Introduction
Welcome to the LFP guide to Guinea Pig Nail and foot care.
Like us, Guinea pigs’ nails continually grow throughout their lifetime. In the wild, nail lengths are usually managed naturally with high levels of scurrying and foraging across abrasive surfaces.
However, in captivity, activity levels are decidedly less, and contact with abrasiveness surfaces such as rocks and substrate is often not sufficient to keep your little buddies’ nails to a comfortable and healthy length.
With this in mind, it is important to maintain a healthy nail length by trimming them manually. This guide should help you tackle the task at home.
As always, if you are not comfortable carrying out this at home, be sure to contact your local friendly Vetenarity surgeon, who will be more than happy to trim your piggies’ nails for a small fee.
Guinea pig nail trimming frequency
As a rule of thumb (pardon the pun) you should trim your nails every 3-4 weeks. This is, of course, depending on the growth rate, as every piggy will be different.
Regular monitoring of nail length is important to prevent the nails from becoming too long. the longer they get, the trickier they can be to trim. which we’ll explain more about later.
When should I start trimming my Guinea pig’s nails?
Again there is no exact science behind this. Your Guinea pig’s claws will be growing continuously from birth, so start monitoring the growth straight away.
Your piggy might not necessarily enjoy the process of having his nails trimmed, so starting from an early age will make the process more routine for you and your little friend.
How much should I trim off my Guinea pig’s nails?
This very much depends on the length of the nails to start with.
Like all animal nails, there is a blood supply in the nail, called a ‘quick’. The Quick grows along with the nail and becomes larger as the nail grows longer. You should always avoid clipping into the quick as this will be very painful for your piggy, and will cause bleeding and introduce the possibility of infection.
On lighter-colored piggy nails, you will be able to see the quick within the nail. On darker-colored nails, you may need to shine a torch underneath the nail to identify where the quick ends are. Again, if you are not comfortable identifying where the quick ends, contact your local vet for advice.
Regular clipping ensures the nail, and the quick is short. so you should be trimming off only a few mm at a time. paying extra careful attention to not clip through the quick.
Should you accidentally clip through the quick, you can stem the flow of blood by dipping the foot into a bowl of cornflour which acts as a clotting agent. So make sure you have some ready just in case!
How shall I hold my Guinea pig when clipping its nails?
There are various ways of doing this, but our favored method is by securing your little friend on your lap with a firm but not overly tight grip, either on his back or with his side up against your mind drift. It sometimes pays to have 2 people involved when doing this because as mentioned before, your piggy will not overly enjoy the experience and may be quite tricky to hold!
Piggies have nails on each of the 4 toes on the front paws, and 3 on the back. so it is important to get as comfortable as possible before you start.
Ensure you are in a well-lit area. his will make it easier to identify the quick running through the nail to avoid cutting too close and causing a bleed.
What tools will I need to trim my guinea pigs’ nails?
You can use a small human nail clipper, that you have sterilized in boiling water prior to trimming the nails. Obviously, ensure the clipper is cool before attempting to use it!
There are specifically designed nail clippers for Guinea pigs available if you would prefer. some of the better ones available are listed here:
Kaytee pro nail clipper
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Professional quality nail trimmer for small animals. Perfectly sized to make quick and precise cuts. Pro Trimmer is 4″ long with an easy grip handle and finger rest.
Manufacturers Specs and Features
- Professional quality
- Helps prevent nails from breaking and snagging
- 2-1/2-Inch long, 3-1/4-inch wide, 6-1/4-inch high
- Easy to use
Pros
- Precise cuts
- Lightweight and easy to use
- do not tear snag or rip the nail
- Comfortable grip
- stay sharp for multiple cuts
Cons
- Varying levels of quality
- Too large for a really small critter
- Plastic handles are not the best quality
Pet Nail Clippers for Small Animals
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These Clippers can be used on about any small to medium sized animal. They have hygienic stainless steel blades, which stay sharp after multiple cuts.
The non-slip cover on the plastic handle makes them really easy to grip and maneuver around even the most fiddly of nails. The clippers are designed to make the process of trimming your Guinea pigs nails as comfortable as possible for both the pet and owner
Manufacturers Specs and Features
- #1 FOR CAT & SMALL DOG: Voted best overall for 2023 by Spruce Pets and The Dodo; trusted by millions of pet owners.
- CLEAN CUTS EVERY TIME: Our claw scissors have been designed to be used on small animals, such as dogs, kittens, puppies, birds and bunny. Use them as kitten nail clippers or as general pet nail trimmers.
- SAFE & EASY TO USE: Fitted with razor sharp blades made out of stainless steel and an ergonomic grip made out of a top grade plastic the production of these clippers does not harm the environment.
- USER FRIENDLY DESIGN: The stainless steel blade and the handle is finished with a rubberized coating that allows you to securely grip them in order to prevent painful accidents.
- INSTRUCTIONAL EBOOK: Worried about clipping your pet's nails for the first time? Don't you fret! Just scan the QR code on the back of the package with your smartphone and get the full guide right now.
Pros
- Hygeinic stainless steel blades
- Good quality and stay sharp
- do not tear snag or rip the nail
- Comfortable on-slip grip
- good angle on the blade to make cutting easier
Cons
- The angle of the blade is not to everyones liking
- You might have issues getting fingers through the handles if you have large hands/fingers!
Pet Republique Professional Nail Clippers
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Compared to other products, these clippers feel like they are built to last. The blades are quite thick, so this could make it tricky for really small piggies. but the quality suggests they will last and stay sharp.
They have a nice non-slip handle which provides a good sturdy grip. Something that is important when your piggy is wriggling about trying to avoid the dreaded manicure.
Spring loaded handles are also a welcome addition and ensure you are able to quickly open the blades with little effort and fuss.
The blade angle is also convenient, making it easier to perform clean and safe cuts.
The addition of a safe block is also a nice feature to keep the blades safe and clean whilst being stored or in transit.
Manufacturers Specs and Features
- TOP QUALITY - 1 Year money back guarantee, and 6 years warranty! Our thick stainless steel blades is strong and sharp to last for years. These nail clippers are quality controlled during the process of manufacturing. Parts will not loose or fall apart, making this a top quality professional cat nail clippers on the market.
- PROFESSIONAL CAT NAIL CLIPPERS - One of the best cat nail clippers / professional small animal nail clippers on the market. These nail clippers are designed for small breeds: kittens, cats, rabbits, puppy, chinchilla, guinea pig, and more.
- COMFORT & EASY - Offers larger and softer grip area compare to similar products on the market for better stability. Handle size is good for both women and men; stress-free experience.
- TIPS - Apply baby oil to make the quick of the pet's nail visible. If pet's nails are very long, cut off a small amount and wait a week before cutting again. Clear instructions are printed at the back of the nail clippers package.
- HELP SAVE OTHER ANIMALS - When you buy any product from the Pet Republique (Seller), we will donate a portion of the profits to local shelters, where rescued abandoned dogs and cats are homed and loved. So make sure you are purchasing from the Pet Republique (Seller) before pressing the buy box to support our donation and receive the described product.
Pros
- Hygeinic stainless steel blades
- Good build quality
- Clean and precise cutting
- Spring loaded handle ensures ease of blade opening
- Good angle on the blade to make cutting easier
- Safetly block provided for transit and storage
Cons
- Quite bulky so can be tricky for really small critter claws
Complications when trimming Guinea Pig nails
As mentioned above, the main thing to avoid when trimming your Guinea pig’s nails is cutting too close or into the blood vessel running throughout the claw, commonly known as the ‘quick’.
Should you accidentally encroach on the quick, it is important to stem the blood flow immediately using a clotting agent such as corn starch. This will prevent additional blood loss and help in the healing process.
Should the nail become infected, then it is best to consult your local friendly veterinary surgeon who will prescribe the best course of action.
Things to look out for if you think your Guinea pig may have an infected foot include:
- Inflamed / red footpad
- Sores on the footpad
- Physical discomfort, limping, biting, and licking.
Complications of not trimming your Guinea pigs nails regularly
Overgrown nails can cause many issues for your piggy.
Long nails can prevent your critter from walking freely, which will discourage exercise and lead to a loss of appetite and all the health complications associated.
If the nails get really long, your piggy may develop Pododermatitis, more commonly known as ‘Bumblefoot’. This is an infection in the footpad caused by the Staph virus, which is very painful indeed and should be avoided at all costs.
Look for signs of inflammation and cracking of the footpad. You may also see signs of bleeding and callous lumps appearing around the foot. You should contact your veterinary surgeon immediately if you suspect the presence of Bumblefoot.
this resource is helpful when identifying Bumblefoot:
All of this, of course, can be largely avoided by a regular trimming routine. Read more about Guinea Pig hygiene and care in our guide
Conclusion
As pet owners, we all have a responsibility to ensure our pets live happy and healthy life. Regular grooming including the trimming of nails is part of that responsibility.
Without the natural hustle and bustle of living in the wild, your piggy may not be able to
Either way, your piggy will be grateful (even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time) and allow him to have years of healthy, pain-free exercise and play!
