Pre Show clipping of sharp claw tips
First do not rush. Keep calm and gentle but firm
with your rat.
Be prepared to have to keep re-
as he / she will keep attempting to make a dash
up your front to ' safety ' [ your shoulder ].
Spread it's digits and ONLY aim to cut 1 claw
tip at a time. On the rear leg claws only aim
to square off the tip by trimming the sharp tip ( approx 1 m.m )
Do not grip a claw with the clippers because if he/she jerks suddenly the claw could be pulled out of the toe end, so set your aim, hold toe steady and clip the sharp tip off in one quick positive movement.
As can be seen in these two lower pictures, there
are two holding options for a Right handed person
as myself, when dealing with the claw tips on the
front paws. Sometimes with calm rats we can do
both its front claws while the rat is 'standing' in
our Left hand but we can always opt to lay him
out to the Left, draw his front leg/ paw slightly
towards his tail so we can do the final job on his
Right front foot.
Be sure to sit in good bright Sunlight if possible.
I sit on a kitchen chair so that I can present a
knee for the rat to be comfortable on.
Remember as the rear claws are darker coloured
it is easier to misjudge & cut too much and cause
a bleed. The front claws are easier. The claw
tends to grow a fragile glass-
to struggle say against a wooly jumper front.
It is much better to trim those glass arcs off
properly instead.
Not only essential for purposes of entering your rats in Shows but it also makes
it less likely that the rat will cause ' self-
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