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Nail clipping

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Deleted member 148344

Hi I’m pleased to announce that I took my girls to the vets last weekend for there first nail clipping the nurse actually said they didn’t look to bad and wouldn’t need done for about another 4 to 6 months . He also very kindly
Clipped my long haired girls back end as it was getting knoted and dirty
 
The nails will probably need to be trimmed much sooner than 4-6 months if I'm honest.

You haven't introduced your girls. We'd love to see photos! 🙂
 
I asked the nurse at the vets I take my girls too and he said they wernt that bad and said they wouldn’t need done till that length of time
 
You'd be surprised how quickly their nails grow! Unfortunately many vets aren't as experienced in small animals. They should need their nails trimmed every few weeks, but it can be hard to put a set time on it. Just keep an eye on their nails when you do their weekly weigh ins and trim them if they look like they need to be 🙂
 
I think they meant to say 4 to 6 weeks most likely. If I left mine 4-6 months they would look like curly fries and they wouldn't be able to walk properly.
 
Yeah possibly. This is the reply I got from the nurse at the vet

Hello there,

Every guinea pig is different, however based on timeframe of growth on both Salsa & Tango nails, nail clips every 4-6 months would likely be ideal.
Hope this helps.
 
I have to agree with the others - 4-6 months between will be far too long. 4-8 weeks is the normal time scale
 
Well I’m just going by what the vetinary nurse said at my local vets 4 pets I’m registered with
 
I don’t think I have ever heard of a Guineapig that doesn’t need a trim for 6 months! I do my boys about every 6 weeks. I guess you should just keep an eye on them and if they look long book them in!
 
We check ours and clip any obviously long ones, but usually about every 3 months is when we do the whole herd. It really varies pig to pig- old lady Clover who has weird curly nails and arthritis needs hers done every 4-6 weeks, but both my boars and my skinny pig both have much slower growing nails and especially with the dark nails if I do it too soon I end up cutting their poor little toes!
So its always good to just take a look at the feet and nails every week as you clean the cage and do a weekly general home health check where you weigh them and check their bums are clean, eyes and nose are clear, teethies and working ok...
Often then if there are one or two problem nails on one piggy you can just snip them down quickly without doing a full nail trim- Clover especially ripped 2 nails out once catching them on something and the way they have regrown, one is a big thick hoof and the one next to it curls upwards not down- these need attention monthly, but some other piggies only after 12 weeks no issues if their nails are soft and quite straight and they wear them down trundling about!
Always best to get to know your piggy well enough that you learn what is normal for them, regarding weight, poops, nail growth, behaviour- there is a huge amount of variation between piggies and what is normal for one pig may not be normal for another, even an age matched sister or brother!
 
No chance 4 - 6 months they will be turning in and hurting them. Please please don’t leave it that long 🙈🙈 my girls need there’s done every 4 - 6 weeks.
 
Lisanjake said:
No chance 4 - 6 months they will be turning in and hurting them. Please please don’t leave it that long 🙈🙈 my girls need there’s done every 4 - 6 weeks.
Click to expand...
Just to note mine are indoor so they don’t wear down at all. Depends if they have any hard surfaces to wear them on x
 
Guineapigmum1982 said:
Hi I’m pleased to announce that I took my girls to the vets last weekend for there first nail clipping the nurse actually said they didn’t look to bad and wouldn’t need done for about another 4 to 6 months . He also very kindly
Clipped my long haired girls back end as it was getting knoted and dirty
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

Nails in guinea pigs (once they start growing out; the onse of which can vary) will usually have to be cut about every 4-6 weeks in piggies living on soft surfaces. They grow fastest in about 1 year olds and then very, very gradually slow down over the course of a life time but never stop growing. Depending on the genetic disposition, they will start to curl, twist or thicken as a piggy ages; the part that curls or twists is always dead so if you cut just a little less far, you are safe to not hit the quick in dark nails. ;)

What you can do with youngsters is to gently fondle and manipulate the feet a little during handling time so they get used to it all. You can also use our piggy whispering tips (always a combination of gentle or stronger assertion of authority in combination with assurance that you still love them) to get better compliance; this is how my savviest boars have dealt with their rambunctious wives in a successful way - and this why piggy whispering is surprisingly effective in lots of contexts; including medication and other stressful situations.

Here is more information:
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?

These guides are all part of our extensive practical information resource (one of the largest around), which you may want to bookmark, browse, read and re-read as needed. You will get different things out of some guides at different levels of experience. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Since we can't repeat all the little practical details in every post (seeing that we are all doing this for free in our own free time), you will find that we link in the respective guides for more in-depth information and practical how-to tips.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

Nails in guinea pigs (once they start growing out; the onse of which can vary) will usually have to be cut about every 4-6 weeks in piggies living on soft surfaces. They grow fastest in about 1 year olds and then very, very gradually slow down over the course of a life time but never stop growing. Depending on the genetic disposition, they will start to curl, twist or thicken as a piggy ages; the part that curls or twists is always dead so if you cut just a little less far, you are safe to not hit the quick in dark nails. ;)

What you can do with youngsters is to gently fondle and manipulate the feet a little during handling time so they get used to it all. You can also use our piggy whispering tips (always a combination of gentle or stronger assertion of authority in combination with assurance that you still love them) to get better compliance; this is how my savviest boars have dealt with their rambunctious wives in a successful way - and this why piggy whispering is surprisingly effective in lots of contexts; including medication and other stressful situations.

Here is more information:
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?

These guides are all part of our extensive practical information resource (one of the largest around), which you may want to bookmark, browse, read and re-read as needed. You will get different things out of some guides at different levels of experience. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Since we can't repeat all the little practical details in every post (seeing that we are all doing this for free in our own free time), you will find that we link in the respective guides for more in-depth information and practical how-to tips.
Click to expand...
rp1993 said:
I don’t think I have ever heard of a Guineapig that doesn’t need a trim for 6 months! I do my boys about every 6 weeks. I guess you should just keep an eye on them and if they look long book them in!
Click to expand...
 
Hello there,

Every guinea pig is different, however based on timeframe of growth on both Salsa & Tango nails, nail clips every 4-6 months would likely be ideal.
Hope this helps.

I got this reply from the vetinary nurse at the vets I go to
 
We are all giving you the benefit of our experience. We aren’t trying to be difficult or unhelpful. We are just trying to help you with your guinea pigs. It is likely a mistake in the email saying 4 - 6 months. Personally mine get done at least every 6 weeks.
 
How old are they? Again if they are indoors they won’t be wearing as much so please don’t leave them 6 months because your vet said so…
We all have piggies here (a lot of experienced owners) pets at home vets aren’t always up to date with guinea pigs.
 
No the nurse at my vet said that salsa and tango are different there nails grow slower then other guinea pigs and would only need clipping every four to six months
 
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