Is your guinea pig having difficulty walking all of a sudden? Have you noticed any odd swelling or discoloration of the feet?
Or maybe those long nails are just starting to look very ugly and uncomfortable for your piggy. It might just be time to get those guinea pig nails trimmed.
In this article, you’ll learn when to clip their nails, where you can get it done, how much it’ll cost and whether or not you should cut them yourself (+ what you need to cut guinea pig nails).
No one wants their beloved pet to suffer. Always trim your guinea’s nails before they become a problem.
Overgrown nails can actually lead to serious injuries if left untreated in severe cases.
Do Guinea Pigs Need Their Nails Clipped?
Yes, guinea pigs need regular nail trimming in order to keep those feet healthy. These little critters are no different than dogs in that respect.
If you don’t trim your guinea pig’s nails, you could be dealing with several potential problems. Consider the list below:
- Pain and discomfort
- Inability to walk properly
- Open wounds
- Food inflammation
- Secondary infections
Imagine lengthy nails causing open sores on your pet’s feet. Now consider what those feet walk over every day, especially provide them with outside time.
Any open sore is bad on an animal’s skin, but the feet are introduced to more foreign bacteria than nearly any other area of the body (except perhaps the mouth). Now that bacteria has a clear opening past the barrier meant to keep it out (which no longer exists).
Not only is this going to be painful, but your pet’s bloodstream is also in constant contact with foreign bacteria that shouldn’t be there. This can lead to sepsis in extreme cases, sometimes requiring amputation or ending in death.
A fresh wound can easily be cleaned carefully with hydrogen peroxide. According to the Purdue University, a 1:10 dilution of Nolvasan solution or betadine solution is recommended.
You’ll need to take care of the problem causing those wounds (the nails) first though.
When Should I Trim My Guinea Pig’s Nails?
Though your trims might vary, plan on a minimum of once a month at least.
More frequent clippings will help establish a routine and keep the vascular portion of the nail from growing too long.
Trimming those piglet nails should start around two months of age, often requiring a second person.
Regular clippings are especially important because guinea pig nails can actually curl, growing into the footpads if left unchecked. Remember all of the outcomes listed above?
Trim your guinea pig’s nails 1-2 times monthly.
As guinea pigs age, their nails tend to grow brittle and irregular, making trimming a must. Once the nails themselves begin to curl, trimming can become much more difficult.
Some pets will even chew on their hind nails, something you want to avoid.
Can you trim dark nails?
How in the world do you trim dark nails well, while avoiding a quick you just can’t see? Well, we have a few solutions for you.
Wear magnifying ‘glasses’ (not a hand held magnifying glass) in a well-lit room with plenty of light. High powered reading glasses will usually do well with something this close, but you could consider professional magnifying glasses with LED lighting.
Conduct your Guinea Pig nail trimming endeavors directly under the ‘white’ lighting provided by an LED lamp. The lighting should shine through the nail, but not the vascular quick (you’ll be able to tell where the quick is).
Use styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
Styptic powder is meant to control the small amount of bleeding you’ll see if you do actually cut into that quick. Combining a hydrophilic polymer and potassium ferrate with gradual pressure should stop the bleeding.
Flour or cornstarch can be used also.
Don’t apply too much pressure; you don’t want to injure your guinea piggy. Think of the same pressure you would use to control a child’s cut, but now imagine that child is 500 times (estimation) smaller.
The vascular portion of your pet’s nails does contain nervous tissue. While your piglet won’t feel the other portion of the nail being cut, he/she will feel this.
You want to do your best not to cut into the quick.
Magnifying glasses can really help.
Like we said above, magnifying glasses are very useful when trying to see something so small, especially when performing delicate work on a tiny living creature.
Where Can I get my Guinea Pig’s Nails Cut?
You can certainly get your Guinea Pig’s nails cut by a professional if you’re not comfortable doing this yourself. Consider the list below.
- Veterinarian
- Guinea pig groomers
- Certain rescue centers
- Certain small pet-boarders
Your small animal veterinarian will probably be the best person for the job. Even if they mainly treat dogs or cats, cutting nails should be fairly simple for them.
Thankfully, they normally don’t charge much more (sometimes less) than groomers and know exactly what they are doing.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Guinea Pig’s nails cut?
The price tag on cutting your guinea pig’s nails will really depend on where