Jackie <3
Tin Member
Christmas snuggles by our little tree!
Posts: 50
|
Post by Jackie <3 on Dec 16, 2015 19:09:56 GMT
I have been having trouble clipping the girls nails. Pat especially hates it and makes a crying noise and just will not stop moving. I was wondering if anyone had any tips to make this easier on me and the guineas?
|
|
|
Post by maxiemojo on Dec 16, 2015 19:25:20 GMT
Not the easiest of jobs I agree. I'm new to doing it. Last time I wrapped the boys in a fluffy towel with just one leg at a time sticking out. Next time I think I'll enlist hubby to help, he never seems to be around when these jobs need doing! I'm dreading when the time comes to clip Maxies front claws as he had black nail in the front.
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 16, 2015 19:58:47 GMT
We take ours to the vet hun because we are both as blind as bats, but we make sure they are booked in with the nurse. It doesn't cost nearly as much as when a vet does it and there are never any injuries to little toes.
Hugs JO xxx
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Dec 17, 2015 3:39:46 GMT
I have been having trouble clipping the girls nails. Pat especially hates it and makes a crying noise and just will not stop moving. I was wondering if anyone had any tips to make this easier on me and the guineas? When my daughter was doing this on her own, she would hold up lettuce against the cage, and when the piggies would climb up to eat, she would trim their claws, as their nails protruded through the bars. Also, Bean recommended putting the piggie on top of a tennis racket and trim their nails that stick out under the racket. (This sounds strange and looks even stranger, but it has some effectiveness.)
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Dec 17, 2015 10:08:23 GMT
Haha!
I use the trick with feeding veg through the bars for the rabbits front paws - I'm not as keen on doing their claws as they're so strong and can give you a scratch if you misjudge it! Luckily their run (which they have access to 24/7) is on paving slabs so that wears their claws down and I don't have to trim very often.
With the pigs, I find giving them something tasty to eat while I'm doing their nails distracts them beautifully! Even Josh, who is a little wriggle monster, will tolerate a bit of leg holding if he's got his jaws wrapped around a piece of cucumber!
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Dec 17, 2015 19:47:21 GMT
I will definitely have to try the treats approach. I put mine in the kitchen sink, under the bright light, so I can see the black claws. I put about 1/2 inch of warm water in the sink, which is just enough to make it hard for them to get much purchase with their hind feet. It helps, but it's not an easy thing. My eyes aren't very good, either, so it's hard for me to see the nails. I'm thinking of getting a pair of magnifying glasses, so I can see the nails. The multifocals are totally inadequate for the job.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Dec 18, 2015 6:36:50 GMT
If I don't give Josh something to eat, he also tries to pick up the nail clippers with his teeth and throw them to the side! Kind of funny, but also annoying when you're trying to concentrate!
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Dec 18, 2015 19:51:06 GMT
Haha, Bean love, that is a spirited piggy LOL!!
Hugs Jo xx
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Dec 18, 2015 21:52:20 GMT
We're always so involved when they do those cute things, we can't take a picture. Morty has two finger nails that curl toward each other, so they have to be trimmed more regularly than the rest of his nails. He also gives me the most trouble.
|
|
Jackie <3
Tin Member
Christmas snuggles by our little tree!
Posts: 50
|
Post by Jackie <3 on Dec 19, 2015 1:05:20 GMT
I have tried giving them carrots (their favorites). Pat gets so scared when she sees the clippers that she stops eating and starts wiggling.
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Dec 20, 2015 19:53:36 GMT
Jackie, you may need help doing the nails, so someone can feed her pieces of veggie and keep her busy, while you clip the nails. I've also done some nails at one time, depending on how wriggly they are, and done the rest of the nails another day. I don't think any of us look forward to nail trimming
|
|
|
Post by bazookagoof on Oct 17, 2016 1:37:53 GMT
Oscar keeps jumping off the tennis racket, but lately I just hold up lettuce high and as he stands against his cage, I can trim his claws. His feet are a different matter, but if Vicki can hold him and he stretches out a foot, it's no problem. Currently we have trimmed most of his claws, but one foot remains untrimmed (he won't stretch that foot out) and one or two claws are a bit long.
Murphy is going to be a problem. His claws are curling up and could use a trim, but his claws are TINY! I don't know how I'm going to do this. He's also still skittish, and keeps his feet well under his body at all times. I still have yet to try the tennis racket, but the small size of his claws leaves little room for mistakes.
Oscar's claws grow straight out and are relatively easy to trim, even if I just nick off the very end.
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Oct 17, 2016 7:13:53 GMT
Josh's nails always grow curly too, which does make it trickier, but none of them give me much grief when I'm clipping. That, or I've been cutting so many guinea pig nails for 30 years that I've perfected my technique!
Does sort of swaddling Murphy in a towel help? Sometimes feeling secure in that way can make them wriggle less. Coupled with a snack it might give you an extra second per nail!
Still haven't nailed (no pun intended?!) the rabbits yet and am always grateful when they get adopted before their back nails grow!
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 17, 2016 8:10:38 GMT
I am afraid I take the easy way out. Every 6 weeks ours are taken to the vet and the nurse clips their claws and checks their teefies. If it is done by a nurse as opposed to a vet, it doesn't cost very much. We take Merley and Holly alternately.
Hugs Jo xx
|
|
|
Post by Bean on Oct 18, 2016 8:23:03 GMT
If you have wriggly pets or find it difficult for other reasons (sight or dexterity for example) having the veterinary nurse do it is a great idea, and they get a check up at the same time which must be really reassuring. Plus you don't have to be the bad guy if they get put out by it!
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 18, 2016 9:01:47 GMT
That is right Bean hunni. According to Paul they do it so expertly aswell so as not to stress pet unduly. Merley just freezes whereas Holly is a wriggler and I am just always scared of catching their little nail quicks. It is Holly's turn this friday but we haven't told her yet lol!
Hugs JO xx
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Oct 18, 2016 21:52:12 GMT
The girls are surprisingly good about it, though it helps that with a little water in the sink, they can't really get a good grip to put up a lot of fuss. Morty was a drama king. You'd think I was killing him I've tried so many different ways, and it seems to depend mostly on the skills and ability of the person clipping the nails, and how much of a nightmare the pigs decide to be during their mani/pedi session
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 19, 2016 8:08:07 GMT
Our Lacy Jane was a drama queen, as soon as we started to clip her claws she would really scream, which would of course really distress us. That is when we decided to let the nurses do it at the vet.
Hugs Jo xx
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Oct 19, 2016 17:26:53 GMT
I try really hard to just clip the ends, so there wouldn't be any bleeders. Get the drama going, start squirming and pulling their hands and feet away, and a bleeder is almost a certainty.
|
|
|
Post by jolovespiggies on Oct 20, 2016 8:34:18 GMT
Very true, we did it every time Piggles love, hence the decision to take them to the nurse. Hugs Jo xx
|
|