• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Pigs Pull Paws Away During Nail Clipping

Starwind Amada

Starwind Amada

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 9, 2022
Messages
61
Reaction score
41
Points
195
Location
Allentown, PA, USA
They all wiggle around and then pull their paws away and scream in pain when I clip a tiny chip off their nails. I didn't even hit a vein on Brownie, I just clipped off a tiny part of the tip and he started screaming. Their nails are starting to curl back, and they won't let me cut them. I can't afford, nor do I have the time to take them to the vet. I can finally hold them, but their nails are going to be a problem very soon.
 
Their reaction is normal - if you haven’t caught the quick, then it probably isn’t pain he is screaming with, some piggies are just more dramatic than others.

Is there someone who can help you? It can be easier if you can get someone to help you. Get the other person to hold piggy. You would then have both hands free - one hand to hold the foot steady and the other hand to clip the nails.

Some people wrap their piggies in a towel to be able to do these kinds of things. Personally, I’ve always found it makes it harder, but it may work for you.

Dont try to do all the nails at once, it may take several sittings to get of the nails clipped for one piggy.
 
Glad to hear the holding is going better now!

I find it helps to do whatever foot is most available and if the foot pulls away, move to a different foot and get back to that one later, and if the piggy is getting really antsy, the nail clip may turn into a two session job. I always give out treats with nail clipping sessions to make sure it's a happy thing in the end ... food can also work nicely as a distraction, so the piggy will let you do more in a sitting ...

I've had piggies who are pretty relaxed with me handling their paws and others who hate it, even when I'm not actually clipping ... the relaxed ones are usually the exception. As Piggies&buns stated, some piggies are quite dramatic even when nothing is wrong and will scream or react when not actually hurt ...
We have a dog that used to be the same way, she'd complain even if you made a brushing motion, whether you were touching her or not (she did finally get over that).
 
Having a second pair of hands does help.
Priscilla will scream even before we start while Micah just lets us get on with it.
Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top