It usually costs me around £7 maybe just under for the rabbit but i've been told today it will cost me £30 for the rabbit and two guinea pigs :o is this the going rate?

I do it myself kittenta, its really not as hard as people make out. I cant see a vet justifying more than £5 on top of an appointment fee.

can't you find a groomer who can do it instead of a vet?

is your vet planning to sedate them at that price?

I think the appointment fee is the problem. a small animal consultation is quite pricy at some vets (£14-18? ish). Is there not an experienced forumer on here willing to help out for a token fee or charity donation perhaps? (sorry, Im only experienced in trimming dogs claws,parrots nails and pufferfish teeth)

I've booked bunny in as he doesn't like to be handled (always been like that) and kicks up a real fuss but the vets have managed to do it quite easily before. The guinea pigs however, i'm tempted to do myself. I did my old dogs claws i realise tho that these are bigger, what precautions should i take with the piggys or should I just take them to the vets too?

Just hold their feet up to the light so that you can see the wick of the nail and don't cut through it. HOWEVER accidents do happen - have some plain flour at hand to dab on the nail and stop the bleeding. Don't panic if it bleeds, as long as it doesn't bleed for a long time.

thanks for that! Is there a special nail cutter for rabbits and guinea pigs or is the dog one ok?

Usually the same as the dog one. You can get some powder (styptic?) from the pet shops which clotts the quick if you catch it. If you wrap them in a towel they are less likely to struggle and I find it easier to do with their heads covered. Have a strong person hold them.

Our appointment fee is around £22.

I tend to opt out of "cutting" the nails, mine wiggle too much. I use a regular nail file and file them down. Less chance of catching the wick and causing a bleed :)

I tend to opt out of "cutting" the nails, mine wiggle too much. I use a regular nail file and file them down. Less chance of catching the wick and causing a bleed :)

Mine HATE it but I usually get my way after placating them with chocolate drops ;) An emery board sounds like a fantastic idea though I'll have to try it.

My vet told me I could do it myself and gave me a good tip - when cutting a dark coloured claw (if piggle isn't wiggling too much), close the clippers so they are tight but not actually cutting. If the guinea pig squeaks and pulls it's foot away it's likely you are too short and will catch the quick.

I've got a few dark nailed piggies and find the emery board by far the best and quickest and also less stressfull. Give it a go Twiglet, a breeder told me and ever since I've used them instead of clippers.

I was told to use salt on a cut quick,

Thankfully I've never had to resort to that yet although it's probably because I cut them way too long just in case

omg lotti are you joking! Have you ever got salt in a cut!

Thats a form of torture in some countries Lottie!!!!

Salt, ouch, can't see there being much benefit to that. Depends who you heard it off though.

My bunny is quite easy to do as he has light nails you can see what you are doing. Little pig however wriggles and sometimes nibbles, and has dark nails. He has his filed with an emery board too! I thought it was only me that does that:P nice to see I'm not alone. It just makes me happier than catching him and hurting him.

Does an emery board not split or fray nails though? If you are starting for the first time might it require a bit to be clipped off, so you have a flat surface to start with?

I use a baby nail clipper with our pigs - they are nice and small and easily held and used with one hand - you can let them sit on your lap with their heads hiding under your arm for the back feet, hold them with one hand under the chest using thumb and forefinger to hold their front feet steady! Dark nails I tend to just err on the cautious side and trim about 1mm off - mind you, thats an average growth that gets snipped off them all anyway, so you can often gauge it roughly on that. :)

I tend to opt out of "cutting" the nails, mine wiggle too much. I use a regular nail file and file them down. Less chance of catching the wick and causing a bleed :)

That sounds like a good idea, might try that one!!

Does an emery board not split or fray nails though? If you are starting for the first time might it require a bit to be clipped off, so you have a flat surface to start with?

If you only file one way it doesn't split them. Only do it with little pig though, to stop them being too sharp.

I file mine downwards, not back and forth, hope that clears it up for you :)

If anyone wants to know how and is willing to come to Woodseats i am willing to show you how ,
I charge £2 per animal for Rabbits and Guinea pigs,(for those who don't want to have a go them selves)
If you ever cut a claw to short and its bleeds , a stypic pencil from boots will stop the bleeding but always make sure if this happens to make sure that the hutch they go back into is clean to prevent infection.
I was shown by a vet a long time ago as they had time to do that then !!

Jollyes do a small animal nail clipper. They are fab and really easy to use. They are much smaller than large animal ones. In fact they are the same as the ones the vet has used on our girls. I know some people are not keen on pets at home but they do free small animal nail trimming!

For rabbits I use a pair of side cutters, the type used for electronic assembly work, although not cheap they have excellent sharp blades and are small and precise enough to allow a good cut rather than crushing the nail.

I cut from the top of the nail as this seems to give a good clean cut.

Various tools bought from the pet shop for cutting the nails of small animals seemed to tear or break at least part of the nail.

I always keep some cornflour in, just in case I cut too close to the vein in a nail.

Covering the rabbits eyes can help calm the rabbit whilst you cut the nails.

Sounds difficult, but isn't really once the rabbit has trust in you and you can handle the rabbit confidently.

i have got 2 piggies from my little cousins who did not look after them, i trim thier nails with nail clippers(the ones for your feet!) only problem is thier nails had started to twist as they were so long and i am struggling to get them straight again, anyone got any tips?

nail file hun, do a bit at a time

nail file hun, do a bit at a time
that could be a problem, i cant touch nail files!*shudder* may need to become a little inventive and see how i get on, thanks for the tip:)

There's a chance they'll eventually grow themselves back into shape, but wear rubber gloves whilst filing ;)

Unless you have an aversion to rubber too ;)

nails had started to twist as they were so long and i am struggling to get them straight again, anyone got any tips?
As you keep up with the nail trimming the quick will gradually move back inside the nail and you'll be able to keep them trimmed to a shorter length, allowing the toes and nails to grow untwisted
.

trimmed two buns nails yesterday and wanted to pass on this tip, works with most rabbits:

If you lay bunny on his back along you legs so his head is in your lap he will go into a 'trance'. This is some form of survival technique where by the stay completely still unfortunatly out of fear rather than relaxation. However while in this state you have the perfect opportunity to trim nails provided you are slow and gentle. As soon as you pick him up bunny will snap to again. It great if you dont have a spare set of helping hands!!

(courtesy of the RWA)

I clip all my rabbit’s nails at home. Corn flour is excellent for stopping the bleeding if you accidentally cut the quick. A small torch is handy for dark nailed rabbits as you can see were the quick is if you get the torch at the right angle.

A good pair of clippers is important. Don’t bother with the Guillotine style one’s as they crush the nail rather then giving a clean cut.

Louise