Do I Need to Trim My Rats Nails?
WouterThere are many ways to trim your rats’ nails. You can use a nail file or place a small abrasive surface under your rat’s water bottle. A rock or brick placed under the water bottle will also do the trick. Place toys or other abrasive objects in their cage to keep their nails short.
Be sure to go slow when clipping your rat’s nails. Try to clip just the tip of the nail and not the base. You also want to avoid hurting the rat by trimming too close to the quick. Also, keep white flour and styptic powder close by. Keeping these items nearby will help stop bleeding in the event that a nail is clipped too close to the quick. In addition, trimming your rats nails regularly will ensure that your rat is used to the process.
You can also try distracting your rat by offering treats to distract him. This can work well if you only need to clip the first claw. You may want to make a treat to reward your rat for their cooperation. Aside from treats, you may want to look for buck grease, which is an orange-colored discharge that is produced when your rat’s testosterone level rises. When it builds up too much, it can look like orange dandruff on their fur.
Remember, it is important not to clip the claw of your rat too short, because the quick runs halfway down the nail. Cut into the quick and it will bleed!
