Nails!

[kiki & the bear]

Hi everyone,

Gizmo's nails are growing quicker than I've ever seen a hamster's nails grow!

I started out taking him to the vet to get the clipped - we've been twice in 3 months - but that's going to get pretty expensive in the long run.

I bought him a wooden wheel, but that does nothing and he doesn't like it because it's too narrow (new one arriving this weekend).

I've tried clipping them myself but he sees me as his climbing frame and doesn't feel that he should keep still when I'm around. I've tried using clicking and snapping noises so that he focuses on that and keeps still, but he's gotten used to that now...

A vet - not my regular vet - suggested very fine sandpaper in his wheel, but I'm not keen on the idea at all as I expect that may to wear down his nails while shredding his poor little feet.

Ideas for wearing down these crazy nails please? I'm all ears!

Thanks in advance.

[LavoChain]

You could try including some stones in his cage, if he walks on these it should wear them down slightly. The easy way is to cut them yourself though, maybe getting someone else to hold him would help?

[Stockannette]

Some people put a terra cotta tile under the water bottle or food dish, so they HAVE to walk on it at least a little. That might help them wear down.

[kiki & the bear]

Originally Posted by LavoChain

You could try including some stones in his cage, if he walks on these it should wear them down slightly. The easy way is to cut them yourself though, maybe getting someone else to hold him would help?

Thanks LavoChain, I'll try that. I've tried getting my fiancé to hold him while i clip, but he's a big softie with Gizmo and ends up playing with him, which really doesn't help! He's not confident at clipping the nails so it doesn't work with me holding either.

[kiki & the bear]

Thanks Stockannette, I'll give that a go as well!