Help - I just cut the quick on my piggy’s nail and it bled :-(

[beautiful_day]

Hi,

i was clipping the nails of one of our guineas, and I think one nail I’d already done got caught in the clippers by accident and got clipped much shorter. Ive clipped their nails before fine, there were two of us, but he was very wriggly.

It bled what seemed like so much - I feel terrible. I dipped his paw in saline and then in alcohol solution. It is not bleeding any more, and he is wandering around the pen and eating lettuce happily. There is no chance of getting to a vet this evening but I could take him tomorrow.

my question is has anyone done this before and what could happen? Does it heal quite easily? if he seems ok and the bleeding doesn’t restart should I take him to the vet tomorrow, or wait and see? We’ve cleaned the cage, but given that he pees and poos and then basically lies in it, I’m worried about infection. Shall I do the saline and alcohol again later/tomorrow or just leave it alone to scab over if it seems ok?

thanks :-(

 

[DMS260820]

It looks worse than what it is, don't worry, itl soon stop bleeding, aslong as it's only the nail and not the actual toe. I've done it a few times, infact I've done it twice on one pig in 1 clipping time. My t shirt looked like I'd murdered my pig. Stopped bleeding in about 20 mins.

 

[piggieminder]

Guide to Cutting Guinea Pig Nails

I think most of us have done it at sometime, you feel really guilty and bad but it was an accident so please don't. Keep an eye on it in case of infection and keep it clean. When I did it I think I washed with saline a couple of times, I wouldn't use alcolhol. If it won't stop bleeding you can dab it with a bit of corn flour, if you haven't got any use ordinary flour that should help it stop. If you are worried at all about it you should take him to a vet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

i was clipping the nails of one of our guineas, and I think one nail I’d already done got caught in the clippers by accident and got clipped much shorter. Ive clipped their nails before fine, there were two of us, but he was very wriggly.

It bled what seemed like so much - I feel terrible. I dipped his paw in saline and then in alcohol solution. It is not bleeding any more, and he is wandering around the pen and eating lettuce happily. There is no chance of getting to a vet this evening but I could take him tomorrow.

my question is has anyone done this before and what could happen? Does it heal quite easily? if he seems ok and the bleeding doesn’t restart should I take him to the vet tomorrow, or wait and see? We’ve cleaned the cage, but given that he pees and poos and then basically lies in it, I’m worried about infection. Shall I do the saline and alcohol again later/tomorrow or just leave it alone to scab over if it seems ok?

thanks :-(

Hi!

Accidental cuts to the quick or ripping off of a nail is pretty common.

Usually any bleeding should stop within 10 minutes or so and in most cases, the nail will grow back normally again. If the nail bed is disturbed, the nail will grow back thickened. It is badly affected, the nail may not grow back, but it is doesn't affect mobility only slightly.

See a vet promptly if the bleeding hasn't stopped within 15-20 minutes or comes back again.

One lot of disinfectant once the bleeding has stopped is enough.

 

[beautiful_day]

Ok thanks! I feel better to know that it happens to others. I’ll keep an eye on him. i gave them some apple (favorite food) to assuage my guilt!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Happens so often it's untrue. I have a couple of wigglers and hate clipping nails. It does sometimes happen that it bleeds but as long as it stops they will be fine and will forgive you with some extra love and an extra treat or two

 

[Freela]

It happens, especially with pigs with dark nails where you can't see the quick! I've never had a pig have a subsequent problem once the bleeding stopped. You can but styptic powder or just plain flour to help it clot faster should it ever happen again.