How to trim dark nails?

Phoebe+Winnie+Poppy+Chloe

Phoebe+Winnie+Poppy+Chloe

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I just adopted my third piggy, and I'm realizing that she has dark nails and I can't see where to cut when it comes time to trim them. Is there a special way to trim them at home? Or do I need to take her to a vet? Thanks!
 
You can just trim off a very short bit at a time. Or you could shine a light under the nail to help see where the quick is. I’ve tried the latter without much success. I just trim off a bit at a time.
 
Just trim a small amount (just the tips) more often. And have a styptic pencil or something just in case the quick get nicked by mistake.
 
Siikibam said:
You can just trim off a very short bit at a time. Or you could shine a light under the nail to help see where the quick is. I’ve tried the latter without much success. I just trim off a bit at a time.
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I have tried to light and found it did help a bit with my piggie who had brown nails, but the piggie with black nails it really doesn't show anything... plus she doesn't like the light.
 
I just trim a little bit off each time and have the styptic powder nearby in case
 
My vet usually does George now as he has check ups for arthritis every 3 months - but occasionally you get one who doesn't want to risk it. I try resting his foot on an LED headtorch to gauge the quick, and wearing my good glasses obvs! One vet said to trim a little at a time, another said she grips the nail in the clippers and squeezes slowly so that if she's in the wrong place piggy squeals before they are actually cut. George is a bit dramatic anyway so I'm just fudging it really but I'd rather leave them a bit too long than risk snicking the quick because I can't bear him to be upset every time I get the clippers out any more than he has to be! The older they get the more talon-y they get: like scary old guy toe-nails are never going to be like the shiny nails of children no matter how skilled the pedi!
 
Priscilla has dark nails too
I just trim a little bit at a time and always have a dish of cornflour at hand.
The fact that she’s long haired and a wriggler doesn’t help.
 
After using human nail clippers. The ones you turn around for 3 months I bought an expensive scissor type for especially for small animals on Saturday.

Beware ..

They are very strong and not easy to gauge an accident. I had one on one nail and was mortified to cause a nasty bleed. The problem is you don't get the wheek when you go too high. It just removes without any knowledge about the cut .

I'm going back to the human nail clippers..
 
Both mine have black nails and my eyesight not what it was 😬 They screech dramatically before I’ve even started. Luckily my local dog groomer also does small furries so we sometimes get a ’professional trim’ - and not a peep out of them when she does it 😂
 
Bertie & Jelly said:
Both mine have black nails and my eyesight not what it was 😬 They screech dramatically before I’ve even started. Luckily my local dog groomer also does small furries so we sometimes get a ’professional trim’ - and not a peep out of them when she does it 😂
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So typical of piggies!
 
There is a really funny video on this site by a lovely American lady who shows how to cut nails ‘expertly’.

she seems to have the full range of problems we are all used to .

I'm leaving nails until they get too long but you have to watch nails. I had a nasty nail incident which cut my youngest behind her ear . I thought she was going to die when I found her . Arterial blood spray up the cage . Luckily she recovered perfectly.
 
Mon59 said:
There is a really funny video on this site by a lovely American lady who shows how to cut nails ‘expertly’.

she seems to have the full range of problems we are all used to .

I'm leaving nails until they get too long but you have to watch nails. I had a nasty nail incident which cut my youngest behind her ear . I thought she was going to die when I found her . Arterial blood spray up the cage . Luckily she recovered perfectly.
Click to expand...

Leaving them until too long isn’t advisable. Cutting a little and often is best as it makes the quick stay short. If you leave the nails too long then the quick will extend meaning you cannot cut enough off each time and it can make things very uncomfortable for piggy and it increases the risk of catching the quick .
 
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