Hi all:
I have been dealing with extreme sharp nails. On another thread, I got lots of tips on trimming nails. Some said to have someone else hold it and wrap in towel exposing only foot. Thank you for all the inputs. Other inputs included that sharp nails just comes with the territory. Some even say that getting scratched becomes something one just gets used to.
Every suggestion still left something not quite perfect. I think it is very stressful for a rat to be struggling in a wrapped towel while you try to trim 20 nails.
This caused me to think long and hard for a better way. I came up with a technique that is innovative. Takes only 8 seconds.
I came up with this by using the rat's own instincts (I hear that this is the way to treat rats--accenctuating their own instinctual behavior).
I noticed that when you lift them by the tail, they used their claw to clamp on. Now, I know some people don't recommend holding by tail and I don't hold by tail often.
If you take the rat by the tail and let their four feet be on the ground and pull them backwards, they use their claws to hang on to the ground. If the ground is rough like cement or pavement, then as you pull backwards, all the nails get filed down. In 8 seconds, all 20 nails are filed down.
What a difference it makes! Now the nails don't scratch at all.
Now before you blast me for being barbaric (I am sure on first glance, it does seem very barbaric to you), slow down. Think of 8 seconds of being pulled by the tail and dragged over pavement vs. the 5 to 15 minutes you would put the rat in stress cutting each of the 20 nails with nail clippers.
Please don't tell me that you can even compare the 8 seconds of Fast and get it over to the 15 min. of restraining and struggling with your rat.
The bottom-line is: it is not stressful at all (only sounds it). In fact, I have shown it to all my neighbors and they all asked me to do the nail treatment for their rats. Now, me and the neighbors all love our rats and would not harm it unnecessarily. So, let that be proof that my technique is quick and easy and effective and not stressful. I promise you, it is not as stressful or barbaric as it first seems.
cheers.
See, now they sit on my shoulders and it is all good!
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Longtang. I like snakes and rats.
