Adopted Piggy

[Acorn]

It was my party yesterday, and I have been begging GuineaPigGal (aka Erica, my best friend) to get me a baby guinea pig all day long and all MONTHS long... so it was finally time she got me one. But the story of the piggy, it was abandoned at in front of the petstore, Corner Petstore. So GuineaPigGal brought it for me (she got it for free) and it's name is Snickers. I have just adopted a guinea pig for the first time in my life!!!!
Her name is Snickers... and I just love her. She's a lover. We think she's those kind of guinea pigs with ruffy fur like... spiked up hair, I forgot the name of it... oops!!! But anyways, we think she's one year old, and she's really sweet. She doesn't mind getting picked up, and... she won't bite, and she has a good tummy for food! But guess what? Her old owners gave her rabbit food, and when I got her, there were two carrots in the cage, a salt wheel with a salt wheel holder, and... a giant water bottle that's really not that clean... but I'm going to just wash it up. Her nails are really long that they are folded!
That's one question about the nails. They're so long, that they fold up together... they're about one inch long, if I remember. But anyways... they're dark nails, so I don't want to cut her vain... can anyone tell me how long the vails grow up to

[Carissa]

Congratulations, It sounds like she is a very lucky Pig to be rescued by you and your friend! I would suggest taking her to the vet to get her nails trimmed at least for the first trim. The vein inside grows as the nail grows so the longer the nail the longer the vein. The vet will be able to stop the bleeding if the vein gets cut. She probably needs a check up anyways. Good luck!

[Acorn]

okay, thanks!! . There's one problem so far, my mom can't get time to go to the vet, but she promised me. She said it would be soon, like three or four days. When Snickers goes, I'll tell you. She's acutally learning to bite me...

[The Magic Taco]

http://www.diddly-di.fsnet.co.uk/Nail-Cutting.htm
I found this site a while ago, when I first noticed my pigs nails needed trimming. It has a very detailed diagram!

I hope it's useful!

[pennick]

Thank you I think I have read that before. For some reason its always easier on paper then in real life. No matter how many times I swear to myself that I am going to clip my piggies nails I end up taking them to the vet. I just have a very hard time holding them still and it takes too long making it very stressful for my piggies and me. And If I am lucky in clipping those nails, its so miniscule that I only have to end up doing it again a few days later. Maybe I'll try again next week

[Acorn]

Great.. um... 'The Magic Taco'!! That's a perfect website. The only problem is... my guinea pig won't let me hold her to get her nails trimmed!!! Eeek!!! They're folding, and about to crack. Mum says vet might have to wait a little bit longer... GRRRR!!!! How longer?!

[The Magic Taco]

Hmm... I tried cutting Spencer's hair (It grows back, right?!) but he did squiggle and squirm a lot. I just gave him a treat (carrot, cucumber, parsley, whatever your pig likes) and he sat still for a while (oh, except when I accidentally pulled his hair, he jumped about a foot into the air!) but I think that may not be best for nail trimming...

[Sabriel]

Have a vet tech show you how to hold them. When my sister in law worked at the vet's, she showed my husband how to to trim almost any animals nails. He does our cats and pigs nails and has only cut the quick once (first time trimming Tomoyo's black nails) My problem is getting him to do it :P