My Guinea Pig Is Terrified Of Nail Trimming

[Ellisha P]

I make sure to trim Dexter’s nails every week and every time he is terrified. I can see the whites of his eyes and he is shaking all over.

Is there anything I can do to help make him less scared or just to comfort him in the process? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Betsy]

Does Dexter really need his nail trimming every week? That does seem a bit excessive. I do mine only when they are looking a bit long. I've had mine 2 years and cut their nails 4 or 5 times. I check my piggies nails as part of the weekly check but don't need to cut them weekly. I know you only want the best for Dexter and you love him but if it stresses him so much that he is shaking he must be terrified. If you feel the need to cut them so often, do you wrap him up in a towel to make it less stressful making sure the towel covers his head (Kinda like a Dexter sausage roll)?

 

[Janice C]

I make sure to trim Dexter’s nails every week and every time he is terrified. I can see the whites of his eyes and he is shaking all over.

Is there anything I can do to help make him less scared or just to comfort him in the process? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

As @_betsy says surely he doesn't need them trimmed as often? I do check all mine regularly but it's only the older piggies that occasionally require a trim!

 

[Pigwhisperer]

It will get better. Silk hates it too but as she's got to trust me more she has very very very gradually got slightly better. I probably do them every 6 weeks or so and I give her lots of reassurance every time, tell her what a good girl she is, lots of stroking her face ("I love you" in pigspeak), take my time, put my finger under her foot to steady it rather than gripping tightly, let her have a wriggle in between; lots of patience and stroking and reassurance with your voice goes a long way I think. She has a kind of reflex action to bite you when you touch her front feet, but I've watched her fight it, not wanting to bite me, and it's almost gone now.

 

[Allena]

I don't think guinea pigs like having their nails trimmed at anytime. My Freddie (approx 2 years old) has strange front nails that grow into a curly kind of sideways "C", if allowed to get too long. I've been advised to trim them a little off them, but often. As I have Ataxia (shake in my hands), I am scared of huting him by accidentally cutting into the quick, so I take him to our fabulous veterinary hospital and one of the nurses there does the job for me. He puts up with it, but 'wheeks' a lot in protest too. I do not think he will ever like it, but it is one of those necessary jobs which has to be done for his health and welfare. (Sometimes "Mummy does know best, Freddie"!) ElishaP, my advice is simply to persevere with Dexter. If, like Freddie, his nails grow very quickly, you will see and know when to clip but, if in any doubt, always speak to your Vet. Good luck.