman again I used the Johnson & Johnson's head to toe body wash which is hypoallergenic and a ultra mild cleanser according to the back of the bottle.

 

[Pixie]

Just thought I'd let everyone know that Fiona didn't mark/pee on Norman after his bath! Hooray!

 

[henry's_mum]

:dance: :dance: :dance:
YAY for not being stinky anymore!!!!