Nail Clipping (photos)

[K10Widow]

This may look a little weird to some people. I actually learned this trick from a friend of mine who is a breeder - thanks Kim!! The is the best and most accurate way for one person to clip nails.

First Scruff Your Ferret


Transfer Scruff to Your Mouth


Now you have two hands free to clip


**Small warning - if you do this during shedding season make sure to lax yourself when you are done, to avoid hairballs Haha, just kidding!

[Calvin_and_Hobbes]

This method works good for Hobbes-it's the only way to keep him still!! Even though he usually has spit on his neck afterward
Although, I did get some hair in my mouth. Not too bad, but with spring/shedding season coming around....
ROFL about lax!!

[xVelvet_FuzzButtx]

ROFL! RACHEL!!
omg same with teencie! she looks like "somhing about mary" with the a *cough* hair gel LOL

but its so quick! and i learned this early early on, thanks to miss Kristen!!! ;D


Great Models
Alex

[Calvin_and_Hobbes]

Also, if you don't mind, here is where to clip nails:

[K10Widow]

Perfect!!! ;D

[ferretopia]

I really like your method K10, and its something I wanna implement into the routine however I seem to have an issue. Hopefully you ( or someone ) can offer some advise..

Everytime I scruff Xander, he wiggles and worms around like theres no tomorrow which makes doing anything rather hard. He will stop for like a seond or two while he yawns, but then goes back to wiggling about.

Is this something he will grow out of?? Am I perhaps using the wrong method?? ( Im sure im using the correct tecnique. ) If I scruff him long enough will he just settle.

He really needs his nails chopped. He had them all done at the vet the first time and I was told by the 'trusted' vet that most ferret owners dont cut nails as its almost impossible. ( All while I had running through my head that most people do seem to do it with ease! ) He since had two paws cut while he was asleep but I havent been able to do it again since and they are getting long.

It's already a scary enough process having to watch out for the tiny little quick thingy!

Any advise??? Poooolllleaaasssseeeeee

[Calvin_and_Hobbes]

You might have a typical ferret. Hobbes does the same thing. He wont' wiggle around (well, sometimes he does) but he'll just look bored and yawn, which makes punishing him by scruffing seem like nothing.
Have you tried the mouth method? Maybe that will keep him under control. You don't have to cut really back into the nail. If you don't feel comfortable cutting much, you can either have it done by a vet, or just clip off the tips.
Something else you might try. I do this with Hobbes when he needs to settle down. Scruff him with your hand, and lay him on his back (still scruffing). If he wiggles, give a tiny jerk (don't shake the daylights outta the poor fuzzy). This works wonders with Hobbes. After I give him the little shake, he'll lay quiet.If he keeps wiggling, I keep giving him a little jerk. Then I put him in the upright position again, and he's usually still. See if that works, and let me know if it does

[digigirl]

Y'all don't use the ferretone on the tummy trick? That's what we do and all 3 of our ferrets are perfect little angels while we clip their nails. No scruffing necessary.

[olive]

The other day...I did Mister Grinch's nails while he slept! It was perfcet, he didn't even know!! I will be using the sleeping trick from now on...LOL

[smash390]

I put ferrivite or ferretone on the back of my hand. Then I lay the fuzzy on her back on my lap - so she faces me. She can reach the treat on my hand, while I use both hands to clip the nails.

Also, there are some pet nail clippers that have a little "safety gauge" on it - so that you can only put the nail in so far, in efforts to avoid clipping the vein.

[martip]

Also remember that there is no law that says you have to do all four feet at one time. Tum Tum got his trimmed in stages.
Bandersnatch is great about nails - probably because I started doing his from the time he was a small kit. A little ferretone and he cooperates.
But my two new ferrets acted like they'd never had a nail clipped in their life. Even with tone and scruffing, TumTum wanted to wiggle like mad. After three feet, he had had enough!! So I let him go and waited until the next morning to do that last foot.
If your fuzz really hates it, try all the methods mentioned, but do one foot at a time if you need to. You can always come back for another foot each time your fert takes a nap.

[ferretopia]

Unfortunately, Ferretone isnt available here in Australia, and isnt allowed to be imported. I learnt the hard way on that one. So that method is a no go.

I did give nail trimming a go last night, while he was fast asleep.
I managed to get 1 and a half paws trimmed before he woke and wanted no part in it. A good start I guess. Was rather scary though. I never want to cause him pain and the thought of clipping that little vein is a little frightening. But practice will make almost perfect!

[headismooter]

i find that using clippers such as these
www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441777735&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025565&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1110689063432

are easier to manuever for clipping nails because they tend to be precise and suited for smaller nails. also-the cut seems cleaner.

[ferretnut]

We feed our guys lax while we clip their nails. They are so occupied by the lax they have no idea what is going on. Takes 2 people though.

Regards
John

[ferretnut]

We feed our guys lax while we clip their nails. They are so occupied by the lax they have no idea what is going on. Takes 2 people though.

Regards
John