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Old 03-21-2017, 12:57 PM   #1
Jennie F
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Default Nails

Hi everyone,

Just wondering when you know its time to take your hammy for a mani/pedi? Are there any obvious giveaways I should be looking for?

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:04 PM   #2
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Default Re: Nails

There is no such thing as a dumb question,as just about anything can be useful for others!

As long as the nails don't seem extremely long or curled under,you should be fine.

If you have things in the cage that will trim nails(rough stones as smooth do nothing but look nice,certain resin reptile items,some clay/terracotta items,safe sand either high quality Chinchilla sand or sterilized high quality play sand,etc but only safe things as there are lots of things which are very unsafe)you should be able to keep trims to a minimum.You do want to make sure to use a safe method of trimming as well if it must be done,and only with a sharp enough blade since dull blades could crack or split nails which would be very uncomfortable
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:07 PM   #3
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Default Re: Nails

It's not a stupid question at all! Once the nail starts curling around the foot, it can get painful for the hamster. I had this problem with my hamster Tango for a while and I was reluctant to take him to the vet to get them cut, since the journey there can be stressful and I didn't know if it was worth it. But when I took him, it was a quick procedure and he seemed perfectly happy. Obviously that might depend on your vet and how relaxed your hamster is, though I just didn't like the idea of cutting them at home since I know it can end up making the nails worse (splitting etc) if you don't do it properly.

If the nails aren't that long yet, you could look for a small rough stone outside, bake it in the oven to sterilise it and place it in your ham's cage (in a place where they might go often) every once in a while to help keep them trim.
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:07 PM   #4
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Default Re: Nails

I think it's generally when they start to curl around. If you post a photo, we can advise you on whether they do need trimming or not.
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:08 PM   #5
Jennie F
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Default Re: Nails

She has a terracotta pot that she sleeps in and a sand pit with chinchilla sand to play in. Dont think there's a problem at the mo, just asking for future reference. Thanks for the advice x
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:15 PM   #6
Jennie F
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Default Re: Nails

Not a great pic but only one i can get
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File Type: jpg 20170321_201432.jpg (4.44 MB, 19 views)
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:57 PM   #7
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Default Re: Nails

They're shorter than Ella's claws and hers are the right length. I find they wear down naturally​, although occasionally I've clipped claws when they've become a little long. The general rule is to not allow them to curl over.
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Old 03-21-2017, 03:11 PM   #8
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Default Re: Nails

Her nails are perfect! Very short which is good. Hopefully they won't need clipping for a long time or maybe even never! Jasper's nails are considerably longer, yet hasn't had them clipped even though I took him to the vet for it. At least I now know I have an excellent vet to rely on (he really understood how gentle you must be with dwarf hamsters).
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Old 03-21-2017, 04:01 PM   #9
Jennie F
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Default Re: Nails

Oh thats good to know that her footsies are ok. I wouldnt be confident cutting them myself so I would take her to the vets. Would be good to get her weighed as well just to make sure she is okay.

I only wondered about it as she has taken to inadvertently using me as a scratching post when she is climbing all over me. Long gone are the days when she would happily walk over my hands. Nope, now it's more fun to climb up mums arm, go down her top and leave scratch marks all over her chest, that sting and are hard to explain haha
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Old 03-21-2017, 04:22 PM   #10
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Default Re: Nails

Some people have found that they've never needed to trim their Syrian's nails but have needed to with their Dwarfs. I'm not sure if there's a reason why that might be but I notice that I need to trim James's nails more frequently than Jessie's and that could be down to Jessie's increased activity levels giving her a better opportunity to wear them down.

A lot of people don't feel comfortable trimming their hamsters nails so don't worry about needing to take her to the vet if she does need them done. I can do my Chineseys nails now but when I first started keeping them, I was really worried because their nails are just so tiny.

You could probably weigh her yourself, particularly if you've got a set of digital kitchen scales. All you'd need is a container to keep her safe on the scales whilst you record her weight and you'll just need to zero the weight of the container before you put her in it or subtract the weight of the empty container from the combined weight.
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