black nails

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Pebbles26

Junior Guinea Pig
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My piggy had a health check yesterday and his little nails trimmed? I was afraid to do it without watching someone first as he has black nails, but affer watching I may try next time, does anyone else have piggies with black nails? but other than that he's the perfect weight and fantastic teeth! :) happy piggy.
 

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What a lovely boy.
My lot have a mix of black and white nails, and once you get used to trimming them it really isn't that bad.
If the piggy is calm you can just take a small amount off, and that works for four of my five.
Ruby on the other hand has all dark nails and is a total nightmare - it takes 3 of us to clip her nails!
 
Both my piggies have white nails but I still just cut the tip of it. I don't want to hurt them so I just get the tips. I would just rather cut it often then to cut it too close.
 
I have a few piggies with black nails, it's not a joy to do them...but if it's a struggle and you can get them to stay still, then use a torch to shine through the nail to see where the quick is...a tip I've used often.
 
I have 2 pigs with black nails and a couple with a mixture of black and white and I take them all to the vets to have them clipped.I won’t even attempt anymore, they wriggle too much and I find it too nerve wrecking lol
 
I can't keep my pigs still long enough to clip their nails unless I give them something to keep their attention elsewhere, such as a carrot. Other foods don't seem to work as it doesn't distract them enough. I usually will sit Blue (who has black nails) on my bed above eye level so I can see the nails clearly- but if your piggies are anything like mine, they will hide their feet. I will gently hold his feet and cut very small pieces off the nail until I get it to where I want it. I'm sure I could cut a lot more but it is particularly difficult since they are extremely dark. I have cut the quick in the past, but the bleeding stopped quickly. Being a new piggy owner, I freaked out and jumped on here just to check that I didn't need to do anything.
It's ten times easier to clip Ollie's nails, which I can see the quick in very easily. You just have to figure out where they are comfortable sitting and what their favorite food is and go from there, I think. Again, new piggy owner sooo.. just throwing my opinion out there. Learning every day x3
 
Mother Hubbard said:
I have a few piggies with black nails, it's not a joy to do them...but if it's a struggle and you can get them to stay still, then use a torch to shine through the nail to see where the quick is...a tip I've used often.
Click to expand...
A flashlight? I didn't know that worked for black nails. I'll have to try that next time!
 
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