What should I use for nail trimming??

Scargirl · 11-16-2015, 10:23 PM

Scarlet's nails are getting pretty sharp. Haven't trimmed them ever since I got her. I was wondering if I could use a human nail clipper. The ones for babies. Or just file them? Or is there something I can give her that she can dig at or something to trim her claws?

BrainGirl · 11-16-2015, 11:15 PM

A rock!

Simple as that. Just put a clean rock under her water bottle where she's likely to walk often and it should be enough to keep her nails short. If her nails are getting to be a real problem it is possible to put special sandpaper on their wheels but that can be really hard on their soft toe pads. If you want to try scruffing her then you may find that baby nail clippers are the easiest to use. Or get a fine sieve and put her in it and only her nails should poke through

Pygmypuff · 11-17-2015, 01:39 AM

Sorry to go a little off topic but how would you go about making sure a rock is clean and sanitized? Would you just soak it in hot soapy water?

BrainGirl · 11-17-2015, 07:07 AM

Scrub it in hot, bleachy water and rinse several times! I wouldn't bake it since there is a risk of the rock fracturing and then small shards might be thrown off at high speeds.

Pygmypuff · 11-17-2015, 08:13 AM

Bleachy water as in water with bleach in it?

Thank you!

Scargirl · 11-17-2015, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGirl

If you want to try scruffing her then you may find that baby nail clippers are the easiest to use. Or get a fine sieve and put her in it and only her nails should poke through

Just two questions:
1. How do you scruff a hamster?
2. Is there a certain age which you can't scruff a hamster anymore?
Won't her feet fall through the sieve? Or use one with really small holes? That might be better than scruffing her because she has never been scruffed ever since I got her.

**DrKMcK** · 11-17-2015, 04:08 PM

Hello Scargirl. To be very honest, it's so much easier to let a vet tech do it. I 've only had to have a hammies nails cut once in all the years I've had them. They are so small and they squirm around. I don't want to take the chance on cutting into the quick. It's very hard to scruff a hammy and also hold the clippers.
Nail clipping at the vets shouldn't cost much at all...it's not a regular appointment.

The first thing you should do is post a photo of her feet. It'll help us to see if they are long enough to be issue. Take the photo in a clear glass and do the pic from underneath the glass. It's easier on the hammy.

Scargirl · 11-17-2015, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hello Scargirl. To be very honest, it's so much easier to let a vet tech do it. I 've only had to have a hammies nails cut once in all the years I've had them. They are so small and they squirm around. I don't want to take the chance on cutting into the quick. It's very hard to scruff a hammy and also hold the clippers.
Nail clipping at the vets shouldn't cost much at all...it's not a regular appointment.

The first thing you should do is post a photo of her feet. It'll help us to see if they are long enough to be issue. Take the photo in a clear glass and do the pic from underneath the glass. It's easier on the hammy.

Can I like give her a nut still in the shell and just crack i a little to smell it?
Also, can I file them? With a hand-file. Definetly not a electric-file!

I'll try to get a photo of her nails by tomorrow. Maybe even tonight if I am lucky.
And also, do you want all four feet or just a few?
They might not be an issue but they are SHARP!!!

**DrKMcK** · 11-17-2015, 05:00 PM

LOL. They are still sharp even when they are shorter. It's because they are so slim. I don't think she'll sit still for a file even with a peanut, and there's a good chance you could hurt her little foot pads. Be aware that if you accidentally hurt or pinch her she might bite out of fright.
It doesn't have to be all her feet. Just try for the one you think is longest.

Scargirl · 11-17-2015, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

LOL. They are still sharp even when they are shorter. It's because they are so slim. I don't think she'll sit still for a file even with a peanut, and there's a good chance you could hurt her little foot pads. Be aware that if you accidentally hurt or pinch her she might bite out of fright.
It doesn't have to be all her feet. Just try for the one you think is longest.

Thanks. I think I will try a walnut in the shell if I can and crack it open. I heard that somewhere. I think it was in HC.