Bathing Pet Rats

"Hi, I'm Laura Fitzgerald and on behalf of Expert Village, I would like to talk to you today about the care and maintenance of your pet rat. Now Tar and I are going to demonstrate how to give your rat a bath. First thing you are going to do is that you are going to make sure the water is nice and warm, not too hot or cold. Then you are going to take your rat and prepare him for his bath. You are going to take your rat and carefully put him in the water, not submersing his head, ears or eyes. So get your rat nice and wet, then take a mild kitten shampoo and dilute it in a mild cup of water then pour the shampoo over the rat, then suds him up. Careful not to get any soap in his ears or eyes, and carefully wash his body, you don't have to get him too soapy and sudsy, since it is harder to get it off his fur. And the more soap can irritate his skin, that is why it is good to use a mild kitten shampoo. After you are done sudsing him up, making sure that he is nice and clean, don't forget his tail. You're going to take his rinse water, carefully without getting his ears, eyes, and head wet, you are going to rinse him off. He is not very happy about his bath, almost done. Make sure his belly is rinsed very well, you don't want any soap left on there since it will irritate his skin, use your finger to clean his face. When you are sure he is rinsed real well, wrap him up in a towel and get him nice and dry. He is going to spend the next hour or two to make sure his grooming is fur is perfect. He is going to dry himself all over and lick himself."