I did it!

[newpiggiemommy]

I cut my piggies nails for the first time. I have always packed them up and took them to the vet before, but I decided to try it myself (well hubby held them).

I did it with no blood shed!!!! I was so worried!

I do have a few concerns...

The piggies nails were not very long, but one of the babies had a front nail that was growing in sideways. It isn't curling, but instead it looks as though it just grew that way from birth! Is there something I should be doing about this?

Another thing I noticed is that a few of the piggies nails seemed to be hollow, and when I cut them they kind of sunk in as I clipped. They didn't break or crumble or anything just seemed very hollow and thin! Is this something I should be worried about?

Thank you in advance for your answers! I am a bit worried and I would like to know if I have reason to be! The vet never said anything about either of these things, so either he didn't notice or it is something new!

[cavyinhawaii]

My piggies nails grow in all different directions. They are very different than a human or cat that always grow the same way.

[i-love-nev]

My piggy Basil has a nail that has been that was growing in sideway. Its pretty weird really. His nails are also hollow so I guess it depends on the pig pig!

[i-love-nev]

Err that should have been "my pig basil has a nail that has been growing in sideways"

[wiggley_narco]

Yay for you! I cut my piggies' nails for the first time without a vet last week. I was so scared! But it worked out just fine. Go us! Hehehe.

[newpiggiemommy]

Wiggley_narco, congrats! That is scary to do the first time. Now, I am like this is no big deal!

I have done my dogs nails before and it is no big deal, but guinea pigs seem so much more fragile and I was afraid I would hurt them.

Go us!

[Pumpkin_RIP]

Wow, I have always clipped my pigs nails and never thought of the vet, silly me! But, it always goes very well for me so I don't need to take them to a vet. Your pigs nails sound fine. Their nails grows different than peoples, and yes they are sometimes hollow. Even my cat has one hollow nail I think....

[pig-in-paradise]

Yay, good for you. If you get a hang of it it's probably less stressful for your piggies than taking them to the vet.

I've never seen cutting nails as much of a problem. Just don't rush/force it. I like to do it during lap time and just cut whatever nail I get. After half an hour they're all done without struggle. I honestly think my piggies never notice what's happening.

Oh, and a tip: I found the little baby nail clippers much easier to handle than the bigger ones. Not sure why, but I seem to have better control with them. Maybe it's just psychological, a tiny clipper for tiny nails.

[newpiggiemommy]

What about the nail that is growing sideways? Is that normal too?

[steve_and_pigs]

Hurray! First time nail trimmings is definitely a nail biter!

My girlfriend trims our pigs' nails. She amazes be because she just whizzes thought it. Sits them on her leg and holds them up tall against her body. Then she just goes snip-snip-snip-snip. They just sit for her with their feet out. When I try it they wiggle and squirm all over the place. I probably just take to long.

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by steve_and_pigs

Hurray! First time nail trimmings is definitely a nail biter!

My girlfriend trims our pigs' nails. She amazes be because she just whizzes thought it. Sits them on her leg and holds them up tall against her body. Then she just goes snip-snip-snip-snip. They just sit for her with their feet out. When I try it they wiggle and squirm all over the place. I probably just take to long.

Thats how it seems with me! My pigs just sit there whilst the vet does them, doesnt take a moment. I'm there and I swear I shake and take forever and the pigs get more and more annoyed at me.

[steve_and_pigs]

Originally Posted by newpiggiemommy

What about the nail that is growing sideways? Is that normal too?

Do you mean that the nail is curving to the side instead of curving down? If so, then that is pretty normal as far as I know. A couple of my pigs have that on their front feet.

[fourboys4now]

I have especially noticed the nails growing to the side on one of my boys. It's never seemed to bother him, so I assumed it was normal.