CLipping nails

[wilson]

I need some help. I am beginning to think my one guinea pigs nails really need to be trimmed. THey are getting fairly long and im worried about cutting them. There is no one in my area the i am aware of that cuts guinea pig nails. So could i just use like fingernail clippers or something to cut them. I can see by the toe there is red, and then it goes white, and finally there is a dark tip. THe only thing im worried about is if i cut the quick i dont want them to bleed to death(can they) and how would it be stopped.

Thanks

 

[Access]

They need to be trimmed regularly. It helps to team up with another person, you (or someone else the pig is familiar with) holds him while another clips the nails. The technique to use is on this site https://guinealynx.info/nails.html and others.

 

[loves2travel]

sot stopping the bleeding, you can pruchase a jar of styptic powder. when their nails bleed, dib the foot into this and it should stop!

 

[wilson]

My mom said something about flour or sugar too. Would that stop the bleeding? They wont bleed to death will they?

 

[loves2travel]

no. the qwik is a pretty small blood vessel so i dont believe they can bled to DEATH, but you SHOULD try to get some styptic powder. its not very expensive.

 

[AngelsCavies]

I have used flour. It works on dogs, cats, bunnies, and piggies.

 

[loves2travel]

really? i can use flour?

 

[AngelsCavies]

it worked for me

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Yep flour works fine...
Oh um I need some help too. Loppy has all black nails, how can I tell where the quick is at? None of my other piggs have black nails only brown and white so I have never known how. And I really need to know because my other piggy that is coming in 3 weeks is all black with black nails too lol.

 

[loves2travel]

cinn, shine a flashlight under their paw.

ok, thanks for the flour tip, guys! just plain old regular baking flour?
cool! i dont need to go and buy styptic powder.

 

[liluqt]

Flour works fine. My Charlie accidently wiggled out of my arms one day and fell on top of one of the store bought cages He broke a nail completely off and was bleeding a lot. We freaked out and dipped his little paw in flour.. it helped clot and while my boyfriend stayed home and watched him.. i ran out to get sceptic powder. I paid around $8 for a little tub, but it should last a longgggggg time. Anyway, after i got it.. we also dipped his foot in sceptic powder just incase.

 

[liluqt]

I read somewhere online that for dark nails.. the kwik usually ends where the nail starts curving.. but I never cut that close just incase. But a little after the curve.

 

[Faunn]

They CAN'T bleed to death when you cut their quick, EVEN if you cut the whole nail off .(which you probably won't) My pig bit off his nail once, and the other was ripped off, but I kept a clothe to his now-gone-nail for a few minutes, then put him on a black towel in the cage, only a few minutes after he was put in the cage, I check his foot and it was dried up. Don't worry about the bleeding to death, it sure won't happen.

 

[Guinea pig guy]

Yes nail clippers can be used. If you do happen to cut more than you should,you can bathe it in salt water,the bleeding will soon stop.

 

[mncavylover]

Just cut off a bit of the tip. If you've got another pig with clear nails, trim them at the same time, doing that one first to get an idea of how much to cut.