Cornstarch and Tail Exfoliation

It may be due to all the hair falling out, but I've been having some confusion lately between rat and human baby care techniques.

For bath time, Cupcake's water temperature has to be slightly warmer than I think comfortable because rats have a higher body temp. You don't want to chill the rat. For Serene Jr., we have to keep the temp a little lower. At least he doesn't have a tail that needs to be exfoliated.

Today, I clipped all of Serene Jr.'s claws. Excuse me, nails. We were able to outsource the task to BiL when he and Sis babysat a few weeks ago. Talk about full-service babysitting. However, we couldn't wait any longer for a trim as he's been gouging himself, me and The Serene One.

I pulled out the baby clippers. I considered getting a little bowl of cornstarch before remembering that you only need that for rats. The rat claw has a red center (the quick) and if you cut too far it will bleed profusely. You can stem the flow with a clump of cornstarch.

Although the cornstarch bowl is not needed for humans, most of the other rat claw trimming techniques are pertinent. Excerpt from The Dapper Rat:

• Choose a time when your rat is sleepy/lazy, like after dinner or play time. If he squirms and complains a lot, give him a break and try again later.
• Be fast... the shorter the ordeal, the better for both of you.
• Make it a calm experience... talk soothingly to your rat, scritch him, give him a cuddle break between feet, etc.
• Lots of praise and a treat immediately afterwards reinforces the clipping as a positive experience.

I'm happy to say that Serene Jr.'s nail clipping was uneventful.