Clipping Nails

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shannonandrosy

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have started the weekly health checks. When do I know I need to clip their nails. And how do I tell how far to cut. They both have clear nails
 
Hi there! Nails should be trimmed when they start to look "curly". It's very important to clip nails frequently. Typically we do this twice a month. This is how I trim nails.

In a bright, well lit area, my husband takes a piggy and holds him up. I take guinea pig nail clippers and examine each nail and cut only the white part. If you look close, you'll see that there is a pink vein in each nail. That is blood, so don't cut too short or he will bleed. Don't worry if you miss and cut one short, it does hurt the piggy but just put some corn starch on them and dab with paper towel. Just try not to do this.

The more you cut their nails, the straighter they become and the vein recedes a little so it's not so difficult.

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This is what happens if you don't cut the nails:

nails9.jpg


It is abusive and cruel, can result in death if they grow into the piggy foot and cause infection. You want the nails to look like this:

holding.jpg
 
Good advice from Cheesemommy! ,! Once you feel you know what needs to be done ! A useful aproch to nail cutting is confidence! If you dought your self you are more lightly to make mistakes
 
Personaly l wouldn't use the type of clippers that vet is using, a pig shouldn't experience that much discomfort
 
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I used human nail clipper just yesterday, it is not difficult, but I made only few nails... because my piggies are totally different from the ones of the video! I had to wait for their chooken legs and without touching them nor breathing I had to use the clipper!
a bad experience...
 
Did you try the 'sausage method' @rome_italy like I have to with Christian? Just to remind you. I have to wrap him up tight like a Christian sausage roll with the paw out that I need to clip nails on. My son holds on to him tightly, I clip his nails. Then he gets unwrapped and wrapped back up again with another paw sticking out and this gets repeated until all nails are clipped. He then gets a treat for the indignity of having to resemble a sausage for a few minutes. The other 4 are easy to clip nails on.
 
Betsy said:
Did you try the 'sausage method' @rome_italy like I have to with Christian? Just to remind you. I have to wrap him up tight like a Christian sausage roll with the paw out that I need to clip nails on. My son holds on to him tightly, I clip his nails. Then he gets unwrapped and wrapped back up again with another paw sticking out and this gets repeated until all nails are clipped. He then gets a treat for the indignity of having to resemble a sausage for a few minutes. The other 4 are easy to clip nails on.
Click to expand...
YES! In fact I wanted to tell you the amazing result... but not for clipping nails unfortunately...
anyway I am able now to wash Calliope's butt and her long hair there! She has the bad habit to move backwards after weeing when she is on the floor and when I put her on the cage again I find all her long hair totally wet with wee. And her hair was becoming very "dry" and sticky. The sausage method you suggested was a miracle! Now she feels at ease into the sausage towel and I have the time to wash her hair fast putting on also some conditioner. In only few days the hair in that point has become very soft and knot free...
But for the nails it is another story... sausages dont' work...
 
rome_italy said:
YES! In fact I wanted to tell you the amazing result... but not for clipping nails unfortunately...
anyway I am able now to wash Calliope's butt and her long hair there! She has the bad habit to move backwards after weeing when she is on the floor and when I put her on the cage again I find all her long hair totally wet with wee. And her hair was becoming very "dry" and sticky. The sausage method you suggested was a miracle! Now she feels at ease into the sausage towel and I have the time to wash her hair fast putting on also some conditioner. In only few days the hair in that point has become very soft and knot free...
But for the nails it is another story... sausages dont' work...
Click to expand...
I'm pleased my suggestion has been helpful for sorting out one of your problems!
 
Luckily i held them with my left arm with my arm under their bottom like a baby and used my left hand to hold their leg out and used my right hand to clip. Probably helps they are little
 
I am convincing myself that my piggies' nails are not growing...:roll:
cutting the nails is the most stressful nightmare for me!!:hb::hb::hb::hb::hb:
I tried also my brilliant idea... which sounded great to me but of course was so silly that both my piggies thought I was mad...
ridimensiona.aspx.webp
:oops::stu:
 
I suppose it's that time again for a Christian sausage roll!:yikes: Nail clipping duty calls in the next few days! None of them particulary relish going for a pedicure at the nail bar but it just has to be done! I can't understand why - I love a pedicure. Maybe it is because I don't finish the job properly with a bit of nice red glittery nail varnish!:lol!:
 
Betsy said:
Did you try the 'sausage method' @rome_italy like I have to with Christian? Just to remind you. I have to wrap him up tight like a Christian sausage roll with the paw out that I need to clip nails on. My son holds on to him tightly, I clip his nails. Then he gets unwrapped and wrapped back up again with another paw sticking out and this gets repeated until all nails are clipped. He then gets a treat for the indignity of having to resemble a sausage for a few minutes. The other 4 are easy to clip nails on.
Click to expand...
Great idea! I’m sat here wondering how the hell i’ll manage to do their nails! Who’d have thought a sausage roll would be the answer 😂
 
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