[Gpdd] Misc - Guinea Pig Nail Cutting and other matters!

[Nicola Atkins]

Hi again all,

Yes! It's me AGAIN with another annoying question (I know I'm always bugging 
you all but you are just so knowledgable on piggies, these days I just ask 
you guys, and don't even bother with the vets!)

Right - Piggie Nail Clipping. This is a big problem for Harvey and I. I am 
loathe to pay for him to go to the vets and have it done when I know I can 
do it myself, if he'd just let me. Also, I don't like taking him to the vets 
unless I have to because it's quite a way from where we live and last time I 
had to borrow a cat carrying box from the vets to bring him up in, which he 
HATED!

But he just DOESN'T like me touching his nails, full stop. He hates anyone 
going near his paws, as soon as you touch them he just tries to bite you 
(and usually succeeds!), even if you just want to look at them, never mind 
clip them. I have a tiny pair of clippers especially for the job, and of 
course I am gentle with him (and have the common sense to know not to cut 
anywhere near the 'red' bit on the nail, as this is where the blood vessels 
start), but he just hates it. The vet did it once and he disliked it, but 
let him do it reluctantly.

How do I get him to submit for nail cutting time? Is there any tricks I can 
use to get him to capitulate? Or maybe just a technique that makes it so 
quick and easy that even HE couldn't complain! Please help if any of you can 
- this is driving me nuts. His nails are really sharp now and he's 
scratching my arm like the devil when I hold him (he always insists on 
sitting on the arm of the sofa, nose in the air, and I have to wrap my arm 
round the arm of the sofa to support him, as he has a habit of reaching high 
up, just stood on his back two paws and craning the rest of his body 
upwards, which always makes him overbalance and fall over. It's quite cute 
really! But having my arm around him, he always wants to stand or lean on 
it, which leaves me covered in scratches, sometimes very deep ones!).

A quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of the piggies celebrating! Gosh, so many of 
you all at once! But Harvey sends warm wheeeks (and maybe a snarl or two - 
after all, this is Harvey!) to all of his piggy pals celebrating out there!

Thanks also to all who helped with the subject of Piggie Toys - Ebay does 
have a good selection and I have my eye on a few bits and bobs as we speak!!

Last but not least - the subject of blue-eyed piggies. Yes, it is pretty 
rare, but weirdly enough my very first piggie, Cuddles, had the most 
gorgeous blue eyes. In bright light or certain lighting conditions they 
looked almost red, but in ture natural light they were the most gorgeous 
blue! Harvey has another rarity - his eyes are so dark they are pratically 
black - pupils, irises the works. It makes them look huge because the eye 
socket is ringed with black too, but sometimes it can look a little 
creepy!!! But I guess that's Harvey for you - he's probably been perfecting 
his 'scary look' and trying to frighten all and sundry!!

Phew! Another long 'un! SORRY!!!

Wheeps from (psycho)Harvey and love to all piggies from his mama! :-)

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