White & Gray Male Rat

Question
I have noticed in the past couple of days a thinning of the hair on our male rat.  Also, he looks dirty.  It looks as if there is dirt all over him.  He is normally very clean and well kept.  He lives alone and has coarse hair.  Please help if you can.  Should we bath him?  

Answer
Hello, it truly does sound like something is wrong since he's not grooming himself and his hair is thinning. I really do think he should go to a vet to get looked at. What does his skin look like? Is it scaley or red looking? That indicates mites if that's happening. Rats are very clean animals and since he is looking dirty something certainly isn't right and I would honestly take him to the vet. I don't think I would bathe him right now because he could get even sicker if he's already sick.