nail clipping

CLIPPING YOUR FERRET’S NAILS
 
Nails, like fur, continue to grow throughout the life of the ferret.  A ferret’s nails can grow quite long and curved.  Long nails can “catch” on bedding and other surfaces, “trapping” the ferret.  The ferret may respond by pulling at the nail, which may rip off, resulting in pain and quite a lot of blood loss.

Therefore, nail clipping should be part of your ferret’s routine health maintenance; cut the nails about every 3 to 4 weeks.    
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Ferret nails, unlike those of dogs or cats, are relatively easy to clip.  There are several ways to clip a ferret’s nails, some of which are described below.   
 
Equipment:   Good quality nail clippers; oil vitamin supplement (Ferretone®; Furotone®, Linatone®, etc.), towel, well-lighted area so the nails can be easily visualized!; a partner (if needed) 

​With a partner, or a skilled operator:

• Scruff the ferret by the neck; begin clipping.  (This can take two people: one to scruff, the other to clip.)

 
During bath-time:   

• As part of your ferret’s bath, place the ferret in warm (but NOT hot) water, just below the shoulder.   As the ferret steadies itself in the water, hold firmly each paw and trim each nail. (Clean ears as well!)

 
Distraction technique, using an oil supplement: 
 
Because ferrets need their nails clipped much more frequently than they require a bath (which they very rarely need!), the following technique is what most ferret owners use:  

• Start the process by allowing your ferret to smell and taste the oil skin/coat supplement, such as Ferretone®, Furotone,® or Linatone®.  Most ferrets love the taste, and will eagerly seek it out.  (Even though your ferret may “love” the taste, the oil supplement should be given usually in very small amounts --and NOT every day!)

• In the rare case, where a ferret does not initially respond, try to introduce the oil by manually placing some in the ferret’s mouth.  The overwhelming majority will positively respond to its taste when introduced in this manner.  

• Open and spread the towel on your lap; place the ferret outstretched on its back, with its head nearest your body and its rear feet pointing away from you. Squirt the oil supplement on the ferret’s belly.   Once the ferret recognizes that it is there, it will start licking itself.  Most ferrets are so absorbed in licking the oil off their fur, they do not care what is going on around them. Start clipping nails!   As you clip you may need to add a little more oil to complete four paws.  

• Make sure that you have your nail clippers within reach and you have sufficient light to see the ferret’s nails. (Use magnifying glasses, if you need to!)  

• Separate the ferret’s toes and hold the nail firmly with your non-dominant hand pushing the fur back to expose the entire nail. 

• Identify the clear/white part of the nail from the darker (red-pink) part, which is the “quick.” 

• CAUTION: Avoid cutting the nail “quick.”  The quick represents the blood supply to the nail.  If  “nicked” with the clippers, it can cause pain and bleeding.  

• Many ferrets have a “long memory” and can react poorly the next time you attempt to clip nails.   So it is better to leave a nail a little longer, or return at another time to complete the nail-clipping, if the ferret becomes very uncooperative. 

• Mark your Calendar:   A ferret’s nails should be trimmed at least once a month--if not more often as needed.   On a 3 to 4 week schedule you should not have much trouble taking a little off the ends of each nail, and most ferrets get used to the ritual and the compensatory “treat” of the oil supplement.

If you are unable to cut your ferret’s nails by yourself:

• Arrange to be shown how to do it by a local ferret shelter, breeder, experienced friend who is also a ferret owner, or your veterinary clinic.  

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• Practice makes perfect – both for you and your ferret!   And nail-clipping is an important part of routine ferret health maintenance.