Clipping nails

[DLawrance25]

Any advice or guidance for clipping those pesky nails? How short should they be?

 

[Piggies&buns]

You need to look for the quick and then ensure you don’t cut into it otherwise it’ll bleed. It’s much easier to do it little at a time.
If your piggies have white nails then it’s easier to see the quick. If they are black, then it can help to shine a torch up through the nail to see the quick.

I use a bit of coriander to help keep mine still and then only cut while they tolerate it. If they get fidgety or have had enough, then I stop and try again the next day - it can take several attempts to get them all done then pretty.

 

[Mikatelyn]

Mine have both black nails and white ones. I use the white ones as a gauge. Even so, I'm still wimpy with the nail cutting. I just take about 1 mm off the tips, and I try to keep up with it about once a month. Also, you can do a test squeeze before you cut. I only cut when it doesn't seem to bother them. I'm still pretty new to piggy nail cutting though. Having a second person to hold bribes, I mean treats, is super helpful.

 

[Wiebke]

Any advice or guidance for clipping those pesky nails? How short should they be?

Hi

Please NEVER cut into the quick inside the nail to prevent potentially fatal bleeding. Cut nails where you can't see the quick a bit longer if necessary and start with the lightest nails so you can judge better how far down the quick starts by comparison when you tackle dar or black
nails. It is the skin colour in that area that determines the nail colour.

The age when nails start growing out can vary quite a bit. For the very first nail cut, just want to clip the very tip (where baby nails can become painfully sharp) for about 1 mm once it is safe to do so.

In the run up to nail cutting handle and manipulate your piggies' feet during cuddling sessions regularly, so they are used to it. that will cut down on the stress. You may also want to make use of piggy whispering tips to ensure better compliance. The first cut is often easier as a piggy is a bit shocked whereas in the second one they know what is in the offing. If you don't get all nails cut in one go at first, please take it easy and continue on the next day.

Here is more information:
Here is our nailcutting guide: Guide to Cutting Guinea Pig Nails
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?

The guides are part of our very helpful and comprehensive New Owners information resource, which is one of the currently best ones around. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need as in some of the guides you will take things away on different levels as you become more experienced. Here is the link: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides