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thank you

21 13:44:10

Question
QUESTION: dear,Pat:its me again and i needed to know reese and oreos nails are getting long and i was wondering how would i cut them or should i

ANSWER: By all means you need to keep their toenails clipped. It's easy but takes a little practice to get yourself comfortable when handling the pigs.

I use small nail clippers that are sold as cat toenail clippers. If you can hold your pig on her back, cradled in your arm with the head kind of tucked into your arm and the elbow and supported against your body you'll find it much easier to trim the nails.

If your pig has light colored toes you can easily see the red vein (or quick as we call it). Just snip off the tips of each nail. If the nails are dark and you can't see the vein just go slowly and start at the tip of the nail. If you hit the vein and it bleeds don't panic. It's not going to cause the pig to bleed to death. It's a vein, not an artery.

I keep a product in my caviary called "Quick Stop."  It's made of something that causes the blood to clot right away and can prevent most of the bleeding. If you don't have that then flour or cornstarch will also slow it down.

Make sure you have the foot firmly in your grip. Then just give a quick snip on each nail. Regular toenail clippers will also work, but I prefer the cat clippers as they're easier to work with.

Good luck and let me know how you do. Don't be afraid, you're not going to cause any permanent harm to your pigs by trimming their nails.  Practice makes perfect. You can do this.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you and resse is definantly pregnant i felt 3 lumps in her belly and there all ways there and her belly is getting bigger so i cant wait

Answer
Well congratulations are in order. You didn't say how well you're doing practicing the nail trimming so I assume you're doing well.

Keep your camera ready and take lots of pictures of the babies when they arrive. Please send me a couple. I love seeing baby pictures.  No matter how many times I see newborn guinea pigs they never lose their excitement and the thrill.  Best of luck to all of you.