MerryFriarTuck
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2019
- Posts
- 545
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2019
- Messages
- 545
Sorry for starting a new thread on this since I know it's come up before--- I searched old posts but couldn't find everything I wanted to know addressed!
My Friar Tuck is just fine with having his front nails trimmed; he finds it irritating but usually lets me do both feet in one go without a huge fuss. He's always been a lot more nervous about the back feet, but also lets me do them... until now. This time around he's decided it's Not Going To Happen lol
Of course, it's Not Going To Happen if he has a say in it, and I regret to inform him it Has To Happen before they get too long...but I feel bad about it and need help making it the least traumatic as possible.
Friar Tuck is a rescue and still really doesn't like getting picked up and held, especially *held in place* held when getting his nails trimmed. He's very squirmy and if he starts to squeak it shatters my nerves and makes me feel terrible.
Question 1: can piggies get so scared they'll have a heart attack like rabbits? I know it's probably a silly fear but I can't get it out of my head. Question 2: I know wrapping him in a "piggy burrito" would help with the squirming, but would it also keep him calmer or just scare him more? Question 3: what's the best position to hold a really squirmy piggy in for nail trimming? I've seen all different methods; "piggy burrito", upright in a sort of sitting position, piggy on table against your chest. I like piggy on table against your chest because Friar Tuck is most comfortable and with all four feet on the ground but I'm not sure. Question 4: is it better to tough it out and do all the nails at once, or if he really starts to freak call it a day and do the rest later? Question 5: should I back off unless the nails get really long and see if he comes around? Like I said, I've trimmed his back nails before, four times, and all this fuss is new.
I'm not worried about the actual "how to cut the nail" part, we have lots of pets and expierance with that... just worried about holding him and traumatizing him.
Any help, input, or experience people have had with scared rescue piggies is greatly appreciated!!!
My Friar Tuck is just fine with having his front nails trimmed; he finds it irritating but usually lets me do both feet in one go without a huge fuss. He's always been a lot more nervous about the back feet, but also lets me do them... until now. This time around he's decided it's Not Going To Happen lol
Of course, it's Not Going To Happen if he has a say in it, and I regret to inform him it Has To Happen before they get too long...but I feel bad about it and need help making it the least traumatic as possible.
Friar Tuck is a rescue and still really doesn't like getting picked up and held, especially *held in place* held when getting his nails trimmed. He's very squirmy and if he starts to squeak it shatters my nerves and makes me feel terrible.
Question 1: can piggies get so scared they'll have a heart attack like rabbits? I know it's probably a silly fear but I can't get it out of my head. Question 2: I know wrapping him in a "piggy burrito" would help with the squirming, but would it also keep him calmer or just scare him more? Question 3: what's the best position to hold a really squirmy piggy in for nail trimming? I've seen all different methods; "piggy burrito", upright in a sort of sitting position, piggy on table against your chest. I like piggy on table against your chest because Friar Tuck is most comfortable and with all four feet on the ground but I'm not sure. Question 4: is it better to tough it out and do all the nails at once, or if he really starts to freak call it a day and do the rest later? Question 5: should I back off unless the nails get really long and see if he comes around? Like I said, I've trimmed his back nails before, four times, and all this fuss is new.
I'm not worried about the actual "how to cut the nail" part, we have lots of pets and expierance with that... just worried about holding him and traumatizing him.
Any help, input, or experience people have had with scared rescue piggies is greatly appreciated!!!