I think my rat has skin cancer

Question
I think my rat has skin cancer think his skin has red bloody stuff on it and it gets his coat all greasy.Is it bad to give him baths? I need to know what skin cancer look like on a rat.

Answer
Don't worry. Your rat does not have skin cancer. Male rats get what is called "buck grease". It can be reddish orange in color and is very greasy and sticks to the skin. It's very much a hormonal thing and is okay if left alone. You can give your boy baths, but I recommend using a tear free baby, toddler, or kid shampoo since they are much more gentle on a rat than adult human shampoo or even some pet shampoos. But to be honest, it's not something people have an easy time keeping off their boys :) I have plenty of orangy greasy boys and they get occasional baths but the buck grease either stays, or shortly comes back. It's completely safe and okay for them :)