How to Trim a Ferret's Claws

Ferret's need their nails trimmed. Otherwise, they can split, scratch you, get caught in things and generally become a nuisance. Still, ferrets hate to have their nails trimmed and they will generally squirm and fuss as much as possible.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Nail Clippers
• <br>Lickable Ferret Snack
• <br>Assistant

1. If you can, get someone else to help you hold the ferret. Your assistant should hold the ferret, leaving you free to concentrate on the nails.
2. If you do not have an assistant on hand, use a lickable ferret treat such as FerreTone to distract your pet. Put the FerreTone on the ferret's belly. The ferret will be busy trying to lick up the treat, leaving you free to trim its nails.
3. "Scruff" the ferret. Like dogs, cats and many other animals, ferret's are carried by their mothers by the loose skin at the back of their necks. The scruff is a convenient place to hold your ferret and it has the added bonus of making the ferret more docile.
4. Gently but firmly hold one paw between your thumb and index finger. You should immobilize the ferret as well as you can without hurting it.
5. Cut one nail at a time with a clippers. Be careful only to cut the very tip of the nail off (see warning below.)
6. If your ferret becomes too agitated before you have finished all four paws, particularly if you don't have an assistant, stop trimming the nails and continue later after he has a chance to relax.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use sharp clippers. If you don't, you are much more likely to accidentally split the nail.
• Do not cut into the pink part of the ferret's claw. This part of the claw is called the quick. If you cut it, you will hurt the ferret and make the paw bleed. It is better to leave nails that are a bit too long than to chance injuring your pet!