Nail clipping - 2007/07/30 17:22How often should I cut my hedgehogs nails? How do you get them to allow you to do it? Also, could you use a fine sandpaper in their wheel a few days a week to trim their nails down that way? It works on sugar gliders so I thought I would ask. Thanks.~Erin~ ~Lives in the land of OZ~ Ms. Pickles the hedgehog Mischa the ferret Sydney the dapple dachshund
I find it easiest to cut my hedgies nail just after she had a bath because she likes to snuggle up in her blankie and I can easily grab a paw and snip away before she even notices.
Every hedgie is different though so you may have to try a few different things before you find what works for you.
As far as how often- it all depends. Just keep checking the nails. There is no set time as hedgies nails grow at different rates.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jezebel is finally home!!!!!!
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dzmeadows
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/01 09:20I would avoid the sandpaper, hedgehogs don't grip with their toes as they run, so their paw surface would be the only thing getting sanded. And may I say, OUCH! Becca
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clutterbuster
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/01 11:44I have purchased those sandy trimmer tunnels from exotic nutrition. My logic, after the nails are trimmed I put these in the cages for them to run through and hopefully keep their nails filed down a little. You've heard them scratching the bottom of their bins, well I hope they will now scratch inside the tube when they go inside to rest. May or may not work, P-k likes to put her head in there and play I can't see you so you can't see me... Max loves running through it as part of his obstacle course.
I've added photos of Pippi in her tube, which I think is 4 inches and fine for her since she was less than 300 grams. I have the bigger size for the other, which I think are 6 inches. None of my hedgies really like pvc pipe, maybe because it is too slick... but they all like these sandy tunnels probably because of the traction.
If the photos don't appear, its because they were too big.
Post edited by: clutterbuster, at: 2007/08/01 11:49
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HamorHollow
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/01 12:00clutterbuster wrote: None of my hedgies really like pvc pipe, maybe because it is too slick... but they all like these sandy tunnels probably because of the traction.
They like the sandy tunnels because they are dark and confined. Please remove them and give them something smooth that is dark and confined.
As Becca explained, hedgehogs do not grip with their toes, so really it would be the same as you running on sand paper to trim your nails. It might help if you let your nails get really bad and curl under, but they should have been cut well before that.
Think of walking over small rocks with your bare feet. Seriously, OUCH!
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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Nancy
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/01 12:20If you look at a hedgehogs feet when they are standing, you will notice that the way their toes are, their nails do not even touch the ground. If the nails are touching the ground then they are way to long and in drastic need of a trim.
Using sandpaper on the wheels or sandpaper tunnels will injure the soft pads of their feet which is what does touch the ground when they walk.
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CThogs
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 06:20How often should I cut my hedgehogs nails? How do you get them to allow you to do it? Also, could you use a fine sandpaper in their wheel a few days a week to trim their nails down that way? If you check their nails every week or so you will get an idea of how often they need to be trimmed-some need it more often than others.
Most of them don't really "allow" you-its more like you do it quickly before they get too annoyed with you If they are getting really annoyed you can always do front paws one day and back the next.
Nope-the sandpaper is not a good idea. All it will do is irritate their skin.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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SupaFly
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 12:09I have a question about their quicks...
Pipe's nails were super long when I got her (one was curled under)... and her quicks are as well! Do the quick spread as the nails grow or are their quicks naturally pretty long? - Meg * * * ~Piper's momma~ :.:Amalthea, you were my little girl and I will always love you. You taught me so much about love and patience and you will always be with me:.:
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HamorHollow
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 13:01You are correct, the quick will lengthen in untrimmed nails. So if you let your hedgehog's nails get really long, the quick will become longer as well. If you are someone who trims your hedgheog's nails on a regular basis, you will be able to trim the nails sorter because the quick will stay shorter.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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SupaFly
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 13:18Hamor Hollow wrote: You are correct, the quick will lengthen in untrimmed nails. So if you let your hedgehog's nails get really long, the quick will become longer as well. If you are someone who trims your hedgheog's nails on a regular basis, you will be able to trim the nails sorter because the quick will stay shorter.
so.... should we trim into the quick a little? since they are so long? or just keep cutting them as short as we can? we accidently cut into a couple quicks on her front paw (my husband felt so bad) and we haven't had to trim those half the time we need to do her backs (esp the one that was curled under!) - Meg * * * ~Piper's momma~ :.:Amalthea, you were my little girl and I will always love you. You taught me so much about love and patience and you will always be with me:.:
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Cmedeiros
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 14:38No, dont cut into the quick. Just keep cutting them as short as you can and just keep up with it so the quick doesnt get any longer.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jezebel is finally home!!!!!!
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SupaFly
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/02 15:35okay. cool. i really didn't want to put her through that. lol - Meg * * * ~Piper's momma~ :.:Amalthea, you were my little girl and I will always love you. You taught me so much about love and patience and you will always be with me:.:
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aislinsadia
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Re:Nail clipping - 2007/08/03 19:05I cut dog nails at work- and it works the same way. The longer you wait to cut the nails, the longer their quick will grow into the nail. Although it isn't a good idea to cut back the quick, your vet may be able to assist you with it. If you do it yourself, you run the risk of infection and a very painful experience for your hedgie. Nerves that do extend into the quick. With dogs at least (maybe cats too, not sure though) there is a procedure some vets will do in order to shorten the quicks if they are really bad. It may be worth it if your hedgie's nails are that bad to talk with the vet about it.
Good luck!*~*Steph*~* Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs).
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If they are getting really annoyed you can always do front paws one day and back the next.
(my husband felt so bad) and we haven't had to trim those half the time we need to do her backs (esp the one that was curled under!)