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Guinea pigs are prone to having their nails broken on a regular basis. It usually occurs when the nails become too long and twisted, resulting in an injury or the nail being ripped off completely. In rare situations, an injured nail can result in pain, profuse bleeding, and even infection if it is not treated immediately. You may also notice that your guinea pig’s nail will simply fall off from time to time without any evidence of injury or bleeding. In guinea pigs, a torn nail will normally grow back within a few months of being torn. It is common for it to take more than a month before any signs of a new nail are visible. If there has been substantial damage to the nail bed, a damaged nail may not be able to regrow in some cases.If the paws of your guinea pig are bleeding, you may need to administer medical attention to them.In some situations, open and deep wounds can get infected, thus it is critical to treat them as soon as possible when they are discovered.In order to avoid infection, it is critical to maintain the guinea pig nail bed clean and dry once a nail has been torn out.Bumblefoot is a frequent ailment that occurs when the nail bed of a child is exposed to moist flooring or bedding for an extended period of time.

Any redness or swelling in the feet that occurs within the first 48 hours of a guinea pig’s sickness is a clear indication that the animal has contracted a bacterial infection.

The next question you’re probably asking yourself is what you can do to prevent any form of bacterial infection and aid in the speedy recovery of the wound.

Don’t be concerned. We conducted significant research and met with a veterinarian in order to compile this complete guide for you.

 

What to do if your guinea pigs nail falls off?

Torn toenails can cause considerable bleeding as well as a great deal of discomfort in your guinea pigs.

It primarily occurs when your guinea pigs have long and sharp nails that become entangled in the bedding, wire bottom cages, ramps, toys, hiding places, and other similar items.

However, once the bleeding has been stopped, there is nothing you can do to repair torn or broken fingernails.

Keeping an eye out for any signs of bacterial infection would be beneficial for the next few days, but that is all you can do to prevent the illness.

Guinea pig nail fell off

In some instances, the nail of the guinea pig may fall off even though there is no bleeding.

It usually occurs when your guinea pig’s nail is broken or bruised, and a new nail begins to develop from the root, which quickly pushes the old nail out of the way.

It is a natural process that occurs in all living things, including humans. Despite the fact that it may not bleed, it can be really uncomfortable for our guinea pigs.

You might check on your guinea pig one day and discover that one of their nails has fallen off.

It is more accurate to say that the nail has fallen off and a new nail has begun to develop.

In such situations, there isn’t much you can do to help. You must, however, continue to be on the lookout for signs of infection.

The following are some of the most prevalent signs and symptoms of infection:

Swelling in the paw

  • Discharge from the paw
  • Difficulty in walking
  • Redness or Stiffness in the paws
  • Any foul smell

If you detect any of the above indicators, it is likely that your guinea pigs have contracted a bacterial illness, and you should take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

In contrast, if they are content, wandering around regularly, and eating regularly, and you haven’t noticed any of the aforementioned signs, you may decide to leave them alone. There is no reason why they should not be fine, and the nail will very certainly come back spontaneously.

Guinea pig nail broke

In guinea pigs, broken nails can cause considerable discomfort as well as some mild bleeding.

If your guinea pig’s nail becomes stuck in the cage bars, toys, hiding places, fleece beddings, or any other object, it may break either from the middle or from the nail bed itself, depending on the situation.

To stop the bleeding, you might apply some pressure to the area where the bleeding is occurring. Keep in mind that your guinea pigs may get violent and bite you if you attempt to apply pressure to them while they are already in pain.

Depending on how quickly the bleeding stops, you may need to keep an eye on your guinea pig’s toe for the next several days to ensure there is no infection.

Maintain a clean environment for them, as well as keeping their feet dry to avoid infection in the event that it occurs.

Guinea pig nail hanging off

If a guinea pig’s nail is broken and hanging off by a thread or skin, it is recommended to carefully cut the nail right off the nail bed, since this will prevent infection.

Removing the nail will allow you to treat the bleeding and will also aid in the speedy recovery of the wound after it has been removed.

When your guinea pigs try to move around because of a hanging nail, they may experience discomfort.

It may even bleed incessantly, causing certain grave health complications in your guinea pigs as a result of the infection.

To keep in mind, here are a couple of things: 1.

  • To ensure that everything goes smoothly, invest in a high-quality nail clipper..
  • Stop the bleeding by applying some Styptic powder to the tip of the paw.
  • If Styptic powder is unavailable, you can use cornflour in the same manner.
  • Beeswax can also be used to treat acne because it has antibacterial properties.
  • Keep their nail bed clean and dry at all times in order to ensure a speedy recovery.

It is possible that your guinea pig’s nail will be broken apart right from the nail bed at some point in the future. Using Nolvasan, clean the nail bed and then apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin to the affected nail bed.

Because it is dangerous to your guinea pigs, you should avoid using Neosporin plus or any other antibiotic that contains cortisone.

Please contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of bacterial infection.

Do guinea pigs nails have quicks?

How to Trim Your Guinea Pig’s Nails (with Pictures)

Yes, the nails of guinea pigs are punctured by quicks. We have quicks in our animals’ nails, which are blood vessels that are found in their nails. If we cut through one of the quicks, it is possible that the guinea pigs will suffer from bleeding.

Many novice guinea pig parents make this error when clipping the nails of their guinea pigs for the first time, and it is a common occurrence.

Even seasoned proprietors make mistakes from time to time, and as a result, they find themselves cutting through quicksand.

In the event that you make a mistake, make sure to follow the techniques we discussed above to stop the bleeding and ensure that their wound heals quickly.

Do guinea pigs nails grow back?

Yes, guinea pigs’ nails normally grow back within a few months of being torn out, unless they are severely injured.

Depending on your location, it could take up to two months before you notice any new growth. It can take up to 6 months for a toenail to regrow in some cases, but this is rare.

Alternatively, if the nail bed of your guinea pig has been severely damaged, there is a potential that the nail will only partially heal and return as a short nail or a deformed stub, or that the nail will never heal at all in the first place.

Even if the nail does not regrow, there should be no negative consequences for your guinea pigs as a result of the procedure.

Risk of broken nails in guinea pigs

Some guinea pigs are more prone to breaking their nails than others, and this is due to genetics.

This is most frequent in guinea pigs who are very active, such as those who run around the cage or attempt to climb items.

Broken nails can occur as a result of failing to clip the nails on time in some cases.

Anyhow, you should be aware of a couple of potentially dangerous health consequences that can arise if you don’t take care of a broken nail immediately.

Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infection is one of the most prevalent concerns that veterinarians see in guinea pigs who have an open lesion on their body.

Your guinea pigs will show signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, and the discharge of fluid, as well as other symptoms that are comparable to these.

If your guinea pigs show any signs of bacterial infection, it is recommended to take them to the veterinarian.

Bumblefoot

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis) is another potentially lethal health issue that has been identified in guinea pigs.

Bumblefoot in guinea pigs is typically caused by not cutting your guinea pig’s nails on time, broken nails from the nail bed as a result of an injury, poor hygiene around the cage, and moist beddings, to name a few causes.

If your guinea pigs have this condition, you should take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure that the issue does not worsen over time.

How to avoid broken nails in guinea pigs?

The following are some ninja suggestions to keep in mind to ensure that your guinea pigs’ nails do not become broken during the experiment:

  • It’s important to trim the nails of your Guinea pigs regularly, and only use a professional nail clipper for this purpose.
  • Stay away from wire-bottomed cages and instead cover the bottom of the cage with high-quality bedding.
  • To keep bacteria from accumulating in your mattress, it must be extremely absorbent and odor-free. As a result, your guinea pigs will have less health problems. (P.S. I particularly prefer Guineadad Fleece Liners.)
  • You can decorate the cage by placing natural wood slices around it. These aid in the natural sanding of the nails, which assists in the prevention of a variety of health problems.

FAQ

Are you supposed to cut guinea pigs nails?

Yes, guinea pigs raised as pets frequently require their nails to be trimmed as part of their regular maintenance routine.

How often should you cut guinea pig’s nails?

You should clip your guinea pig’s nails once or twice a month, depending on how active he is. The frequency with which their nails are trimmed is frequently determined by the length of their nails.

How much does it cost to get a guinea pig’s nails trimmed?

Depending on where you live, you should expect to pay anywhere from 10$ to 20$ each guinea pig to have their nails clipped by a professional veterinarian or animal rescue organization. Prices may vary depending on where you reside and how far you travel.