|
|
Back Home
SiteMap
|
Nail Trimming for Degus
You love to have your Degu crawl all over you. You enjoy petting him and holding him. Unfortunately, those long nails that he has can be quite painful. Usually, a Degu will keep his own nails short. He will chew them, or they will naturally wear down as he claws at hard surfaces. Sometimes, however, you may need to trim those long, sharp nails.
For successful trimming, you need just a few things. First, you need a small pair of nail scissors, which are designed specifically for pets. These can be purchased at your local pet store. You need a bottle of Kwik-Stop, which is used to immediately stop bleeding, in the event that you accidentally cut down into the quick of the nail. You also need a good thick towel.
With all of these supplies in reach, you need the Degu. Wrap him up in the towel, with one paw exposed at a time. He most likely won't enjoy being wrapped up like this, and will try to get away. You may need an extra person to hold the Degu, while you do the trimming.
Look closely at his nails, and you will be able to see where the nail ends, and the quick begins. Cut just above the quick, and don't worry if you don't think that you are cutting enough off. It is better to not cut off enough, and to go back and finish the job than it is to cut off too much and get down in the quick.
Repeat the process for each nail, and then move on to the next nail. You may want to do all four paws, or just the front two. Either way works, but cutting the back nails is just a bit harder than cutting the front nails. When you are done, return the Degu to his cage. He may not be very happy with you for a little while, but he will soon be his loveable, social self again – but with shorter nails.
Alternately, if you don't feel like you can effectively trim your Degus nails, you can take him either to a veterinarian or a groomer, and they will do it for you. The fee is usually pretty low, and affordable by most. Rates vary, depending on where you live, but the average cost of doing this is about $10.
Although one wonders why it even needs to be mentioned…do not paint your Degus nails. Again, Degus will chew their nails, and you cannot prevent them from doing this. If they ingest the nail polish, it could be toxic to the point of being lethal. A simple trimming is enough.
As mentioned, there is a good possibility that you won't ever have to trim your Degus nails. This is really dependant on how much nail chewing he does, and how much clawing he does at hard surfaces. If you find that you are trimming his nails more often than you like, provide more items for him to claw in his cage.
Degu information,Degu tips, Degu advice,pets,Degu pet
Next Article: Choosing Bedding for Your Degu
-
|
|
