First Time Clipping Woes

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:43 am


I was going to congratulate you on using the correct word above, Maverik. You used skittish. But then in a later post used skiddish! Anyway, the word is skittish and skittish only. See:

http://www.beedictionary.com/common-err ... s_skittish

Ct daffodil

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:44 am


Maverik, I figured out that fleece is a little easier to burrito wrap with than a hand towel, seems a little floppier and for me makes it easier to wrap quickly. Try not covering the head if possible - not many animals like that. I also have set them in a small basket or shoebox then started the wrap from above so the ends go under the belly as I lift. It's the same one I use to weigh them in.
Then they get a snuggle in the burrito wrap before clipping. I did learn that from the vet when one needed antibiotics.

Sounds like yours are young still so you could burrito wrap them and give them a bit of veggie snack and snuggle almost daily if you have time.

Maverik

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:43 pm


@Lynx:
I'm sorry to have failed you! I'll try and remember which one's the correct one in the future :)

@Ct daffodil:
I'll give it a shot and see if I can't convince them to chill out in a wrap.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:10 pm


Oh, don't worry. I do see it misused frequently (unfortunately more often than not). Just hoping my comment helps someone else!

Quiet Wren

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:10 pm


I trim my pigs nails with them standing on the bathroom counter. I stand right against the edge of the counter with the pig up against my body. Then I pick up the foot just a tiny bit and angle it out away from the body just enough to see the nails clearly. They seem to tolerate it well. Maybe since they are in a normal and comfortable position with only one foot out of their comfort zone.

One of my boys is very very nippy (so far it's never been a real bite!), and he has even tolerated this well. He freaks out if you put your hand in front of his face (I tried this to keep him from leaping out of my hands into his cage) and also if you put your hand over his shoulders. He does not handle restraint well!

I think letting them see and play with the clippers is a great idea. They are so curious.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:15 pm


Does the pig face away from you? Could somebody take a picture and you post it?

Maverik

Post   » Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:25 am


Mine? Hitomi spent most of her efforts trying to either climb my shirt or slip down over the side of my leg past my waist. So she was typically facing me.

Quiet Wren

Post   » Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:03 am


My pig's side is against my belly. Facing to my right to do the left feet. Facing to my left to do the pig's right feet.

User avatar
Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:13 am


Picture! Picture!

Quiet Wren

Post   » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:33 pm


Here's nail clipping pictures! (I've not used photobucket in a long time, hope this works!)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 2308ea.jpg

Image
Me holding Gus getting ready to trim nails on left hind foot. Gus is about 3 months old and has had this done twice (I think). He's not real comfortable being handled yet, but is a pretty calm pig. His body is up against my stomach and he really can't go anywhere. He would probably be even happier if he had a towel to stand on, because the counter is a little slippery. He is nice and calm here.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 2312ea.jpg

Image
Clipping his left front foot. He's still not worried.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 2314ea.jpg

Image
This is the right hind foot. He is kicking a little bit here, but overall doing well.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 2313ea.jpg

Image
Right front foot. It isn't real obvious from the pictures, but he is well restrained. His body is against my stomach. He can't go backwards because my arm and hand are there and my other hand is in front of him.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh26 ... 2321ea.jpg

Image
This is Gizmo, my bitey pig. He is high strung and does not take well to handling (but is only 3 months old, so I have hope!). He does not tolerate hands in front of him (he races forward to push me out of the way) or hands over his back or shoulders (he will fling and push until he is out from under my hand). I probably should wear a long sleeve shirt since I have bare skin right by his face if he should become unhappy with me... So far he has handled trims really well. I just have to be a bit more patient about him wiggling!

[Pictures cropped, added - Lynx]

User avatar
GP_mum
Supporter in '13

Post   » Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:30 am


Thanks for sharing the pictures. The pigs look really quite calm and I'm always on the look out for how people trim the front paws on their own. The hold looks similar to a video posted but clearer in that you've mentioned how the pig can't really have much room to wriggle and move around.

User avatar
LS in AK
Upside-down & Backwards

Post   » Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:06 am


I say there is some serious stink-eye in that first photo of Gus. It should go in the Piggy is Not impressed thread.

Welcome to the world of nippy abbys.

Your boys are very cute.

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