Hamster needed gas to have nails trimmed

[laica]

Hello, I went to the vets a few weeks ago with my Syrian hamster whose nails are growing too long, The nurse was unable to cut his nails without giving him some gas. (He was stressed out and biting) They have grew back longer already and he will need to go back again, I am really worried that he will have to go the vets once a month and get sedated each time since it can't be any good for him long term can it? He's more than 18 months old now.

Any tips for a hamster that will not be restrained for me to do them or even a way to encourage himself to file them down since I am really worried about his nails now.

Thank you!

[Shannonmcn]

A lot of people put a rock from the garden under their water bottle so they get a little bit of wear every day. You do need to give the rock a good scrub and a soak in boiling water to sterilise it.

I have heard some people say that you can use very very fine grit sandpaper maybe on one small area of the cage, maybe a level if he has one or maybe glued (hamster safe glue!) to the inside or outside of a cardboard tube where ham can walk over it. You will have to watch the sandpaper isn't chewed though and just as a disclaimer I haven't ever done this myself, it's just something I remember being suggested once. It's definitely worth trying something, I'm sure it's not nice at all for him to get so stressed out

[laica]

I know, I think I will have to try the stone under the water bottle. I did get a lava ledge but he just ignores it. I even put food on it but he just takes it and thats it. I think he will have to go back again because he won't be able to wear them down the way they are now. Last time they didn't even cut them much shorter and I'm sure they missed a few nails. I'll have to ask them to cut them shorter it they can. He seems happy and is running in his wheel so they don't seem to be causing him any discomfort at the moment. (They aren't curled under, just thick and long at the minute)

[souffle]

Can you get a decent sized sieve and pop him in that? The nails drop through the wire and you can use a baby nail clipper to snip them off. You can place something over the sieve to keep him calm and even some millet or nuts to nibble at.

[StarlightSerenity]

Originally Posted by souffle

Can you get a decent sized sieve and pop him in that? The nails drop through the wire and you can use a baby nail clipper to snip them off. You can place something over the sieve to keep him calm and even some millet or nuts to nibble at.

Ha that's an awesome idea!

[Bertiebobbins]

What a great idea! Even if you don't have a sieve already, you'll be able to get on in a £ shop. I never use my sieve, am now mentally reclassifying it as hamster care equipment...

[laica]

Originally Posted by souffle

Can you get a decent sized sieve and pop him in that? The nails drop through the wire and you can use a baby nail clipper to snip them off. You can place something over the sieve to keep him calm and even some millet or nuts to nibble at.

That sounds like a great idea, I think I'm going to try this. Have you done this before? I might combine it with another tip I read here where someone gave their hamster porridge made with water to keep them still long enough to trim their nails. Fingers crossed. It's keeping them nice and trimmed after doing this too. But I just think he is one of those hamsters that will not wear his own nails down.

[souffle]

Yes we have done this successfully. It is easier with two people so one can hold the sieve up while the other clips. Aim to do just maybe 3 claws per try so they don't get scared of going in. If you do that they are all done is a week.
Yu need to be quite firm with the scruffing if you use that method which we do now. They get used to it and tend to freeze when scruffed and you can do all the claws. on one food quickly. There is a video here on how to scruff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THLDQWIGw-s

[racinghamster]

Lovely video from Erin there. x

[souffle]

The video is by moderator Vectis RH