Nail Clipping at the vets - Advice needed!

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PipandPop

PipandPop

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Hi all,
Poppy and Pippin are going to the vets a week tomorrow to have their nails clipped. We used to do it ourselves with our old piggy but due to their age and inexperience we aren't confident enough to do it with these two yet. Pippin also have four feet of black nails so i'm very nervous about doing them.

They have only been once before and they found it very scary, hopefully they will settle to it. Our issue is that whilst in these situations Poppy seems to go very quiet and still and accepts what is happening Pippin is the complete opposite. With her back end she was fine but when the nurse got to the front feet she wouldn't stay still, she kept snatching her paw back and nipping. She actually caught me so hard that I bled for about 10 minutes afterwards :(

Does anyone have any advice for making the experience less stressful, or anyway of making sure I don't get bitten again! We tried bribery, wrapping her in a towel and other distractions but no luck.
 
I’ve just always found some pigs do not like it at all, all three of my piggies react really differently, one is terrified and will scramble away and move his feet around sometimes biting and nipping me, one just sits and accepts it and the other is happy with back paws but snatches his front paws away.

I find the best way is just go for it, see someone else do it and then jump in, theres nothing to be afraid of, you can use home made solutions (flour and water etc.) ready for any blood that rarely will come of it, or buy special blood stoppy stick things (i forget their name haha) The more worried you are the more nervous the piggies will be. Try to get it over and done with so they can give you evil eyes and get back in their beds haha.
 
PipandPop said:
Hi all,
Poppy and Pippin are going to the vets a week tomorrow to have their nails clipped. We used to do it ourselves with our old piggy but due to their age and inexperience we aren't confident enough to do it with these two yet. Pippin also have four feet of black nails so i'm very nervous about doing them.

They have only been once before and they found it very scary, hopefully they will settle to it. Our issue is that whilst in these situations Poppy seems to go very quiet and still and accepts what is happening Pippin is the complete opposite. With her back end she was fine but when the nurse got to the front feet she wouldn't stay still, she kept snatching her paw back and nipping. She actually caught me so hard that I bled for about 10 minutes afterwards :(

Does anyone have any advice for making the experience less stressful, or anyway of making sure I don't get bitten again! We tried bribery, wrapping her in a towel and other distractions but no luck.
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The trick I do is sit outside and do it slowly with grass on your lap to distract them. I think the more stressed you feel the more unconfident you do it. If I can get one or two done I do then do the others slowly over the next few days till they are done. It is an awful job though.
 
I can speak for us both when I say we still hate nail clipping, it never gets any more fun. We have to do our new piggies black toes this weekend am dreading it. Food bribery worked great for Cooke and Treacle though. I hold and feed while Rach trims, I can never understand how people do it on there own - very brave!

Vimto is a bitter so I am dreading that, but luckily she had them done at cookies vet visit the other week so Rosie had the enjoyment of it, she is ultra fast lol
 
Pickle has black nails and I get my daughter to do it! She wraps her in a towel with one foot sticking out. She takes just a little off at a time and so far no mishaps. Phew!
 
I have to put a sock over Timmy's head to do his front claws! He just doesn't like the clippers going near his face :(
 
Good news! They have just been to see the nurse, both still a bit scared but she was very quick and gentle. No aggression from either of them and they are now running round the floor looking very offended!
 
Mine were all pretty good last time. My OH holds, and I clip. Hamish is the one who struggles most, especially with his front feet and his nails are brown so more difficult to see the quick. Thankfully the others all have white/clear nails which makes it so much easier, but I still get nervous doing it.
 
it's a 3 man job in our house! one to hold them, one to clip the nails and one to feed broccoli or peppers while doing it! works everytime!
 
I've had all 3 of mine at the vets today getting their nails clipped, I just hold them gently round the midriff and present paws to vet who swiftly does the business with the clippers - no struggling, no wheeking or dramas. :)) :)) :))
 
I am a one man band when it comes to clipping all 7 of mine (past and present) I have managed alone :D
 
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