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I've made her claw bleed!!

7 replies

MillyMoo1113 · 21/02/2016 19:05

Have been clipping the nails of my Guinea pigs for a year now, thought I'd got the knack, but I've just made a claw bleed on one of my girls. So much blood!

Will she be ok, do I need to bathe it or anything??

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KateBeckett · 21/02/2016 19:19

I did that! Phoned the emergency vet, who was very nice and told me to hold something on to stop the bleeding or dab on some cornflour to help it stop.

Piggy was fine.

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MillyMoo1113 · 21/02/2016 19:23

Thank you. It seems to have stopped, she's grumbling and squeaking a lot but she is generally very vocal. Have been cuddling her but will put her back with others and keep an eye.

Just felt so guilty!

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FernieB · 21/02/2016 19:50

Don't feel guilty. I've done this a couple of times with my Scruffypig. He has very curly claws and is a chronic wriggler. I keep cornflour handy and rub that in and then hold kitchen roll on his claw until it stops. It never bothers him - he carries on eating throughout my mild panic.

Best thing to do is trim claws little and often. It stops the quick growing so much and makes bleeding less likely.

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PurpleDaisies · 21/02/2016 19:53

It happens, and it'll be fine. One of mine has black claws so it's hard to see where this blood vessel runs. He wheeks absolutely pathetically. I've got some antibacterial powder I put on cuts and give him some extra dandelions. He forgives me eventually!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/02/2016 20:16

I prided myself that I've never made a guineas claw bleed until about a month ago when GP4 yanked her paw away and it bled
The claw wasn't even cut short (I'm getting all my defences in order here ), DD was mote judgey than GP4.
We pushed the paw into an eggcup of cornflour and she survived.

Even worse , I'm a NHS Podiatrist (though many of my patients are nervous or have dementia , not many of them are willing to bite me - some would though )

Vets use a claw to get blood samples apparently (guineas don't like bleeding claws but they like needles even less)

We need to clip the sows claws regularly they have one claw on each front paw that really curls. They don't walk on hard surfaces so tends not to bother them but I don't want them too curled. GP6 has big thick Teddy claws, need a chainsaw .

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EastMidsGPs · 21/02/2016 21:59

I am pathetic at cutting claws ... so we go to see Dr Chris the vet ... 5 minutes in the car, lots of fuss and cuddles from the nurses .. £10 for 8 paws .. and deep breaths all round.
Only one piggie has ever bit the vet, but in Betty's defence it was a young, didn't seem very confident and didn't move her hand away quick enough. Betty and I reasoned it was all part of the vet's training and a way of sharpening her reaction
Betty has long gone but still breathe a sigh of relief when we leave the vets with everyone's fingers in tact !!

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MillyMoo1113 · 21/02/2016 22:20

I used to take them to the vets but the five of them don't fit easily in the cat carrier now the babies are fully grown so Last summer I decided to man up and do it myself.

She seems fine, squeaked a fair bit but once back in clean cage with fresh hay and some spinach she settled, ran around, and ate fine.

Least I know I'm not the only one to have done it!