Claw Cutting

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Missbonbon

Missbonbon

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Does anyone else find it really hard to cut Black claws?
Unlike the clear claws its impossible to see the piggies quick and I am so scared of catching the quick.

I tend to just clip the ends off, but one of my boars claws are getting really long and I'm worried to cut them too short (The front ones are starting to curl)

Any advice, as he isnt the greatest piggie at sitting still, so its not even like I have plently of time to be accurate..

Dont really want to waste money taking him to the vet for clipping.
 
The vet should really get a nurse to do it for you and charge nothing or a fiver at the most.

I just cut the very end off, and cut slightly more and slightly more until I think it looks ok. As long as you don't cut a huge amount off you have little chance of catching the quick.
 
I always do all of mine. The pigs with white claws are always that bit shorter though. I have the same concerns as everyone else about cutting black claws. Little and often is my motto just to be safe. xx
 
All my six have clear claws so i have no problems. Got my friends two here on holiday with me and she asked me to clip the claws Jacks are all dark so i just trimmed the edges and Jeffs three paws are clear and one is jet black so i just again trimmed the edges.

God its scarey isnt it.:(

I have put some paving bricks in their cage as a little step up to their water bottle so hopefully that will help them naturally file them down.
 
We tend to do the same, take the ends off but do them more often, every 2-3 weeks.
 
As Fi said, every 2-3 weeks is just about the exact right length of time between trimmings if you're only taking the tip ends off. I have a pig with three pink feet and one black, but since she is a tiny adult pig she has tiny and short nails naturally, but at least I have her other front foot as a guide to length. Since I clip all my pigs nails at the same time - white and black nails -I take the same amount off everybodys. Overall they all have the same length nails.

It took me a long time to learn to trim nails myself though. For a couple of years I used to hold the pig while my mum did the trimming, but after the twins came along I learned to become independent as far as the piggies went. Clipping black nails is nerve wracking for sure, but once you get into the habit of little and often, it becomes much easier. :)
 
Thanks for your comments.
I have clipped all my piggies claws from day one, but the boar I am referrng to is new and the only piggie I have with black claws!

I have trimmed them today and will do the same every 2 weeks, he is such a wriggler and tried to bite me whilst I was doing it (Thats put me off abit), I have to bribe him with veg to get him to sit still. :)
 
starla said:
The vet should really get a nurse to do it for you and charge nothing or a fiver at the most.

I just cut the very end off, and cut slightly more and slightly more until I think it looks ok. As long as you don't cut a huge amount off you have little chance of catching the quick.
Click to expand...

This isnt true - vets nurse doesnt have to do it, i used to do my piggies feet when i was 7 years old (not that I'm saying for 7 year olds to cut the nails, i did have a lot of knowledge and accompanied by my dad)

with black claws it is harder - the trick is to have a torch nearby, you can shine the light through the nail and you will see where the ends are like on the white nail tips.

It does take some getting used to but i've been doing mine now for over 17 years, and never had any problems! its just a case of being careful! just gain your knowledge and just take it one step at a time!
 
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i did pancakes for the first time last night and she didnt speak to me or my oh for ages!
Whats the best way to keep them trim as she lives indoors?
x
 
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