Rattie Nails

[Cityratt]

Hey guys
How do you deal with long, sharp rattie nails? My little girlie S will sit still enough for me to trim them, but the other sqirmy worms are far off from being able to do that....
I've heard putting a rock or a brick in their cage helps...have any of you had success with that?

What about those bird perches with the gritty surfaces? (I was just worried that they would chew on them and that, that wouldnt be ideal for their teefies)

Thoughts?

 

[jorats]

It's definitely a two person procedure, unless you are lucky enough to be an octopus. :lol:

The person holding the rat would need to hold the rat in a way that the rat is in a normal standing position with all fours on the invisible ground. Know what I mean? If I'm unclear, which I bet I am...lol I could take pics.
It can also help with rattie has a treat like a piece of banana. While rattie is busy, quickly grab the nails with a human nail clipper and clip the ends of the long nails. Be careful no to cut the quick.

 

[starfoot]

Right now I don't cut my girls nails as every one of them, yes EVERY ONE is a nail biter! which is excellent!! I've seen Flute a couple of times chewing her claws like she's washing them but then she'll suddenly pull up with the end of a claw in her mouth and pull her finger right up untill the chewed bit of nail snaps off!! Clever girlie!! I was concerned at first, but they never draw blood and there has never been any redness, so I'll leave them to it!

As for my girls in the past, I clipped their nails with a human nail clipper and managed to do it on my own. I'd sit on a breakfast bar stool/chair with one knee up and my foot on another chair... Rattie would be plonked on my knee, and everytime she tried to run onto my arm or down my leg, she'd be put straight back on my knee.... after about 15 times (I know, sometimes even 20 or so) they'd get so fed up they'd just sit still and realise that they had to endure their little feet being held if they were to escape... it usually took about 10 mins per rat, and once they were fed up enough to sit still the clipping was easy.... And many many treats and hugs and eeeeeeee good girlieeeeeee's followed success!

 

[lilspaz68]

I do mine on my own. Same method for the most part as medicating. I have some rats with wonky nails that need to be trimmed often.

Go slow, use treats, take breaks and try not to have both of you stress out. :lol:

I use my fingers to separate the toe/nail I am going to do, then I hold the toe so only the nail is exposed and I use nail clippers, often the big ones, I find I have a bit better control then the tiny ones.

Never done bricks, no idea how well they work overall.

 

[Moon]

My Emma has one nail on each of her back feet that needs doing... those nails are extra tough and don't wear to point the way the rest of the nails do. I can do it pretty easily on my own... but, it's only two nails that need doing. I usually just catch her in a quieter moment and, while she's standing, I can sometimes do it without even having to hold her foot. That said, I would never be able to do Maeby and Lucille's nails on my own.