Like human beings, guinea pigs have ever-expanding fingernails. In the wild, their toenails wear down naturally, but farmed animals don’t have the same chance. Because of the pain and suffering that curled and overgrown nails may bring, guinea pigs need to get their nails clipped regularly. But, as a pet parent, you must know that these may be a little fidgety when the time comes to have their nails cut or clipped, so it’s vital to understand how to cut guinea pig nails and make the procedure painless and easy as possible for everyone involved.
If you own a Guinea pig, how frequently should you trim its nails?
These pets all need frequent haircuts, but how often might vary depending on the species. Nails should be trimmed at least once a month, preferably twice a month. You may prevent the blood supply in the middle of the nail from developing closer to the tip if you clip your pig’s nails more often.
When the tips of their nails become too long, they curl under their pads, making walking very difficult. Nail tips that are overgrown or twisted may tear the skin on your pet’s feet, leading to painful sores. Pododermatitis (bumblefoot) is a footpad infection that may lead to arthritis or osteomyelitis (conditions with a poor prognosis).
What’s the “Quick” of the Nail in Guinea Pigs?
Pig owners know how unsettling it is to worry about a “quick” while trimming their piglets’ nails. If you cut the quick, thin red blood artery that runs through the nail, your pet might bleed to death.
Preventing these mishaps is as simple as keeping up with your trimming routine since frequent sessions lead the “quick” to recede more quickly and make future cuttings less of a chore. If your pig has black nails, you may have trouble finding the “quick” while trimming them.
However, when a USB light or a torch is shone through the nail, the blood vessel becomes more visible. Remember that you should just trim the tip of the nail if you are unsure of what to do with the rest of the nail.
The Ideal Nail Clippers for Guinea Pigs
There are two distinct kinds of nail clippers:
Small Animal Nail Clipper
Use nail clippers designed for use on pigs. These clippers often have a circular groove in the blades to keep the nail steady as you cut it.
Human Nail Clipper
You may use a human clipper with a wider gap if the one made just for pets doesn’t have enough room for your pet’s nails. Nail flattening may occur if you don’t remove the extra nail before using these clippers.
You may observe that baby piggies have softer and more delicate nails than adult guinea pigs since the nails harden and thicken with age. Similarly, nails on the back limbs tend to be thicker than the front ones. Thicker nails may be trimmed using human toenail clippers.
Safest & Easiest Ways to Cut Guinea Pig Nails
There are various techniques for clipping your piggy’s nails. Here’s one of the ways to accomplish it.
Wrap Your Guinea Pig with a Hand Towel
Wrap your pig in a hand towel and gently set him down on the towel. Don’t suffocate or overheat him by wrapping him in a towel that’s too tight.
Relax Your Pet
Always remember that guinea pigs tend to be the happiest when eating their preferred diet. To keep your pig occupied as you continue pruning, have its favorite nutritious treat on hand.
Settle the pet comfortably onto your lap.
Getting your guinea pig to sit still while you trim its nails is a significant challenge. The easiest technique is to sit on the ground with the ramp against your stomach and the piggy on your lap with its back to you. You can avoid a backup using this.
Pick One Leg
As your pet stands up, choose a leg to cut and carefully remove it. If the pig wiggles its leg at any point throughout this procedure, you should stop what you’re doing and wait for it to settle down before proceeding softly.
Anchor Nail
Hold the piggy’s legs with one hand as you steady the nail with the other. However, do not press too firmly to hold the nail in place, as it may make your cat squirm.
Select the nail beginning from one end of the foot as you work your way from the inside to the other end. It’ll help you keep track of the nails you’ve trimmed.
Then, take up the clippers with your other hand and put them in front of the nail you want to cut. Locate the nails quickly, which will be more visible against a transparent nail than against a dark one. However, this is something that may be made easier with the aid of a magnifying glass and an LED light.
Nail clipping
The quick of your guinea pig will seem pink if its nails are transparent. To avoid cutting into the quick while removing the nail’s extended tip, it’s important to first find the quick. Make sure you’re holding the clippers at the correct angle, then cut the nail so that the end of the nail is just above the quick.
Never go too near to the quick while clipping your pig’s nails. Moreover, severing the quick might cause your pig to bleed to death.
If your pet is becoming agitated while clipping its nails, continue the procedure and allow it some time to calm down before continuing. Rewarding yourself after every time you trim your nails may serve as positive reinforcement and a diversion.
How to Cut Black Guinea Pig Nails?
Black piggy nails may make it almost hard to see quickly, which can be unsettling.
Therefore, ensuring you have enough illumination, maybe even some additional LED lights, is essential. In addition, you may have someone beam light from underneath the nail so you can examine it more closely.
By trimming your nails regularly, you’ll have a feel for the nail’s form and be able to better judge where it’s safe to clip. When seen from below, the tip of the nail is often thin and seems virtually hollow.
The general rule of thumb is to remove approximately a quarter of an inch from the very tip of the nail. You should get advice from a professional, such as a groomer, a member of your vet’s staff, or a guinea pig parent with expertise.
Take Away
Trimming the nails may be challenging, even for a seasoned guinea pig keeper. Still, with some persistence and frequent grooming, you and your cat may enjoy the process more.
Do not freak out and let the nail continue to grow; doing so will cause your unnecessary pet pain, infection, and discomfort. Find a professional to assist you once a month if you find the procedure too daunting or if you have a tendency to cut the quick.
