How to Trim a Ferret's Toenails

Pet ferrets need to have their toenails trimmed at least every two weeks as part of a normal grooming regimen. This simple method allows a single adult to clip their wiggly pet's toenails with no mistakes or fuss.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Straight human toenail clippers OR small-animal toenail clippers
• Ferretone
• Styptic powder (just in case)
• Old towel
• Bright lighting

1. After assembling your supplies, sit down on the floor or in a chair somewhere where you have good bright light and easy access to the ferretone, clippers, and styptic powder (just in case).

2. Drape the old towel over your lap. This is to protect your clothes from a ferretone stain and to create a better nest for the ferret.

3. Pick up your ferret and position him (or her) on his back in your lap.

4. Place two drops of ferretone on his belly, and if possible rub the drops into the fur (they will lick the spot longer). He may squirm, but once he starts licking the ferretone you can reposition him on his back where you want him.

5. 
   The correct angle helps the ferret's balance.

   Taking one paw gently spread out his toes and look carefully for the pink vein (the quick) in the first toenail. Position the clipper at least 1/8th inch from the quick and cut so that the new flat tip of the toenail will be parallel to the floor when the ferret is standing.

6. Take your time and stop if your ferret starts squirming too much to be sure of your cut. If you do make the painful mistake of cutting the vein quickly dip the nail in styptic powder or cornstarch, give your ferret an appropriate treat and finish trimming the next day.

7. Repeat until all toenails have been trimmed!
   
   If your ferret licks up his ferretone before you are finished you can give him one more drop. That should be enough, but if not, stop trimming and finish the job the next day so that he doesn't get too large a dose of vitamins.

8. If possible, quickly sand each toenail with an emery board to further smooth the cut. The front toenails grow faster and are more likely to split, so do these first.

9. Cuddle your ferret and give him a non-liquid treat for being such a good boy!

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your clipper is sharp so that you get nice clean cuts with no splintering.
• A quick soak in warm water to soften the nails will also make splintering less likely.
• Any income generated from this article will go to the Washington Ferret Rescue and Shelter, a no-kill shelter caring for ferrets in the Puget Sound area. Please rate, comment, or link to my article here on eHow to help support the shelter! Thanks! www.washingtonferret.org
• If you ever notice that your ferret has a sharp, barbed, or splintered toenail trim all of his nails IMMEDIATELY. Don't wait because he WILL get stuck somewhere and might seriously injure himself.

Resources

• http://www.washingtonferret.org
• http://www.miamiferret.org/ferret_manual.
• http://www.ferretcentral.org/
• Sources for the cutting angle

[Ballzy]

on 9/25/2008 Great information! 5*

[dokternj]

on 8/9/2008 My ferrets totally love ferretone. Makes it much easier to clip toenails, clean ears etc. I never though about soaking their nails in water. Makes sense.

[dustinrjohn]

on 7/29/2008 Amazing work! great to know there are people like you out there. 5 stars for sure

[Meri]

on 7/28/2008 What a great article! Thanks for sharing these tips.

[showpup]

on 7/27/2008 Very thorough article. Wonderfully done. Love the illustration, also. 5 stars.
PS... I've wished I had a ferret for years now. Maybe someday I can get a rescue ferret. :)