sharp toenails

[sharpknitter]

can I cut Cashew's toenail? She is 8 weeks old and they hurt my head!

[mugzeezma]

can I cut Cashew's toenail? She is 8 weeks old and they hurt my head!
wrap her securely in a towel and with a pair of very sharp manicure scissors or nail clippers nip the ends off. they aren't terribly thrilled with the procedure I must say :D DO NOT cut off any more than just the tips...you may have to do it again in a few days to a week.

[Nancy in New York]

can I cut Cashew's toenail? She is 8 weeks old and they hurt my head!

If you put in pieces of wood in her cage, she should wear them down naturally. I would not clip a babies nails, she could jump onto something thinking that she can grab it and then slip right off...she needs sharp nails!

[mugzeezma]

If you put in pieces of wood in her cage, she should wear them down naturally. I would not clip a babies nails, she could jump onto something thinking that she can grab it and then slip right off...she needs sharp nails!
Yes that certainly does happen Nancy, Good point!
You are the last person I want to contradict here (I seem to be the devil's advocate anymore:tilt)...When I snip the nails on my babies they slip once and learn. What ultimately ends up happening is that their grasp becomes stronger. I learned this from Mugzi. He actually developed pecs!!! You have to keep up with it though! A week or two prior to release let them grow out.

[CJStork]

Yes that certainly does happen Nancy, Good point!
You are the last person I want to contradict here (I seem to be the devil's advocate anymore:tilt)...When I snip the nails on my babies they slip once and learn. What ultimately ends up happening is that their grasp becomes stronger. I learned this from Mugzi. He actually developed pecs!!! You have to keep up with it though! A week or two prior to release let them grow out.


I agree, I clip Sweet Peas Nails once a week and he has learned to let my hubby hold him while I do it...he is such a good boy about it!mjs

[djarenspace9]

Step 1. Remove squirrel from head....

:rotfl

[Rhapsody]

If the squirrel is going to be released I find it best not to cut the nails and to just wear a hoody/beanie on the head and a thick long sleeve blue jean shirt for the arms.

[Rhapsody]

Step 1. Remove squirrel from head....


LOVE IT!! - :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :wahoo :rotfl :rotfl

[muffinsquirrel]

Yes that certainly does happen Nancy, Good point!
You are the last person I want to contradict here (I seem to be the devil's advocate anymore:tilt)...When I snip the nails on my babies they slip once and learn. What ultimately ends up happening is that their grasp becomes stronger. I learned this from Mugzi. He actually developed pecs!!! You have to keep up with it though! A week or two prior to release let them grow out.

You know, you can teach your babies to be afraid of fire or high places in more or less the same way. But I believe in protecting my babies, and keeping them from all harm ae much as I can. I have to go with Nancy on this one, there's an environmental answer that will work just fine - some large branches to climb on and chew on should solve all the problems.

muffinsquirrel

[mugzeezma]

You know, you can teach your babies to be afraid of fire or high places in more or less the same way. But I believe in protecting my babies, and keeping them from all harm ae much as I can. I have to go with Nancy on this one, there's an environmental answer that will work just fine - some large branches to climb on and chew on should solve all the problems.

muffinsquirrel


In MY experience it has been a non issue because I do not clip nails on a squirrel that is going outside even if it's going into the release cage for the day.
I am only relating my experience here.
I only take the nasty tip off of the nail that would probably be more worn if they were a wild. They do slip at first but in the house the drops are never great....maybe a slip of a couple of feet. I have NEVER seen a bad fall but rather a grab, slip, flip, and jump.
THink about the surfaces in your house...hard and soft
Think about the heights they jump from.
It's really pretty individual and requires common sense.

THe point is that once you take off the very tip (that would normally be worn down outside) they need to adjust and it doesn't take long for them to figure it out.

You DON'T want to take off the nail to the quick! Clip off the tiny hook on the very tip of the nail. they still have a substantial claw but it doesn't rip you to shreds...they still slip the first run out too.

I picked up some gravel paper for birds and wrapped and glued it around some cardboard tubes last week...Finnagin chewed up all the big limbs. I can't get anymore until the snow melts.
We'll see how this works.

So to sum it all up
sum do sum don't :D

It's up to the individual to use common sense.
Please take the animals well being in mind before yours.
Those little nails are on there for a reason.
If you want to have a squirrel you should be prepared to pay the price of coexistence as you would with say......your husband??? :D
You can always wear long sleeves and gloves to play.
You can always confine the play area to one room.
These little ones are at our mercy.
Use your best judgement for their sake.