How To Clip Guinea Pigs Nails: An Easy 3-Step Guide

Wondering how to clip guinea pigs nails? The steps are very simple- as easy as preparing, positioning, and trimming. Anyway, you’ll know the details as you read further.

Here’s what you should know:

First of all, maintaining your cavies’ nails is a must for a guinea pig owner.

However, this process could be intimidating and hard to do since these little animals are sensitive and small.

It is scary for the first time, I tell you, but you’ll get used to it. Don’t you worry as this article is here to rescue!

This guide is convenient, easy to do, and only includes three easy steps as I said earlier: preparing, positioning the guinea pig and trimming the teeth.

Keep on scrolling to know more!

Why Should You Cut Guinea Pigs Nails?

Before knowing how to clip their nails, you should know why you should do so.

Take note:

The nails of guinea pigs overgrow day by day, and they can’t trim them on their own.

Though wild variations of the species can do so by walking on hard surfaces, domesticated guinea pigs would find it painful.

Moreover, their nails could become home to bacteria, fungi, and other harmful matter that could develop into rupturing their foot bones or infection of their foot. These could worsen into other complications and affect their whole well-being.

Attending to and trimming cavies’ nails is a must to prevent them from any health-related issues.

Also, it allows them to move freely without any pain or infection within their feet.

Hearing these benefits will want you to cut your guinea pigs nails often, but please don’t!

Keep on reading to find out why.

When Should You Cut Guinea Pigs Nails?

Cut guinea pigs’ nails, preferably every two to four weeks.

As trimming their nails often could make them a little too short, and cutting these could do harm and pain to your cavies that could reach the quick or the blood vessel endings found within their nails. (please read here how to Cut Guinea pig nails)

It is advisable to cut their nails once they start to curl around the edges but not until the quick.

How To Cut Guinea Pig’s Nails

Trimming your cavies’ nails is easy as one, two, three.

Stated below are the procedures on how to clip guinea pigs nails right and without hurting your pets.

Step #1. Preparing

You need to take note of the materials and considerations that you should prepare before cutting their nails.

Why so?

It reduces any potential risks of bleeding and wrongdoings during the process that could bring about your pets’ detrimental effects.

Have a nail cutter/clipper.

Any nail cutter designed for animals or even humans is possible to utilize.

But I would recommend you to use a nail clipper used for smaller animals such as cats. Sterilize it well and make sure that the cutting edges are sharp and not feeble to use.

Invest in buying styptic powder

Styptic powder is an anti-hemorrhagic material that contracts affected tissues to seal any damaged blood vessels.

It is inexpensive and readily available in veterinary stores, which is an excellent addition to your cutting extravaganza.

It stops their toes’ bleeding when the nail cutting gets a little too deep and ruptures their blood vessels.

Make sure you’ve opted for a styptic powder with pain-relieving properties.

Find a warm, clean, and soft towel for your cavies to rest

Doing so can prevent potential scratches when they try to escape. ( Please read here how to keep guniea pig warm )

Furthermore, it also collects nail droppings, which is an efficient way to reduce cleaning time after the said process.

After you have collected the required materials, the next thing that you should do is to check their nails.

Identify the portion that you will cut and make sure to never miss them too short as doing so could make their toes bleed due to the presence of vessel endings within their nails.

Step #2. Positioning the guinea pig

To prevent them from being hurt, putting your pets in the right position before trimming is a great thing you should take note.

Please pick up your guinea pig and reassure them by petting them. If they’re not calm, make sure to wait until they cool down and gently place them on the prepared towel. (Please read here how to hold a Guinea pig)

Moreover, try to give them the treat to convince them to sit on your lap or the prepared surface.

Remove any food around the area, as this could make your cavies restless and uneasy. Make sure that the surroundings are quiet and peaceful to keep their calm.

Finally, wrap them up so they would feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Never wrap your guinea pig tightly as this could lead to choking or damaging its internal organs.

Let your pet’s feet hang on the side for you to trim their nails efficiently.

Please give them a lot of attention beforehand so that they would feel comfortable while you’re cutting their nails.

Step #3. Trimming

Take your guinea pigs’ paws gently to begin the trimming process.

Notice how they might wriggle and tuck their feet back in. If so, let them be and try to pet and reassure them.

It is a sign of distress. Therefore, hold your pets carefully and with love. Try to keep their paws again and again until they permit you to do so.

Once done, identify the nail and steadily grab it by your fingers. Apply a sufficient amount of pressure only since a hard grip could put your cavies in pain.

Grab your nail clippers and gently trim their nails. Quickly and carelessly, doing so could lead to bleeding and rupturing their feet and blood vessels.

Carry on with this process and if they still try to retract their feet continuously, stop the trimming, and give them a small treat.

Forcing them to “hold still” and undergo this process, despite them not liking it, could make them distressed and lead to more harm than good.

Giving a few snacks such as zucchini (Please read here Can Guinea pig Eat Zucchini) is the trick for me, Ginger, to let me trim his nails. It might take a while, but once he finished, I quickly put my guinea pig in a comfortable position and start cutting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I know- there are still a lot of questions popping into your mind. We’ll answer this one by one.

What should I do if I cut my guinea pigs’ quick?

If you accidentally cut the blood vessel endings or quickly found within the nails of your guinea pigs, this could lead to a lot of bleeding.

To prevent any massive blood loss and possible infections, immediately apply styptic powder on the affected area to minimize the damage.

If the bleeding still hasn’t stopped, immediately take your guinea pigs to a veterinarian and seek medical help to prevent further complications.

Can I cut a baby guinea pig nails?

Some guinea pigs grow their nails quicker than the rest. If your cavies are still young and they have long nails already, it is alright for you to trim those.

Cutting of nails is permitted as long as your pets are okay with it, and they’re comfortable with the whole process.

What if my guinea pigs still won’t let me cut their nails?

If your cavies are still uncomfortable with the trimming, you should bring them to a certified veterinary clinic.

They have sufficient equipment and knowledge to convince and trim your pets without any potential issues that you might encounter when doing the process by yourself.

Final Words

This article has discussed how to clip guinea pigs nails.

Preparing, positioning, and accurately trimming your guinea pigs would improve their hygiene and overall health.

It is your duty as an owner to check on your pets now and then. Doing so would develop the bond between you and your cavies.

Since for me, I consider trimming my Ginger’s nails as our bonding.

Nevertheless, I hope that I answered your questions. Good luck!