If you have a hamster, you’re probably well-acquainted with its sharp claws. Did you know that those claws can grow continuously? While most hamsters have no issues with them, sometimes their nails can grow too long and need a cut.
You can cut hamster’s nails using special hamster nail clippers or infant nail clippers. Bring your hamster to a well-lit area and hold it firmly, so you don’t accidentally cause injuries. Ensure your hamster remains comfortable at all times, and remember to reward it afterwards.
The rest of this article will give a more thorough guide on trimming your hamster’s nails properly and explain why you need to do it. Let’s get started.
1. Prepare Your Hamster
Hamsters are notorious for moving around quickly and constantly squirming. Therefore, it’s essential that you ensure your hamster is property prepared before you attempt to trim its nails.
First, your hamster needs to be tame enough to be handled. You also need to get it used to being held. Be gentle and patient when handling your hamster. Otherwise, it might become stressed and run away from your grasp.
If your hamster is already tame enough, you need to practice holding it in the nail-trimming position. There’s no right way to hold your hamster when cutting its nails, but you need to find a position that’s comfortable for both you and the hamster.
Eventually, your hamster will be comfortable enough to stay still when you hold it. This way, you can cut its nails more easily and reduce the risk of injuring your furry friend.
2. Gather Your Supplies
It’s time to gather your supplies. You may use regular nail clippers, but some people may find them to be too big to work with. So, it’s better to use infant nail clippers or small pet nail clippers.
These Alfie Pet Roni Nail Clippers from Amazon.com are a great choice. They’re specifically designed for small animals. Moreover, they’re equipped with a magnifying glass to help you make quick, precise cuts.
Aside from nail clippers, you should also prepare some of your hamster’s favorite treats. After all, nail trimming isn’t a pleasant experience; you should at least reward your furry buddy for putting up with it.
3. Move to a Well-Lit Area
When you’re ready to cut your hamster’s nails, move to a well-lit area. You need very good lighting for this task. It’s even recommended to do this during the day, near an open window to get some sunlight.
This will ensure you can see the hamster’s claws clearly. You’ll need to inspect its nails closely to avoid any accidents. However, it’s essential that you make sure the hamster’s eyes aren’t exposed directly to the light, as they’re extremely sensitive to bright lights.
Additionally, note that loud, sudden noises may startle your hamster and cause it to squirm. So, consider trimming its nails in a quiet area that it’s familiar with. This will ensure your hamster stays calm during the entire process.
4. Hold Your Hamster Firmly
Have you practiced the nail-trimming position with your hamster? Great!
Let’s start by holding your hamster firmly in one hand. Avoid squeezing it too tightly — you want your hamster to be comfortable but firmly secured in your hand. If it squirms too much, consider wrapping your hamster in a small towel to help it stay still.
5. Inspect Your Hamster’s Nails
Now it’s time to examine your hamster’s nails. Look for nails that appear to be excessively long and those that are curling towards the paws. Sometimes, you may even notice split-off nails. If you don’t trim them in time, these splits may lead to some extremely painful bleeding.
After figuring out which nails you have to cut, take a closer look at them.
You’ll notice that your hamster’s nails are somewhat translucent with a whitish or yellowish tint. However, if you look carefully, you’ll also see a small, pinkish area at the base of the nails. This part is the quick.
The quick is where the blood supply for the nails lie. This part is full of tiny blood vessels and nerves, making it extremely sensitive. Whatever you do, avoid trimming the quick. Otherwise, it’ll bleed and cause immense pain for your hamster.
6. Begin To Cut Your Hamster’s Nails
You need to trim the tip of the nails at a slight angle, approximately 45 degrees away from the paw. Maintaining this angle is important to avoid hurting your hamster’s paws.
Also, as mentioned earlier, avoid cutting into the quick. If you accidentally do this, stop the bleeding using some styptic powder.
This Clubman Nick Safe Styptic Powder from Amazon.com is a good for first aid, so you should keep some nearby. But hopefully, you won’t have to use it at all.
7. Take a Break if Your Hamster Gets Uncomfortable
You should only continue cutting your hamster’s nails if it’s still calm and comfortable in your hand. If it starts getting impatient or squirmy, you should take a break or even stop for the day.
Hamsters typically aren’t used to sitting still for a long period of time. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you can’t get all its nails clipped in one day. Just be patient and try again after a few hours or even a few days.
8. Reward Your Hamster
As mentioned earlier, nail trimming is not a pleasant experience for your furry friend. For that reason, you should reward your hamster with some treats for putting up with the manicure session.
Aside from soothing your hamster after this experience, doing this might also make future nail trimming sessions easier. Why? Because eventually, your hamster will learn to associate nail cutting with its favorite treat. That way, it’s more likely to stay calm and still while you handle its claws.
9. Consider Taking Your Hamster to a Vet
Trimming a hamster’s nails can be difficult for many hamster owners. If you’re unsure of your ability to do this, you should consider bringing your furry friend to the vet.
A vet will have more experience in cutting a small pet’s nails. They’ll also be able to notice and avoid the quick more easily, reducing the risk of injury for your hamster. Furthermore, in the case of an accident, the vet will be ready to disinfect the wound and stop the bleeding.
Do Hamsters Need Their Nails Trimmed?
Not all hamsters need their nails trimmed. Hamsters can typically maintain their own nails by scratching rough surfaces. However, some elderly or sickly hamsters may have overgrown nails, which should be trimmed for their own safety.
Young, healthy hamsters will usually wear down their own nails by:
- Digging
- Climbing
- Grooming
- Scratching
- Foraging for food
Why You Need to Trim Hamster’s Nails
Nail overgrowth is extremely problematic for hamsters for several different reasons, some of which include:
- Overgrown claws may start curving in towards the paw. Eventually, the claws may stab the hamster’s paws and hurt them.
- Excessively long nails may get stuck onto substrate or other items in the hamster’s environment. This may trigger the nails to split, resulting in painful bleeding.
- Overgrown nails may break or fall off, leading to bleeding and infection.
- Overgrown nails make life more difficult for a hamster. Hamsters with overgrown claws may experience difficulty moving around, holding food, scratching, and grooming themselves.
Final Thoughts
Cutting a hamster’s nails can be a challenge. However, with the right tools and some patience, you should be able to trim your hamster’s nails yourself.
However,, if you still have trouble cutting your hamster’s nails, don’t hesitate to bring your hamster to the vet and have them trim its nails instead.