Topic: Does anyone have nail trimming advice? (Read 542 times)

Space Coral · « **on:** May 10, 2017, 02:50:03 pm »

I have a guinea pig, and I don't trim her nails often enough. This is mostly because she moves around so much, and she hates it, so it's difficult and I feel bad for her. The only problem is that I'm sure she suffers more from having nails that are too long.
Any advice? What I usually do, is have my mom pick the guinea up in a towel, and hold her up slightly so I have ok access to her nails. Then I just try to go quickly, which is actually pretty slow since I'm paranoid of cutting her veins.
Tips? Tricks? I don't suppose there is anywhere I could take her to have them trimmed for relatively cheap? It would probably freak her out more to be driven somewhere than just to have me trim her nails at home, though.

Alpine · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2017, 04:08:25 pm »

I think vets will clip nails
Or just look for pet care places
But if you can do it then go ahead just be careful
I found this article that has tips

Space Coral · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2017, 08:21:57 pm »

Quote from: Goose on May 10, 2017, 04:08:25 pm

I think vets will clip nails
Or just look for pet care places
But if you can do it then go ahead just be careful
I found this article that has tips

Thanks! That article suggested to hold them upright against your stomach, and I've never tried that, but it sounds like a good idea.
And, I've considered going to a vet, pet shop, places like that. I just don't wanna spend a ton of money, since they might charge quite a bit (I think I heard $20 dollars, which is a lot for me). Plus it might freak my guinea pig out to be transported, so there's that too.
Thanks though! I might just take her to the pet shop if I can't get her to calm down while I'm trimming, I don't wanna hurt her.

Mystic · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2017, 10:36:34 pm »

I've never owned a guinea pig so idk what their nails are like but my pet parrot is squirmy so I'm always afraid of cutting her nails with clippers because I might hit her veins if she squirms at the wrong moment so I use a nail file. It takes longer but I find she's more calm around it since it doesn't make any loud sounds or out any extreme pressure on her nails, also if she squirms it won't hurt or cut her at all

Space Coral · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2017, 03:06:10 am »

Quote from: Amelia on May 10, 2017, 10:36:34 pm

I've never owned a guinea pig so idk what their nails are like but my pet parrot is squirmy so I'm always afraid of cutting her nails with clippers because I might hit her veins if she squirms at the wrong moment so I use a nail file. It takes longer but I find she's more calm around it since it doesn't make any loud sounds or out any extreme pressure on her nails, also if she squirms it won't hurt or cut her at all

Ooh, thanks! I'll definitely try that tomorrow. Meanwhile, my guinea pig seems to be o.k. with being held upright, which helps me get to her nails. So now I have two new tricks up my sleeve!