Guinea pig question

ebs · 08-12-2011, 10:13 AM

Just wondering if anyone has suggestions/advice on how to trim guinea pig nails? Our guineas are held every day and are pretty calm, but as soon as I try to trim the nails, they get all wiggly. I am afraid I will hurt them if I try to trim while they squirm. Any techniques you know of, maybe a certain way to hold them or something? I'd hate to have to pay the vet to do this, but maybe that is what I will have to do. Thank you!

Roman · 08-12-2011, 10:22 AM

Maybe wrap the little Piggie in a towel?

DQ2B · 08-12-2011, 10:30 AM

Towel sounds good. Are you using two people to do the job? When I do our decidedly non-tame bunnies we have one person hold while the other trims.

libertytyranny · 08-12-2011, 10:36 AM

My male piggy was so crazy tame he just let me

My female was less happy about it and I had to wrap her in a soft tshirt and I would hold her on my lap, spreak her little paw with my finger and I used cat claw clippers to clip them. Sometimes if she got too upset I would do the front, and then the backs later or on another day. the cat clippers that are like little guillotines are the best. SOmetimes I would give her a carrot to munch on while i did the backs as she stood

*ArkRescue* ^(Premo) · 08-12-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libertytyranny

My male piggy was so crazy tame he just let me

My female was less happy about it and I had to wrap her in a soft tshirt and I would hold her on my lap, spreak her little paw with my finger and I used cat claw clippers to clip them. Sometimes if she got too upset I would do the front, and then the backs later or on another day. the cat clippers that are like little guillotines are the best. SOmetimes I would give her a carrot to munch on while i did the backs as she stood

I find that some never settle down as they get older and I end up having to be extra careful trimming them. I usually hold piggy in a vertical (standing up for them)position in my lap against my belly with 1 hand with a finger or 2 gripping the leg I want to trim, then do the trimming with the other hand.

speaking of piggies LT .......

they are just so DARNED SWEET and CUTE: Darling Female Guinea Pig Sisters !

onebdzee · 08-12-2011, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkRescue

I find that some never settle down as they get older and I end up having to be extra careful trimming them. I usually hold piggy in a vertical (standing up for them)position in my lap against my belly with 1 hand with a finger or 2 gripping the leg I want to trim, then do the trimming with the other hand.

speaking of piggies LT .......

they are just so DARNED SWEET and CUTE: Darling Female Guinea Pig Sisters !

I have one of my kids hold the noisy one and I trim his nails....he apparently has ticklish feet because he makes quite a bit of noise and wiggles a lot when we do this

ebs · 08-12-2011, 09:06 PM

Thanks for the suggestions - I will wrap them up and tag team them with my daughter. Although I have trimmed my cats' claws for years, the pigs just seem more fragile and I am more worried about squishing them. Using a towel is a great idea. Thanks everyone!

Pasofever · 08-13-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebs

Just wondering if anyone has suggestions/advice on how to trim guinea pig nails? Our guineas are held every day and are pretty calm, but as soon as I try to trim the nails, they get all wiggly. I am afraid I will hurt them if I try to trim while they squirm. Any techniques you know of, maybe a certain way to hold them or something? I'd hate to have to pay the vet to do this, but maybe that is what I will have to do. Thank you!

When I was showing cavies I used to do mine on my lap upside down they would "freeze" or bring them in and I will do them for $5 but I am sure you can do it alone..

*ArkRescue* ^(Premo) · 08-13-2011, 07:08 AM

I clipped the nails on a bunny for the 1st time in many years yesterday. Wow their nails are much smaller/thinner than a guinea pig - more like cats claws. Unless this is just a very young bunny and the nails change over time (can't remember what adult bunny claws are like)? I had to be VERY careful as this little guys nails are small, but they were sharp! So I just took the tips off only.

DosGattos · 08-19-2011, 04:09 PM

I put my piggies on their backs rub their bellies and clip away. Food is also good to have handy. Keeps em distracted.

08-12-2011, 10:13 AM	#1
ebs Registered User Member Since: Oct 2010 Posts: 95	Guinea pig question Just wondering if anyone has suggestions/advice on how to trim guinea pig nails? Our guineas are held every day and are pretty calm, but as soon as I try to trim the nails, they get all wiggly. I am afraid I will hurt them if I try to trim while they squirm. Any techniques you know of, maybe a certain way to hold them or something? I'd hate to have to pay the vet to do this, but maybe that is what I will have to do. Thank you! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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08-12-2011, 10:22 AM	#2
Roman Registered User Member Since: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,289	Maybe wrap the little Piggie in a towel? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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08-12-2011, 10:30 AM	#3
DQ2B Registered User Member Since: Nov 2005 Posts: 790	Towel sounds good. Are you using two people to do the job? When I do our decidedly non-tame bunnies we have one person hold while the other trims. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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08-12-2011, 10:36 AM	#4
libertytyranny Dream Stealer Member Since: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,023	My male piggy was so crazy tame he just let me My female was less happy about it and I had to wrap her in a soft tshirt and I would hold her on my lap, spreak her little paw with my finger and I used cat claw clippers to clip them. Sometimes if she got too upset I would do the front, and then the backs later or on another day. the cat clippers that are like little guillotines are the best. SOmetimes I would give her a carrot to munch on while i did the backs as she stood Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ First secure an independent income, then practice virtue
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08-12-2011, 09:06 PM	#7
ebs Registered User Member Since: Oct 2010 Posts: 95	Thanks for the suggestions - I will wrap them up and tag team them with my daughter. Although I have trimmed my cats' claws for years, the pigs just seem more fragile and I am more worried about squishing them. Using a towel is a great idea. Thanks everyone! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
	[ Reply w/Quote ]


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08-13-2011, 07:08 AM	#9
ArkRescue ^(Premo) Adopt me ! Member Since: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,216	I clipped the nails on a bunny for the 1st time in many years yesterday. Wow their nails are much smaller/thinner than a guinea pig - more like cats claws. Unless this is just a very young bunny and the nails change over time (can't remember what adult bunny claws are like)? I had to be VERY careful as this little guys nails are small, but they were sharp! So I just took the tips off only. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ Making a Difference Last edited by ArkRescue; 08-13-2011 at 08:06 AM.
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08-19-2011, 04:09 PM	#10
DosGattos Registered User Member Since: Feb 2009 Location: Evans Mills NY Posts: 316	I put my piggies on their backs rub their bellies and clip away. Food is also good to have handy. Keeps em distracted. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ TIMMY GOT ADOPTED!!
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