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Cutting nails

Tytheguineapig

Tytheguineapig

New Born Pup
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Hi, I'm wondering when and how to cut a guinea pig's nails and if you need special scissors or something
Thx
 
I use a special pair of animal nail clippers.
The easiest way to cut them is to hold piggy in a towel. It can be safer to do it with two people - one of you holding piggy and the other one to hold piggy’s foot to cut the nail. If your piggies nails are black, you can shine a torch up through it so that you can see the quick more easily. You can usually see the quick fairly easy on white nails. The most important thing though, is if you don’t know how to do it, then ask a vet/nurse to do it for you until you are confident you know how and when to cut. That way you can see how to do it before attempting it yourself - you dont want to cut into the quick as it causes pain and bleeding.
 
Tytheguineapig said:
Hi, I'm wondering when and how to cut a guinea pig's nails and if you need special scissors or something
Thx
Click to expand...

Hi!

Here is our nail cutting guide. You can use either clippers or small pet scissors; whichever you feel more comfortable with.
ideally you start fondling your piggies feet whenever you cuddle them so they are used to having them manipulated and won't jerk back suddenly so much.
Guide to Cutting Guinea Pig Nails

Nails start growing out at different ages; usually the ones at the back sooner than at the front. Always make sure that you are not cutting into the quick. The first nail cut is to just remove the very tip of the sharp baby nails.

I would also recommend to use our piggy whispering tips to assert your friendly authority in a way they instinctively understand (they are wired to obey their group elders) but also make your baby feel cherished and reassured at all times. Be generous with your praise. This ensures better cooperation.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
I used to take mine to the vet where the nurse did the nail trim while I held the piggy.
My new vet charges twice the price so with help from @VickiA I'm just learning to do it myself.

You do really need 2 people unless you are a very experienced piggy handler and have much more cooperative piggies than I do
 
I think its always a good idea to watch a vet or an experienced person do it the first few times, we used to take them all to the vet for nail trims but recently I started doing the pale toe gang at home and just taking the dark toe pair to the vet! You need special clippers you can just buy online for about £5. And my advice would be to trim little and often- if you cant get every toe or every foot on the first go don't stress it, just give piggy a reward and note down which toes to try next week!
Big pig Clover hates having her nails done, even the vet nurse can't always do them, I think someone has hurt her badly doing it in the past- so we are practising a "let me hold your paw firmly then you have a snack" technique every week without too much actual nail cutting and she's getting much better :)
 
Piggies&buns said:
I use a special pair of animal nail clippers.
The easiest way to cut them is to hold piggy in a towel. It can be safer to do it with two people - one of you holding piggy and the other one to hold piggy’s foot to cut the nail. If your piggies nails are black, you can shine a torch up through it so that you can see the quick more easily. You can usually see the quick fairly easy on white nails. The most important thing though, is if you don’t know how to do it, then ask a vet/nurse to do it for you until you are confident you know how and when to cut. That way you can see how to do it before attempting it yourself - you dont want to cut into the quick as it causes pain and bleeding.
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When I took my pig to the vets because a piece of hay got stuck in her eye, the vet clipped two of her claws too short and they bled. I was a bit cross 😡. Across the two pigs in over 3 years, I've maybe done that twice, if that. The claws weren't overgrown when she went to the vets. I've always tended to err on the side of caution and clipped less off, but more often. But sometimes vets think they know better 🙄.
 
For wanting to cut a wriggly piggy's nails on my own, does anyone have any experience of the nail grinder? I got one and its quite quiet, so the noise at least shouldn't be stressful.
 
Piggylove82 said:
When I took my pig to the vets because a piece of hay got stuck in her eye, the vet clipped two of her claws too short and they bled. I was a bit cross 😡. Across the two pigs in over 3 years, I've maybe done that twice, if that. The claws weren't overgrown when she went to the vets. I've always tended to err on the side of caution and clipped less off, but more often. But sometimes vets think they know better 🙄.
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I've had that several times at the vet. Even asked my brother once, who is a surgeon, and he also made them bleed 🤨
 
Black piggies said:
I've had that several times at the vet. Even asked my brother once, who is a surgeon, and he also made them bleed 🤨
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I felt like if I said to the vet noooo I'll do it myself at home, that she'd think I was denying my pig 'proper care'.
 
Black piggies said:
I've had that several times at the vet. Even asked my brother once, who is a surgeon, and he also made them bleed 🤨
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Actually, just thought, even though my girl was very good and just flinched, didn't squeal, it might make her wary of the whole vet scenario the next time 🤷🏻‍♀️😔
 
I find watching youtube videos such as the ones by LA guinea pig rescue a good way of getting an understanding of what to do. Also if they bleed just dip the nail in cornflour and it stops the bleed straight away as long as you've not taken way too much off.
 
Sweet Potato said:
I find watching youtube videos such as the ones by LA guinea pig rescue a good way of getting an understanding of what to do. Also if they bleed just dip the nail in cornflour and it stops the bleed straight away as long as you've not taken way too much off.
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Thanks. Just tried to watch their video and the squealing of her piggy has made mine scarper for cover in their hideys 😄
 
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