{"id":3250,"date":"2023-04-23T13:25:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-23T18:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/mammals\/?p=3250"},"modified":"2023-05-03T14:45:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T19:45:38","slug":"pet-rat-nail-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/mammals\/pet-rat-nail-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Rat Nail Care"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sometimes rat nails need trimming. Do you know how to tell when? Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re like most rat owners, you probably find your rat\u2019s teensy little hands, with only four fingers, and their chickenlike feet to be rather adorable. What is not adorable, however, is the feeling of them on your body when their nails are overgrown and piercing into your skin. It\u2019s crazy how long and utterly sharp rat nails can get. There\u2019s never a day that my hands don\u2019t show signs of me handling rats, i.e., they are covered in scratches!<\/p>\n

Rat Nail Facts<\/h3>\n
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All nails are not the same. The nails on young rats (top image) are much more delicate than those of adult or senior rats (bottom image). Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the potential for pet rats to grow \u201cdagger\u201d nails, should owners regularly provide pedicures for their cute rodents? Not necessarily. But before we get into the ins and outs of nail care, let\u2019s look at a few facts about rat nails.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Rat nails are naturally arched
\n\u2022 In the center of the nail is the quick, which is where the nerves sit and the blood supply lies
\n\u2022 The quick is the pink, opaque area of the nail
\n\u2022 Cutting the quick can cause profuse bleeding and is very painful for the rat
\n\u2022 Only the clear tip of the nail should be trimmed<\/p>\n

Following are my personal observations about rat nails. These are not hard science.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Really young rats tend to have especially long nails. These aren\u2019t necessarily more painful on people\u2019s skin, however, due to the tips being quite thin.
\n\u2022 As a rat ages, the nails get thicker, which makes the tips more painful on human skin. Note that nails are less sharp with aging if the thick nails are caused by arthritis.
\n\u2022 Some rats\u2019 nails stay relatively short and rarely need to be trimmed. That or the rat is biting their own nails and keeping them shorter.
\n\u2022 Sometimes only the \u201ctoenails\u201d get long while the \u201cfingernails\u201d stay short, or vice versa.
\n\u2022 A senior rat\u2019s nails sometimes grow quite thick and opaque, and curl inward. This is often seen in rats with hind limb issues and arthritis.<\/p>\n

Three Reasons To Trim<\/h3>\n
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This nail is too long and very likely to get snagged and possibly ripped off. It needs a trim. Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even with years of practice, I don\u2019t look forward to trimming my rats\u2019 nails. That\u2019s because I\u2019ve yet to meet a rat who enjoys it or tolerates it for very long. And, frankly, it\u2019s nerve-racking considering just how tiny their paws are, and how easy it would be to accidentally cause your rat damage as they squirm around. For this reason, I usually leave the nails be. Sometimes, though, it\u2019s absolutely necessary to make the effort.<\/p>\n

If nails get too long, it\u2019s not uncommon for one or more to start snagging on things, such as your clothes, material you line the cage with, or cloth hammocks. I find that it most often happens with a toenail versus a fingernail.<\/p>\n

Too much snagging can lead to the entire nail being ripped off. This is painful and can result in a shocking amount of bleeding. If it\u2019s only one nail getting caught, then you may not need to trim the others.<\/p>\n

Keeping your rats\u2019 nails trimmed can also lessen the frequency of yourself getting scratched. Or, at the very least, lessen the severity of any scratches. This is especially helpful if you\u2019re allergic to rats and break out in hives when they touch you. I\u2019m not allergic to them like my husband is, but I\u2019m finding that after decades of enduring rat scratches, I\u2019ve become more sensitive to them. While I don\u2019t get hives, the cuts and scratches itch quite a bit.<\/p>\n

If your rat is severely itchy from mites or lice and is continually scratching themselves, they are likely to become covered in scabs. A veterinarian can, and should, prescribe medication for the parasites. Additionally, you or the vet should trim the rat\u2019s nails to prevent self-injury or an infection from spreading on their body.<\/p>\n

Reasons Not To Trim Rat Nails<\/h3>\n
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Most rats are not big fans of getting their nails trimmed. Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even with experience, trimming rat nails shouldn\u2019t be taken lightly. Rats move \u2014 a lot \u2014 and can be unpredictable. Don\u2019t expect them to sit still for you while you use a sharp cutting tool on their delicate appendages.<\/p>\n

And as I mentioned earlier, rats do not exactly enjoy getting pedicures, and it can cause them stress. If the nails aren\u2019t posing any problem to you or your rat, I suggest leaving them alone.<\/p>\n

Also, if your senior rat has developed long, thickened toenails, your rat may experience pain from even a normal trimming. I\u2019m not sure specifically why some find it so uncomfortable, but I suspect that it either causes too much pressure on old, achy toes or the quick has grown out farther. It\u2019s often more difficult to see precisely where the quick is with nails like this, because they also become more opaque. This makes cutting the quick much more likely.<\/p>\n

Either way, my ailing seniors react as though I\u2019m hurting them whenever I\u2019ve tried trimming their toenails, so I avoid doing it unless absolutely necessary. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns or if the length of the nails hinders their movements or any of the nails are curving into the paw.<\/p>\n

Nail Trimming Supplies<\/h3>\n
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A nail file and one or more type of nail trimmer are some of the tools needed when you trim a rat’s nails. Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you do need to trim your rat\u2019s nails and have received proper, in-person instruction, gather all your supplies first.<\/p>\n

Different clipping tools to choose from:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Human baby nail clippers
\n\u2022 Tiny, human nail scissors
\n\u2022 Small pet nail clippers
\n\u2022 Soft emery board<\/p>\n

Other optional supplies:<\/p>\n

\u2022 A blanket or towel
\n\u2022 Kwik Stop or some other store-bought styptic agent, or cornstarch or flour
\n\u2022 Paper towels or tissues
\n\u2022 A second set of hands<\/p>\n

You will also need lots of patience!<\/p>\n

Tips For Trimming Rat Nails<\/h3>\n
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Never cut into the quick, or blood supply, of the nail. Only trim the very tip while leaving some nail between the quick and end of the nail. Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Because of the risk of injuring a rat if you\u2019re completely unfamiliar and uncomfortable with trimming a wiggly pet\u2019s nails, always have a veterinarian<\/a> do the cutting or have them teach you how to do it. Never attempt to trim your rats’ nails without first getting personalized instruction, in-person. You can spend some time watching online video demonstrations to prepare you. This video shows Dr. Anthony Pilny, a well-known veterinarian who treats rats, demonstrating rat nail trimming<\/a>. Again, always consult with your own veterinarian before trimming your rats’ nails.<\/p>\n

Different methods are used for holding a rat during a nail trim. Use the one with which you\u2019re most comfortable. Some people even prefer to have a second person keep the rat still. If a helper is involved, it may be easiest for everyone if the rat is sitting on a tabletop. Setting a towel under the rat can help prevent slipping and\/or be used to wrap around the rat for a more secure hold if needed.<\/p>\n

I prefer to do the trimming by myself. I have my rat sit in my lap between my arm and my stomach, so that both hands free. I usually secure my rats in place by gently pressing their body against mine with my left arm and then using that hand to hold their paw in between my thumb and pointer finger. Then I use my right hand to hold the clippers or file. I hold the paw firmly, but not so firmly that I\u2019m hurting my rat.<\/p>\n

You only want to remove the transparent tip of the nail, leaving a tiny amount left in front of the quick. If you try to get too close to the quick, you risk cutting it, which will cause it to bleed.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling to keep your rat still enough to start cutting or are too nervous, use a soft emery board instead until you both feel more comfortable. Just swipe across the tip of the nail several times and avoid hitting their actual toe or finger.<\/p>\n

You may need to take breaks and clip only one or two nails at a time. Pay attention to your rat\u2019s comfort level and protests.<\/p>\n

Use a calm voice with your rat during the process and reward them with a snack after.<\/p>\n

Treating A Cut Quick Or Ripped Nail<\/h3>\n

You might be surprised at just how much a cut quick can bleed. If you do accidently cut it or you find the cage covered in blood after a toenail has been torn off, stay calm. As long as you can get the bleeding to stop fairly quickly, you both should be good. Thankfully rats are pretty fast healers.<\/p>\n

Blot some of the blood with a paper towel first, and then use a styptic agent on the injured nail or dip the toe\/finger into a tiny bowl of flour or cornstarch to help it clot. Use a reassuring voice to soothe your rat. If you can\u2019t get the bleeding to stop, take your rat to your veterinarian.<\/p>\n

Additional Tips About Rat Nail Care<\/h3>\n

To help your rats\u2019 nails to wear down naturally, try placing safe objects with rough textures in areas of the cage your rat frequents the most. Bricks, a rock, or even a cinder block could work. You can also attach one or several Lava Ledges or other textured shelf\/perch to the bars of the cage for your rats to climb on.<\/p>\n

I find it ironic how much rats dislike getting a pedicure or manicure, because I have found that mine love trimming my nails with their teeth. At least I\u2019m more professional about it and use proper clippers. I wish you good luck with your own rats\u2019 nail care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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