Nail clipping

[Deleted member 147427]

Hi there

I’m going to phone the vet at some point soon to get salsa and tangos first nail clipping done. I was just wondering how often should they be getting there nails clipped

 

[Piggies&buns]

Approximately every six weeks

 

[Deleted member 147427]

Aww thanks piggie and buns . I’ve just phoned the vets and that’s them booked in for a week on Sunday

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there

I’m going to phone the vet at some point soon to get salsa and tangos first nail clipping done. I was just wondering how often should they be getting there nails clipped

You start with nail clipping (at first just the very tips) once they start growing out at around 4 months and then between every 3-6 weeks, depending on how fast they grow; the grow rate is not the same throughout life. Nails grow fastest in the first year of life and then they slow down very very gradually as piggies age.

 

[Deleted member 147427]

Whilst doing a nail clipping does the vet also check your piggies weight

 

[VickiA]

Whilst doing a nail clipping does the vet also check your piggies weight

It depends what you have booked and paid for. If you’ve booked in for a nail clip only then you will get a nail clip only. If you’ve booked a general appointment with the vet for a check over including nail clip, then that is what you will get and they will do a check over and weight etc.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Don’t forget that the vet weighing them may give a different reading to your own scales at home so don’t be alarmed if they suddenly weigh differently to the weights you have taken at home. Given you won’t take them to the vet weekly to weigh them, then do ensure you continue to weigh them at home every week yourself

 

[Deleted member 147427]

Don’t forget that the vet weighing them may give a different reading to your own scales at home so don’t be alarmed if they suddenly weigh differently to the weights you have taken at home. Given you won’t take them to the vet weekly to weigh them, then do ensure you continue to weigh them at home every week yourself

I don’t really weigh my guinea pigs I just make sure they are getting plenty hay veggies and pellets

 

[Piggies&buns]

I don’t really weigh my guinea pigs I just make sure they are getting plenty hay veggies and pellets

You should weigh them every week as it is the only way to know they are eating enough hay and are healthy. You cannot judge hay intake by eye and as it is 80% of their food intake, any reduction in hay intake can quickly become a problem but you won’t be able to see they haven’t eaten enough without weighing them.
Veg and pellets jointly are only 20% of the daily food intake so eating them does not mean they are getting enough food in general.

Any weight loss of 50g of more requires you to step in and you won’t be able to see that amount of weight loss by them physically appearing smaller so could miss vital signs of them needing vet care

Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Siikibam]

You really need to weigh them weekly. Perhaps do it at the weekend and make it part B off the routine. Weigh and health check then a little veg - a few sprigs of coriander or a slice of cucumber. I vaguely remember they don’t like being B picked up (like most B pigs)so use a tunnel, box or cuddle cup.

 

[Deleted member 147427]

I’ll try but they always try to climb out the bowl I put them in to weigh them in . They both look quite nice and plumb

 

[Claire W]

I take my piggies to the vets every 6-8 weeks for nail cuts but their nails don’t grow fast

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ll try but they always try to climb out the bowl I put them in to weigh them in . They both look quite nice and plumb

They will try to get out as probably won’t like it but it is so important to get them into the habit of weighing them every week as routine. Try to use a higher sided box rather than a bowl

The weight checks are important as you won’t be able to tell subtle but potentially significant changes to their hay intake just by looking at them.

 

[VickiA]

You cannot tell by sight or feel if there’s been weight loss unless it’s extreme weight loss. Regular weighing and recording weights needs to be part of your routine for keeping piggies. My piggies are not keen on being picked up or handled but all get weighed regularly and are used to it now.

 

[Siikibam]

Could you perhaps use a box or maybe hover your hand over the top? They will eventually get used to it but you have to start it.