A lot of people will tell you how to trim your hamster's nails...
But here's the RIGHT way to do it!
At about 1 year of age I give most of my hammies a nail trim.
Here's how to recognize if their nails have gotten too long:
--> They start curling in on themselves: this can get really bad if it isn't dealt with and can begin to grow into their skin!
--> If you notice your hamster slipping because they don't have traction: this is a tricky one because your hamster needs their nails to have traction, but too much nail can cause them to slip!
Now let's get back into how to trim their nails!
-I like to use a human nail clipper (because I feel most comfortable with this -- but there are plenty of other options)
-I start with the back feet since some hammies don’t mind. The front paws may take a few sessions, sometimes just 1–2 nails at a time.
-I hold the hammy in my hand like a cup, pinky under their bum, and take my free hand to clip their nails!
Pro tip: giving them a treat can help calm/distract them!
-One of my favorite ways to do it is one nail at a time, I hold my hamsters until I finish them all; or as many as I can get in until they get hyper and then I do more the next time.
-I find the back feet are easiest to help you get the hang of it!
-You can also try using a towel to cover their face, somethings this helps them calm down, but other times it makes it worse (depends on the hammy).
-If you decide your hammy's nails need to be clipped now, make sure to only clip the clear part.
-If you can't tell if you're getting close to the quick, you can use a flashlight to shine under the nails and mark where to trim.
-They actually make nail clippers with a light so you can see the quick!
-For managing nails, you can use wooden wheels or cork mats on their wheels. My favorite hack is to use a clay/terracotta material/hide in their sand bath, and then as they dig, they are naturally wearing down their nails.
-You can take your hammy to the vet to get their nails cut if you don't feel comfortable, that's not a problem.
-On the other hand, it will likely be a much more stressful experience going to the vet, with it all being done in one sitting, rather than from you, in batches, in a familiar place, with a familiar person(s).
Good luck and you've got this!
