Clipping nails?
- Thread starter Kat1969
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Pat Shields
Adult Guinea Pig
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I have been taking mine to the vet as clipping nails is really a 2-person job, or at least I think so. But with the price of gasoline, and the vet being about 20 miles away and my vehicle getting 19 miles to the gallon, I decided to try it myself for the first time a week ago. I got scissor-like animal-claw clippers made for a cat or tiny dog, and I used my 3+ power reading glasses to make sure I saw the nails clearly. I stood in the sunshine to do it. I clipped slowly and made sure that the edge of the blade was just below the quick, which you can see unless the nail is solid black. It took a little while but I got most of them done; 2 or 3 on the top I had to leave out because Redemption kept jerking or they were too dark for me to see the quick clearly.
I held him in the crook of my arm against my chest, with my hand around him and my little finger controlling his feet. I did notice I had to be really careful not to squeeze him too tightly.
They did cut one to the blood at the vet's once, and they had a little bottle cap full of styptic powder they put his claw in. I do not know this first-hand but I have read that you can poke the nail into a bar of soap and that will stop the bleeding. But at the place I bought the clippers they also had powders and little containers of stuff to dip the claws in to make bleeding stop. I hope this helps. I am certain the experienced ppl here have gentler ways of doing it than I did it.
I held him in the crook of my arm against my chest, with my hand around him and my little finger controlling his feet. I did notice I had to be really careful not to squeeze him too tightly.
They did cut one to the blood at the vet's once, and they had a little bottle cap full of styptic powder they put his claw in. I do not know this first-hand but I have read that you can poke the nail into a bar of soap and that will stop the bleeding. But at the place I bought the clippers they also had powders and little containers of stuff to dip the claws in to make bleeding stop. I hope this helps. I am certain the experienced ppl here have gentler ways of doing it than I did it.
I was really scared about doing it incase I cut too far but not far enough that they would be short enough but I got a great tip on here about shining a light through so you can see where to cut up to and it worked a treat. I did Darcy and he just sat there and let me but Lacey was a little more of a handful, I managed to do 3 of her feet but couldnt do the last one so thats my mission this week.
Once you do it the first time, you will be ok.
I honestly dont know where I would be without this forum.
Once you do it the first time, you will be ok.
I honestly dont know where I would be without this forum.
If you are scared, take your piggies to the vets and let them show you how to do it. If in doubt, cut off a little bit less at first and then more as you gain in confidence. Unless a piggy has black nails (in which case it is best to cut against a source of light), you can see the quick clearly.
piggie-power
Adult Guinea Pig
I have my mobile dog groomer do mine! She's brilliant! £2 per piggie!
Saves me alot of stress lol
My vets charge £10.30 per pig and with 5 of them i'd rather save that kind of money for vet bills!
Saves me alot of stress lol
My vets charge £10.30 per pig and with 5 of them i'd rather save that kind of money for vet bills!
When trimming Henry's nails the other week I accidentally took a bit too much off, he did a loud squeak and it bled a bit and that was it. If you do take too much off don't panic, worry, cry etc. Everyone has done it at some point and your guinea pig isn't going to die unless you maybe take off his foot...I gave him some cucumber and put him down in his run and he ran around happily.
Like Weibke say's get the vet or someone experienced to show you how todo it until you feel comfortable.
Like Weibke say's get the vet or someone experienced to show you how todo it until you feel comfortable.
scpiggy
Teenage Guinea Pig
I just cut my little girls nails for the first time this week. She's young and never had it done before so I distracted her with veg then did it before she even knew I was doing anything But if you're worried about doing it the first time getting the vets to do it until you're a bit more confident with your piggie seems a good idea
But if you're worried about doing it the first time getting the vets to do it until you're a bit more confident with your piggie seems a good idea
I hate nail cutting time because they wiggle so much unless i stuff mouth with veg but they soon demolish that, so now i have my partner hold and i have a little torch thing that i use on the dark nails so i can see the quick, works great.
*Debbie*
Junior Guinea Pig
We do it ourselves, it's scary but you get better at it! It's a real guilt trip if you get a squeal from them (sometimes Oats squeals when you're no where near his nail!)
We have had a bleeder, it was a shock and we felt so bad about it. To stop the bleeding I held on to his foot with a baby wipe and applied pressure, we then made up a paste of baking soda and a few drips of water and put it on nail. This was a tip from a site, if they lick it off it's not harmful.
*Debbie*
Junior Guinea Pig
We do it ourselves, it's scary but you get better at it! It's a real guilt trip if you get a squeal from them (sometimes Oats squeals when you're no where near his nail!)
We have had a bleeder recently, it was a shock and we felt so bad about it. To stop the bleeding I held on to his foot with a baby wipe and applied pressure, we then made up a paste of baking soda and a few drips of water and put it on nail. This was a tip from a site, if they lick it off it's not harmful.
It did stop bleeding after about 15 mins which seemed like an eternity! My OH was a bit teary as it was his turn this time and he really didn;t realise he'd hurt him, other than a quick leg jerk away from him Oats was fine. My OH worked on a farm and is very alpha male but the guineas he's as soft as!
Oats got extended lap time and he showed no signs of it worrying him. We gave him some greens and walked about and has had no problems.
*Debbie*
Junior Guinea Pig
We do it ourselves, it's scary but you get better at it! It's a real guilt trip if you get a squeal from them (sometimes Oats squeals when you're no where near his nail!)
We have had a bleeder recently, it was a shock and we felt so bad about it. To stop the bleeding I held on to his foot with a baby wipe and applied pressure, we then made up a paste of baking soda and a few drips of water and put it on nail. This was a tip from a site, if they lick it off it's not harmful.
It did stop bleeding after about 15 mins which seemed like an eternity! My OH was a bit teary as it was his turn this time and he really didn;t realise he'd hurt him, other than a quick leg jerk away from him Oats was fine. My OH worked on a farm and is very alpha male but the guineas he's as soft as!
Oats got extended lap time and he showed no signs of it worrying him. We gave him some greens and walked about and has had no problems.
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