Clipping Black Nails..

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LeahsPiggies

LeahsPiggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello,

One of my guinea pigs has (luckily only 2) black feet, which means black nails.. They are getting quite long which means they need trimming - I used to be okay with doing it but after cutting the qwik last time I'm really iffy about doing them again - especially seeing as she has an eye problem at the moment I don't want to distress/hurt her anymore

Tips and precautions would be greatly appreciated on how to trim them :)
 
There is a link in daily care section re black nails. I just nip a little at a time and do them twice as often. People suggest shining a torch under nail to show blood vessels. Personally I don't bother. I have kept guineas for 5-6 years and have only drawn blood 2 or 3 times (all from different pigs and ironically none black) (once being tonight as my pig pulled away as I was cutting. It can happen to all of us don't let it put you off x
 
Ah thank you. I do usually nip a bit off at a time but I never know when to stop as the nail is still long if I just do it a little bit. I've cut the quik twice but have also been so close many times..
 
Well just nip a tiny bit then if the pigs are very young leave it a month and if they are older leave it 3 weeks between
 
Yes I have two others but they don't get on. If I sat them next to each other and trimmed the black ones where the quik is on my other pig do you think it would work?
 
It wouldn't be identical but if they are same age you could use their length as a guide. I wouldn't really put them next to each other but try doing white ones first and take note of roughly how much you take off then do black ones and maybe take off a little less to be sure x
 
Most of my pigs have had black nails and out of them all I have drawn blood once and I felt really awful doing it but the piggy didnt seem to mind. I have tried the torch method and could see absolutely nothing! I just clip a nail a tiny bit off and do it regularly x
 
Maple and Lucky have black nails and OH clipped Maple's abit to short. She didn't even flinch! I don't dare cut her nails too much of a wuss
 
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