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Twisted Toes

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GuineaPig24

GuineaPig24

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Our "new" guinea pig, Bacon, has very twisted toenails! It's terrifying, but doesn't bother him at all, his previous owner said. What do we do?
 
One of mine has very curly claws. It's often a sign of an older pigggy. Just make sure you can see the quick and cut back carefully. You may not be able to make them straight, but as long as they are the right length and not pressing on the pads should be ok.
 
VickiA said:
One of mine has very curly claws. It's often a sign of an older pigggy. Just make sure you can see the quick and cut back carefully. You may not be able to make them straight, but as long as they are the right length and not pressing on the pads should be ok.
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Whew! I thought when they were all sideways and disgusting, that it was like broken toesies. DX
 
When we first got Rex to foster, he had just been brought into the rescue & had twisted toe nails with some over 30mm long. I cut as much as I dared & luckily didn't make them bleed which was more good luck as they were black & I couldn't see the quick. I got them down over a few days to about half the length & when he went to the vets for neutering & sebaceous cyst removal I asked the vet to trim them while he was under anaesthetic. I eventually gave him a forever home & his nails are now just the same as my other piggies which didn't seem achievable on the first day we had him. If you attempt it yourself just cut a little each day until you get them to about half the size or if you can see the quick then cut them more. Have some cornflour on hand or some antiseptic dusting powder if you want to be more scientific. I'm now fairly expert at cutting nails & will be on my monthly nail clipping duty at Bunny Burrows Rescue tomorrow when I'll be clipping the nails of about 30 piggies.
 
My old girl has wonky toenails too. It doesn't bother her and the vet has given her the all clear. As long as the nails are kept short enough not to grow into their pads
 
Toenails thicken or twist as piggies grow older; it is one of the very few signs you can try to roughly age an adult piggies by. They usually don't get in the way. Please keep them cut short. If you are squeamish, ask you vet or vet nurse to do it for you or to show you how.
 
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