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Nails too long?

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Pink Jumper

Pink Jumper

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi all

I was wondering whether you could help?

I am not sure whether my piggies nails are too long. How long do they get before they need clipping? Obviously I definately know they are too long if they start curling under. But I do not want to distress my pigs by taking them to the vet if their nails are fine.

I have 2 sows who are about 6-8 months old. I am not sure whether they still have their sharp pup nails still or whether their nails are more like adult ones now. They are still a bit sharp on my arms and chest when I am holding them.

I am not keen on clipping them myself as I had a bad experience years ago when somebody, who I thought knew what they were doing, tried to clip my dog's nails...but caused my dog a lot of pain and trauma after basically clipping her toe off, so I kinda have a fear of letting anyone near my animals unless they are professionals. Especially now as my piggies are very wriggly when being held.

Any advice would be brill.

Thanks :)
 
Clipping piggy nails especially if they have clear nails is really simple once you know how to do it. For the first time go to the vet and get them to show you how to do it :-)

I do all 5 of mine and I learned how to do it from youtube and by trial and error in that I never clipped very much off their nails always just a tiny amount and as my confidence has grown I now take much more off the nail in one go ;-)

That sounds awful with your dog! I do our dog as she bites the vet and even though we dont get anywhere near her quick she squeels the house down!

Even if you dont plan on clipping yourself it would probably be a good idea just to hold your piggy and touch their feet, gently moving their toes and stuff so they get used to their feet being touched ... this really helps keeping them still and calm :-)
 
Bekki2308 said:
Clipping piggy nails especially if they have clear nails is really simple once you know how to do it. For the first time go to the vet and get them to show you how to do it :-)

I do all 5 of mine and I learned how to do it from youtube and by trial and error in that I never clipped very much off their nails always just a tiny amount and as my confidence has grown I now take much more off the nail in one go ;-)

That sounds awful with your dog! I do our dog as she bites the vet and even though we dont get anywhere near her quick she squeels the house down!

Even if you dont plan on clipping yourself it would probably be a good idea just to hold your piggy and touch their feet, gently moving their toes and stuff so they get used to their feet being touched ... this really helps keeping them still and calm :-)
Click to expand...

Thank you, this is really helpful.
 
I have decided to book them into the vets today to see a nurse. At least then I can actually watch somebody clipping the nails to get an idea of how to do it, just in case I eventually decide to start clipping them myself.

Also, while they are there I will just get them checked over quickly (might as well make the most of the appointment :)))

They may get a bit distressed (and so will I :{) but it will be worth it once they are all trimmed and checked.
 
UPDATE:

Took the girls to the vet. Their nails are fine, in fact their nails need to grow double the length before they need them clipped mallethead:red

I wasn't to know as these are my first ever piggies. I would rather have them checked than to just wonder and leave them grow too long. But now I know :)
 
White claws you can see the quick (pink) so a couple mm after that's fine.
I just watch the pigs and wait for their toes to start going up then i'd get them clipped
 
I have been gently filing my piggies' claws with an emery board while holding them (a piggy manicure?) just to get the edge of the the sharpness off their baby claws (mine are a similar age). I am also a bit nervous of cutting their nails as they are still quite wriggly so will probably book into the vets too.
 
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