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Post by susan4rest on Jun 25, 2008 21:24:18 GMT -5
with my energizer ferrets...when do they slow down long enough to clip their nails, if I pick them up even asleep they wake up and they just wont stay still. I don't want to hurt them by missing and clipping too close! Ferrevite on the belly doesnt work...Please somebody, help me keep my sanity and my skin!  They are only 9 weeks old and fullllllllllllllllllllllllllllll of energy, but their nails are getting sooooooooooooooo long! |
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Post by usmom on Jun 25, 2008 21:28:33 GMT -5
That is a really good question, one that I have been pondering myself. Does anyone have any thoughts?
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Post by wienercat on Jun 25, 2008 22:40:51 GMT -5
If you dont have someone who can scruff the fuzzy and hold them for you, this is what i do:
I scruff the fuzzy, talking to them calmly *if they're not deaf of course*
As i scruff them tightly, i tilt my arm back so they're not just hanging there.
With my free hand, i cut their nails in front of a light so their nails are see-through and i can see the Quick (the quick is the red part you dont want to cut).
I dont cut a LOT so i dont accidentally clip too close. I clip weekly when I clean their ears.
After im done i give them treats for being good girls.
Hope that helps!
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Post by Heather on Jun 25, 2008 23:32:59 GMT -5
I use the scruff method too. It works very well. I have several fuzzies who will not lay still while I trim their claws with or without some goodies on their bellies. Always make sure you're in a well lit area so you can see the quick. I find that they need their claws cut every 2 to 3 weeks and the more often you do it with less fuss the better it gets. Ghenghis is about the only one that I have that really gives me grief and only with his back paws. Maybe, he's ticklish  I've also used the scruff method and lay them on their backs on the table, I talk to them the whole time I trim their nails, even the deaf ones. I just make sure that if the fuzzy is deaf, that I hold them closer so that they can feel the fibrations while you talk. Just how I do my furbrats nails. Ciao |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 1:07:33 GMT -5
Yup, I scurff too. Sometimes my ferrets will "hula" when they are scruff (they swing their hips around and stick out their arms like Frakenstein's monster lol!) BUT I let them wiggle and they usually tire themselves out. If you can have someone ELSE scruff while you cut, that's the ideal situation, but as Sherry (WienerCat) explained, its STILL possible to cut their nails if you are alone. Long nails suck, and I hate to say it but they only grow faster when they are on a natural diet (because the nutritious food makes them grow faster). So getting familiar with nail clipping is essential. The 'tone/vite on the belly method is great (if it works) but many of us use that scruff method. Here is a video that illustrates how to do it: video.google.com/videosearch?q=ferret+nails&sitesearch=#(BTW, that is Fran, the owner of MorningStarr Animal Sanctuary in Cornville, AZ. www.morningstarr.org/ . They are a WONDERFUL animal sanctuary. I got Hendrix, Willow, and Weezie from them==although I no longer have those precious rug monkies Morningstarr is just north of Phoneix if anyone *cough* needs more ferrets *cough*...*susan* *cough*  ) |
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on Jun 26, 2008 8:04:26 GMT -5
we do the two person scruff method. Hubby holds and scruffs and clip. we are at the point now that when hubby scruffs them they look at me like *sigh* ok just do it and get it over with so i can go play again. i tried doing it on my own but i cant so i am one of those people who needs someone elses help to get their nails done.
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Post by susan4rest on Jun 26, 2008 11:21:22 GMT -5
ok I'll try scruffing maybe Chris will help! and yes cough, I hear you Giuli..I have actually thought of contacting them.  I must be crazy! 
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 11:29:44 GMT -5
Yeah, but I think we are all a little nuts  They are truely wonderful people. Their ranch is amazing and they just love those animals to death. |
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Post by hales on Jun 26, 2008 11:37:53 GMT -5
I do the two person scruff method as well... But I did see a video on youtube for a one person nail clipping session, and I thought it was brilliant. youtube.com/watch?v=6XqwvfPd3To |
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Post by meli on Jun 26, 2008 12:36:34 GMT -5
I had my oldest daughter hold their bottoms while I scruffed and cut. I tried cleaning their ears without any cleaning solution and they did good, but I need to go in there with some cleaning stuff. I dunno if its me, but that wax smells |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 12:41:07 GMT -5
Check out the natural care section and look in the stickies. There is a natural remedy for ear mites. Smelly wax isnt a good sign (could be mites) if it is, dont panic, the natural remedy will take care of it asap. Ear cleaning is a pain, but i have noticed that when my ferrets "went natural" they had less wax buildup.
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Post by meli on Jun 26, 2008 15:23:04 GMT -5
Its not over powering..just when you basically bury your nose in their ears. They don't scratch honestly..at all at their ears. I cleaned their ears to with some dry q-tips and there wasn't much wax build-up, but I am planning to clean their ears with some olive oil today. They haven't had their ears cleaned since I got them and God knows if they ever had til yesterday.
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Post by josiesmom on Jun 26, 2008 15:51:22 GMT -5
Instead of ferretvite try ferretone, or plain olive oil drizzled on their belly. Warm it up a bit in a dish of warm water or else they'll get upset when the cold oil hits their skin. None of my ferrets even care for ferretvite.
You can get them used to having their paws manipulated by gently massaging their paws as they sleep.
Get them used to being touched in their sleep by just introducing your hand and forearm into their furpile as if it is another ferret.
This may take a couple weeks - or just a few days, depending on your technique, how many times you can "nap" with them and your ferrets themsleves.
Trimming nails is going to be a lifelong thing and instilling calm acceptance early will help!
If you can get the ferrets to relax in you lap, massage them until they doze off and clip just one or two nails, do this over the course of a week and soon all their nails are clipped! No scruffing, no restraining, no mess.
I use a people nail nipper - not any kind of pet claw nipper. they are easy to use one handed, are sharp and fast.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Kim
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 26, 2008 20:18:54 GMT -5
Ok, I might have missed this statement, so I apologize if I am repeating. But. If your ferrets are only 9 weeks old, have they even experienced the vite yet? My kit wouldn't touch it at first either, but that was only because she didn't recognize it as something yummy. After you "force feed" a little vite a few times, she may start begging for it. This is the only way I can trim ferret nails. Scruff method, for me, is a no go.
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Post by aleronferrets on Jun 26, 2008 23:03:33 GMT -5
I have always clipped nails by myself, by scruffing with one hand, clipping with the other. After awhile, I can just clip their nails without having to do any more than hold them - no scruffing, no bribes.
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