NAIL TRIMMING HELP!!!!

[lbuttenwieser]

My girl is very very scared of humans and hides and huffs and puffs any time we hold her. she does not mind us being around her when she is in her cage and baths but as soon as you get near her she is back in a ball. I need advise on how to trim her nails? Would the wheels with the nail trimmers work? They are getting very long and just cant find a way to cute them. thanks in advance

[MissC]

Is she due for a vet visit by chance...with a 'real' vet who knows hedgies?

Snarf let me try 6 different methods: for one nail each. We finally ran out of methods and the vet had to do it. It was not a lot of fun to watch (I can still hear Snarf's weak little 'mew') but I was much worse off than him.

The nail trim was included in the standard visit fee and I can take him back for free trims in between visits! Well worth the $80!

[Kenzi]

Hey there.

You can see my videos here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHX2UXVnN4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqOnUU5x3Sg

Ebba is very easygoing, but I give some overall tips in the video that might help you out.
Mila is a grump, so trimming her nails is tricky (I can't touch her feet). But you might learn something in that video too.

Good luck.
Biggest tip is clip what you can, and have patience! I hold my clipper ready to snip when a nail becomes available and even if you get just one foot, or a few nails, its better than nothing at all.

[pearlthehedgie]

Could you slip a clipper under her hind legs while she is feeding at her dish?

[hercsmom]

I do Herc's in the sink when he's in his bath. It's actually the only place he'll let me trim them.

[silversheep]

I do Marcel's when I give him a bath. I guess he wipes himself out by trying to climb out of the sink, so he's more resigned to it. It's still a two person job though. One to grasp his little foot tightly (I have my roommate do this part) and one to clip quickly (that's me). It's ok if it takes a few days too, so you don't have to torture her for as long at a time.

[lbuttenwieser]

She will instantly go into the tightest ball she can when i try. she is very grumpy and just hates to be held. I could hold her for 2 hours and she would probably barley come out. she is a huffy girl and was a rescue so was never properly socialized. I tried the bath thing and she will not let me get any where near her feet. they are starting to curl in and I'm getting very worried. Any more help would be great!

[MissC]

Originally Posted by lbuttenwieser

She will instantly go into the tightest ball she can when i try. she is very grumpy and just hates to be held. I could hold her for 2 hours and she would probably barley come out. she is a huffy girl and was a rescue so was never properly socialized. I tried the bath thing and she will not let me get any where near her feet. they are starting to curl in and I'm getting very worried. Any more help would be great!

Snarf is more relaxed than he used to be but still - even in 2" of water - balls up when I try and touch his feet.

Other things I tried, with success (albeit only only once per method ): when I put him on my lap, I always made sure to have clippers in my hand and my hand near him, then when a foot poked out, I quickly grabbed it and clipped a nail.

I also tried in the bathroom sink- no water when he tried to climb out, Jamie would stop him while I grabbed a foot and clipped.

Jamie has held him on his hand, then when he uncurled a bit, grabbed a foot between his fingers while I clipped. We also tried the same method while Jamie held Snarf to his chest.

Our next try was going to be scruffing but we saw a vet instead...we were going anyway, so just held off until the appointment.