Do I Need to Cut My Rats Nails?
WouterWhen doing nail cutting on your rats, you have to be very careful. There’s a vein that runs down the nail called the quick, and you don’t want to cut this vein. It’s very painful for your rat, and you want to avoid cutting into the vein! You can use human nail clippers to trim your rat’s nails, or you can use a pair of small animal nail scissors.
One way to make this process easier on your rat is to offer treats before trimming their nails. This will keep them distracted while you cut their nails. It’s also helpful to offer treats after each nail trimming to make the experience less stressful. Besides treats, praising your rat after nail trimming will make them feel better.
Another way to trim your rats’ nails is by using a rat nail clipper. The best nail clipper for rats is a baby nail clipper. It’s a good idea to have at least two people help you with this task, one of whom will hold the rat while the other person clips the claw. You can also use the “rat burrito” method, which involves wrapping the rat in a towel so that only the head and paw is exposed. Rats are not used to being confined, so you’ll have to use caution while performing this task.
If you’ve noticed the growth of a rat’s nail in the back, you can use the distraction method to remove the claw. But this method might only work on the first claw. It’s important to use treats when doing this technique to avoid trauma for your rat. You must also remember that your rat’s nails produce a substance called buck grease. This substance is testosterone-driven and is responsible for orange dandruff on its fur.
