we rescued a guinea pig today and it needs it's nails trimmed. is there any way that i can safely do this myself seeing as they are wuite long or should i just take it to the pet store where they have an experienced nail cutter? also is there anything else that i should do for this little guy? he's in good health and not really skittish.
2007-02-16 05:53:38 · 7 answers · asked by MommyCaleb 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
i would suggest taking him to the professionals to have it done the first time, for 2 reasons...they can show you best how to do it and if his claws are black like my kiddos are and u cant see the quick, they have stuff to stop the bleeding...and also you will see the best way of holding him and how he responds to being restrained. here are some info links that should prove helpful;
http://www.pimms-pages.co.uk/faqs.asp
http://www.cavycapers.com/index.asp?page=health
http://www.simplepetcare.com/pet-care/8/GUINEA-PIG/
good luck with your little guy, and i agree with an earlier comment, get him a friend as they prefer to be together. i know it is ok for 2 females to be together, but i dont know about 2 males...and i dont know if you can keep a male and a female always together, especially when the babies arrive.
2007-02-16 06:45:24 · answer #1 · answered by Tammy M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can trim his nails fairly easily, just get a pair of nail clippers like the ones you use for your nails is the best, set the little guy on your lap and take hold of the back feet first one at a time and trim it as close to the quick (the pink part of the nail) as you can get. Then move on to the next foot. Or if you can get some help have someone hold the Guinea Pig so that you have the feet infront of you and can easily grap hold of the feet. Becareful though as he may wiggle around. If you don't feel confortable cutting the nails then you should take him down and have an expert show you how to do it.
Since he is a rescued Guinea Pig you may want to take him to an specialized small animal vet and have the vet give him a complete check up, rescued Guinea Pigs are great but some do tend to get health problems. So it is best to make sure you have a specialized vet take a good look at him, and use the same vet that gave him the complete check up. That way the vet knows the complete history of the Guinea Pig and is better at treating him.
Best of luck to you and enjoy having that little Guinea Pig.
2007-02-16 06:59:19 · answer #2 · answered by rainbowlillie3587 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can trim guinea pig nails yourself. Get very small clippers, and a pillow case to put him in to do 1 paw at a time. They are less frightened if they can't see what is going on. If you feel nervous at all, or if he freaks out when you go to do it, you might want to take him in. Worst case scenario; he squirms and you cut to close and clip the blood vessel. Just make sure you have some Quik Stop or other product for stopping the blood and pain nearby just in case. You local pet store would be able to help with that. Any way it goes, I'm sure he'll be just fine, because you care enough about the little cutie to ask the good people on this site for advice.
Good Luck!
2007-02-16 06:06:23 · answer #3 · answered by FlowerChild 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
specific specific specific! it relatively is an staggering theory so which you would be able to do! thank you to bypass! Adopting is the main suitable element you're able to do. you're saving guinea pigs lives and beginning area up on the rescue for 2 extra that choose for help. Rescues are often going to have lots extra healthy guinea pigs simply by fact they understand the thank you to look after them and choose on what's maximum suitable for the pigs. they shop the guinea pigs that are unwell and cope with them till they're healthful. usually, in the event that they might, the rescue enable you to appreciate approximately previous problems if there are any. The rescue might require you to have a C&C cage that are the main suitable! i seem at their internet site and it feels like they are going to be there that should assist you get setup and answer each and every of the questions which you will have! It seems large!!
2016-10-02 06:12:48 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is possible to do this yourself with small nail clippers although you may get scratched up a bit so wrap the animal up in a little towel or blanket to keep him tight and take one paw out at a time. Just clip the nails as you would clip urs but be carefule of the nerve ending..you can see it in the nails..just clip right above it. We do this same thing with my cat all the time and he is fine afterwards.
2007-02-16 05:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by Erin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
better let someone who knows what they are doing do it.feed it pellet food for guinea pigs with added vit c they like cucumber broccli apple(no lettuce) cabbage carrots.giv eplenty of space cos they like to get about.get a mate they like to be in pairs be careful tho when you put em together they may fight at first dont put it in with a rabbit cos they can get nasty kick off rabbit.
2007-02-16 06:14:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think u should go to the pet store or the vets and if he squels when u hold it on its tummy then dont feed it to much,
2007-02-16 06:01:48 · answer #7 · answered by katrina c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋