Trimming black nails ......

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Black Jack

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Hi there. I have just got a self black 7 week old boar. All is nails are TOTALLY black and I cannot see the quick at all. Should I just trim off the very tips and do it more frequently than would otherwise. I really don't want to harm him in any way. In the Summer months it probably wont be such a problem because he will have access to the yard and naturally wear his nails down on the concrete - however the cold Winter months will prove a bit of a problem. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Also does anyone know any "negative" facts about self blacks (other than the fact that they are harder to breed from - hence my exhaustive search to find him in the first place)? I am, of course, hoping there aren't any, but I have never kept selfs before, although I did used to breed Peruvians and Abyssinians for a few years.
 
They won`t need trimming for a while yet as he is only 7 weeks old but yes a little once a week is what I do with mine :)
 
Hey

Congratulations - black piggers ROCK

My Merlin is not a self - he is a pet but he is 98% black with a few ginger strands

Black nails are hard to cut so yes, the best thing is to do them little and often. My vet told me that the quick retracts when the nails get long and that regluar trimming will encourage the quick to move forwards to its correct position again
 
Black Jack said:
Does anyone know any "negative" facts about self blacks (other than the fact that they are harder to breed from - hence my exhaustive search to find him in the first place)? I am, of course, hoping there aren't any, but I have never kept selfs before, although I did used to breed Peruvians and Abyssinians for a few years.
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You could always asked the Breeder you got him from. Might I add that this is a very pro rescue forum and intentional breeding is not talked about on here :)
 
As you say they are difficult to breed from (depending on the line) and the ones I've had haven't lived over two years- but I've only had 5 purebreds and they were from the same line- so was probably the breeding/line at fault there. One of my fave breeds :) Talk to a breeder about it as PP says, some are outcrossed to Reds I believe to improve things...
 
Oh I really hope that was a faulty line :'( - I hate to think of my little fella only being with me for two years! The breeder he came from only had self blacks and a few of them were getting on a bit so hopefully longevity is in his genes. He is soooooooooooooooooooooooo adorable - I'm completely hooked on selfs now although I'd mainly had tri colours before! ::)
 
He is too young for you to have to trim them, but in the future, might be a good idea to use a nail file to keep them down instead, as long as you keep up on them and keep them filed, it might be easier than trying to judge how far you can cut :)
 
Yeah am going to try filing first as this seems a much safer option and he's not too good at keeping still!
 
my bob is black and ginger, and has 4 brown claws i can see the quick in, and the rest are black. i tend to give them a little trim, then file a little more off.

i started using a file as his claws grow much faster than munchies and curl, and they started getting too long, i thought a file would make it easier to get them back, as I'm too afraid to cut too far.
 
I hate nail filers i cant even use them on myself as they make me feel sick :P i trim my piggys nails whenever i think they need soing and whenever they look like they need trimming although most of my piggys have rocks and stuff to climb on :smitten: i have 2 self blacks too and 3 nearly self blacks :smitten:
 
I found this pic on the Net, there pet nail clippers with a light and magnifying glass so you can see the quick.
pnc.jpg
 
CavyChick777 said:
I found this pic on the Net, there pet nail clippers with a light and magnifying glass so you can see the quick.
pnc.jpg
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I can't see the picture :'( my pc just shows a square with a little red x in the corner 98) Could you please let me know where you found the pic? Ta muchly O0
 
ooh where were these clippers advertised? just got back from taking my girls for their manicure and the place i always take them havent done a very good job this time so i'd much rather do them myself next time.
 
interesting

wonder if the quick would show up in a black nail
 
I hate trimming black nails so when I clip them I only take off a little bit off at a time.
 
My guinea pig is brown and its hard to make out the start of her foot....I might try it later though been very very carefull 88)
 
daz94 said:
My guinea pig is brown and its hard to make out the start of her foot....I might try it later though been very very carefull 88)
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You can't find her foot!?!?!?!?!? Good luck with that then! O0 ;)
 
Black Jack said:
No it doesn't show - that's the problem!
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I meant with the light shining on it (from the little trimmer that someone has posted)
 
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