Cutting Guinea pigs front nails

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Claire W

Claire W

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We cut our piggies nails ourselves and Eliza especially is a real wiggly bum. The back nails are fine to do but when we try and cut the front nails, they really hate it and wriggle like mad. Because of this, I am a wimp and don't want to cut the front nails as the front feet are smaller than the back feet. Their run is on concrete so I am hoping that their nails will wear down by themselves. If not, I shall have to take them to the vets to be done :(
 
dont worry i really hate doing it as well all mine go to the vet to have it done;)truthfully with how much a few of mine wriggle its probably best a professional does it xxxxxx
 
Just hope the vets have experience of trimming pig nails!
 
i have been daring and brought some clippers.

not looking forward to the first time
 
alamaya said:
i have been daring and brought some clippers.

not looking forward to the first time
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i have only done it once and the reason i am no good is i don't hold the piggy firmly enough where needed to avoid injury,i also have a fear of cutting to far especially with the black nails.
I'm sure you will be fine just remember to hold them firmly lol
 
I started with a biting wiggly wiggler - and ended up at the vets strait away. They are doing a good job, and I can concentrate on holding my somewhat subdued piggies.
 
I don't mind cutting their nails at all, with 10 it is just as well or it would be costly!
You will find it easier if someone holds the piggy and you trim or vice versa.

Now my rabbits nails is a whole other story..........:))
 
My problem is - my hubby was hopeless at holding and doesn't like nail cutting anyway... But he drives me to the vets, so I can't complain!
 
I do it by myself and don't do too bad. They do scream and pull their hands away a lot but usually before the cut they shout so it doesn't hurt as I haven't done it when they squeek :)) if I catch them before they notice they are fine usually get through three feet and give up and do last one a few days later! :))
 
I had a fear of doing their nails at first but with 10 piggies to take care of I had to get over it and just do them. Havent had any of them bleed yet so doing ok :)
 
I let the vet do it. I have 2 especially that will not hesitate to bite if they are the least but upset with you. :...
 
how often do they usually need doing and how much roughly is it at the vets do you think a pet shop could do them like one that washs dogs
 
i do mine about once a month, always done it myself & can imagine the cost would mount up if you took them to the vet once a month not to mention the difficulties with arranging appointments around work etc.. !
 
Nail trims are one of those things that you just have to learn on the job! For the first few years, I held the pig and my mum trimmed the nails. Then I was left to my own devices with them, my mum hadn't the time to help me out once the twins came along, so I figured it out myself. I can work pretty well now, after 3 years going it alone...140 nails inside 10-15 minutes is pretty good! I trim my lots' nails every 3 weeks.

The tricky bit with the front feet is that if you pull the leg out at all so you can see and access the nails better, the pig snatches the foot back in. So you have to bring the clippers to the feet, instead of the feet to the clippers. Holding the pig and the foot in the right position is a hard skill to master, but the more confident and "no nonsense" you are, the less the pig will fight.
 
If you are taking a trip to Notts sometime soon with the pigs I could do them for you. :)
 
lavenderjade said:
I don't mind cutting their nails at all, with 10 it is just as well or it would be costly!
You will find it easier if someone holds the piggy and you trim or vice versa.

Now my rabbits nails is a whole other story..........:))
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Thats strange my vet must be good, if i take them all in at once i pay only one consultation and included he trims all nails and give a full checkup for all of them
shazbo said:
how often do they usually need doing and how much roughly is it at the vets do you think a pet shop could do them like one that washs dogs
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i would definantly not get it done at the petshop,you will find most stores don't even know the basics of piggy care let alone the delicate nail clipping x
 
I try to do my piggies' nails every 3 weeks (with 3 of them I just do one every week on rotation), which keeps them nice and short. With the front ones, I find that the piggies don't like it because they can see the movements etc. It's a two person job with us - my OH cuts and I hold, so I cover their eyes whilst the front paws are being done if they get jumpy. I agree also about the position of the foot - just takes a bit of practice.

I'm lucky enough these days to have piggies without black nails. I remember the first ones I ever had both had black nails, so we never knew how much to cut and didn't have any pigs with white nails to compare to!

I remember with those two piggies, I also used to find giving them something to munch on helped distract them, although no piggy I've ever had since has fallen for that, for some reason! :))
 
i will have to get some clippers but bit scared of hurting them or more them hurting me :)):)) biting me ha ha
 
This will be more beneficial in the long term but:

each day I will hold a pig and hold onto one of their paws, restraining them like I'm going to clip their nails although I won't clip them. Afterwards I give them a treat (normally apple or carrot since I don't give any of my pigs sugary treats normally) and then plop them back into their cage.

It means that during actual nail clipping time, none of them really seem to care about what I'm doing.
 
just trimmed nails for first time

ben = a dream didnt move, flinch or anything
jerry= squeeled made me jump but we managed to do them all bit wriggly and whiny but i only took a mil off to get him used to it. will try again next week.

yeeeey
 
Got some smashing little nail scissors for piggies on ebay. the were not expensive and are very easy to use ,with 54 piggies I have learned to do it quite quickly though some are more wriggly than others. I find it best to cut the nail from above after putting my finger under the foot to spread the claws out. Best of luck with the trimming!
 
i cut mine on the weekend. took 3 of us! one to hold, one to distract with some carrots and me cutting the nails! figured i'm training to be a vet so might as well get in the practice now!
 
I have been told that i should cut the yellow (hook) bit at the end of the nail...

is this right?
 
I have been told that i should cut the yellow (hook) bit at the end of the nail...

is this right?
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Yes, you mustn't cut too far back where it's darker -- this is where the blood vessels are, and this bit bleeds if cut.
Mine wear their nails down quite nicely running around, but when I do cut them, they're fairly well behaved.
 
I alsways do my piggies nails my self they do wriggle but i talk to him the whole time I'm doing it and he seems to calm down. :)
 
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