Where Can I Get My Guinea Pig Nails Clipped

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An important attribute of caring for your guinea pig is trimming his nails. Because republic of guinea pigs are usually not able to keep their nails trimmed downwards on their own, you volition need to learn how to trim your republic of guinea pig'southward nails. Guinea pigs can exist a chip squirmy when it comes to having their nails trimmed, merely, with do, you tin can make the experience go more smoothly for both of you.

1
Select a pair of nail clippers. Infant or brute boom clippers will work, and so you could use either type. Keep in mind, however, that man clippers squeeze the smash together before clipping it; this may be painful to your republic of guinea hog.^[1]
- Animal clippers are guillotine-style, ensuring that the boom won't exist squeezed. Likewise, they open more widely than human clippers, which makes the nails easier to trim. You can find this type of clipper at your local pet store.^[2]
- You can try both types of clippers to see what your guinea pig is most comfortable with. Make certain to exist conscientious of the quick. The quick is the reddish part at the base of the toenail. Try not to cut into information technology, as this will cause your republic of guinea pig to bleed. If yous can't see the quick, attempt holding a flashlight up to the nail when you lot cutting it or only cut the tip-off.
2
Purchase styptic powder or corn starch, if you practise not have them already. These substances will quickly stop the bleeding if you trim the nails downwards likewise far. They are as effective at stopping the bleeding, so you can use either one. ^[iii]
- Styptic powder can usually be establish with men's shaving products at your local grocery shop or pharmacy.
- Cornstarch is located with the blistering products.
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3
Select a hand towel. In instance your guinea grunter is squiggly during nail trims, y'all can wrap him/her up in the towel to restrain him/her more easily.
- If y'all take previously used a towel to trim his/her nails, keep using the aforementioned towel each fourth dimension. This will assistance to keep the process more consistent. Plus, he/she may experience more comfortable with one towel over another.
iv
Prepare the area where y'all volition trim your guinea pig's nails. Organizing everything that will you demand for the blast trimming ahead of time will assistance the process go more than smoothly.
- Place a small towel, nail clippers, and styptic powder (or cornstarch) on a counter or tabletop.
- Placing a pocket-sized amount (virtually i/4 teaspoon) of styptic powder or cornstarch on a paper towel ensure that you have quick access to these substances if you demand to stop a nail from bleeding.

one

Take your republic of guinea sus scrofa out of his/her cage. After reaching into the cage with a irksome and steady movement, place the thumb of i hand under his/her jaw and support his/her hindquarters with your other mitt.^[4] Using the proper method to achieve into the cage and pick up your guinea sus scrofa volition not but ensure that he/she is not frightened merely will also keep you lot from getting bitten.
2

Wrap your guinea pig in the paw towel. Be careful not to wrap your guinea pig likewise tightly; this could cause him to quickly suffocate or overheat.^[five]
3

Position your republic of guinea squealer in your lap. He/she should exist facing away from you, which will go far harder for him/her to bite or nip.
4
Relax your guinea pig. In that location are several things that y'all can do to relax your guinea grunter before trimming his nails, such equally petting him/her gently behind his/her ears and giving him snacks.
- Make certain you don't accept any food around him/her so he/she doesn't become tempted while getting his/her nails trimmed. ^[6] Keeping him/her relaxed will help you trim his/her nails more than easily.
- Good for you snacks for your guinea pig include bong peppers and carrots. Cut the vegetables into pocket-size pieces so that your guinea sus scrofa can eat them easily.^[7]

ane

Choose a leg and gently pull it out. Do not be surprised if your guinea pig wiggles when you lot do this. If he/she wiggles too much, release his/her leg and permit him/her calm downwards before you effort again.
two
Secure one of his/her nails. Using the paw that is property your guinea pig'southward legs, steady the boom between the thumb and index finger. Do non squeeze besides tightly to keep the nail in place; this may hurt your guinea squealer and cause him/her to squirm.
- Selecting a blast on one finish of the foot and working your way to the inside or outside of the foot will assist you go on easier track of which nails you've trimmed.
3

Pick upwards the blast clippers with your other mitt. Position them in front of the smash that you lot are nigh to trim.
iv

Identify the quick in the nail. Identifying it will be easier to do with a clear blast than a darker nail. In clear nails, the quick will look pinkish.
5
Trim the nail. If you lot can see the quick, trim the nail downward to just higher up the quick. If y'all cannot see the quick, use caution and trim a little bit at a time.
- If y'all cut the quick, the nail will start to drain. Although this will be painful to your guinea grunter, you have not caused any serious harm. But dab a minor amount of the styptic pulverisation or cornstarch on the nail and the bleeding will stop quickly.^[viii]
6
Go along with trimming the rest of your republic of guinea grunter's nails. If yous see that your guinea pig is becoming restless, give him/her some time to calm downwards before trying to stop trimming his/her nails.
- Giving your republic of guinea hog a treat subsequently trimming each nail can provide positive reinforcement and keep him/her distracted. Brand certain that he/she finishes eating before starting on the side by side nail to prevent him/her from choking on his/her food.
7
Put your guinea hog dorsum in his/her cage and tidy up the nail trimmings. If this was your showtime time trimming your guinea pig's nails, don't be besides difficult on yourself if things didn't go quite as expected. Guinea pigs will wiggle when getting their nails trimmed at any age.
- If this fourth dimension didn't get well, consider trimming your guinea pig'due south nails over several days instead of all at one time. This may be easier for both of you lot.
- If you lot put styptic powder or cornstarch on any of the nails, check these nails to make sure that the bleeding has stopped. Wipe off the substance from the blast before y'all put your republic of guinea grunter dorsum in his cage to prevent him from eating it on blow.

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Question

If I cut the nail a little also short, and it started haemorrhage, will my guinea exist in pain until it grows back?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of feel in veterinary surgery and companion creature practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal dispensary in her hometown for over 20 years.

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No. The but pain he feels is when the nail is cutting initially. The haemorrhage is unpleasant and undesirable, just doesn't injure. Once the haemorrhage has stopped the boom might be tender for a few hours, but afterwards that it won't be sore whatsoever more.
Question

My Guinea pig becomes really agitated, can I do one claw each day instead of all at one time?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion beast practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

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Aye, it'southward a expert thought to practise i blast at a time. Besides, have a nutrient treat he actually likes handy, and offer him that every bit soon as you lot've cutting the smash. This teaches him to associate nice things with a nail prune and should help to calm him in the longer term.
Question

My republic of guinea pigs are over one year old. Is it too late to cut their nails?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion brute practise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinarian medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over twenty years.

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No, it'due south never too late. Firstly, check the nails need cutting, as some guinea pigs practise vesture them downwards sufficiently of their own accord. Secondly, get the guinea pigs used to beingness handled and held before you trim their nails. As they are over a yr quondam, this may piece of work in your favor, as they may be used to cuddles already.

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Guinea pig's nails tin get easily defenseless in their floor coverings, especially if the nails are long. Consider using soft cage coverings, such equally fleece.^[9]
Get-go trimming your republic of guinea hog's nails when he is young. This will assist him get comfortable with the nail-trimming procedure.^[10]
Trim your guinea pig's nails regularly (most once a month). Regular blast trims volition prevent the quick from growing so far up the boom that the boom becomes difficult to trim.^[11]

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It is possible that a guinea'southward pig anxiety can become plain-featured if its nails are not trimmed regularly. This could exist extremely uncomfortable for him.^[12]

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To cutting your guinea pig's claws, start past getting infant or creature nail clippers and some styptic powder or cornstarch in instance its claws starting time haemorrhage. Then, when you're ready to become started, loosely wrap your guinea hog in a mitt towel, and position information technology in your lap so it'due south facing abroad from you. Side by side, gently catch one of your guinea grunter'due south legs, and carefully trim its claws with the clippers, making sure you don't cutting into the pinkish quick. When you're finished, repeat with the residue of its legs. For more tips from our Veterinary co-writer, like how to calm downward a stressed-out guinea sus scrofa, read on!

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