The Easy Way to Cut Your Ferret's Toenails

Step 6 Nail Diagram

If you are still unsure of where you cut, use this diagram to help you.

Comments

[cdonté]

I have always used human cuticle cutters. They are the perfect size and have a slight angle to them which helps!

[ferretlady]

This is a great instructable, but the cut line on this diagram is misleading. Ferret toenails should be cut so that the new flat tip is parallel to the floor when the ferret is standing. See the diagram at http://www.ehow.com/how_4452552_trim-ferrets-toenails.html

[lbaran]

Although it should make sense to do that, it doesn't allow enough of the white part to be cut back at one time. We cut our ferret's nails (and shelter ferret's nails) as we would when showing them. 1/8th inch of the white remains before the pink.

[uriahmsos]

Hi, i strongly agree with you in which nail clippers to use. Much quicker and a smooth finish, i cant imagine how uncomfortable it must be when akwadly cutting with human nail clippers, ouch. May i ask where about you are from?

[ferretlady]

Warning- argument about minutiae ahead! Of course I understand that you guys have to do what is most expedient when trimming so many ferret's nails (I also work at a ferret shelter, so I understand!), but for most owners, trimming a few ferret's nails slightly more often is not a problem, and if it makes walking more comfortable for the ferret then I think it's worth it. I'm guessing that you buff nice rounded edges when showing ferrets, which most owners won't need/want to do. In that case wouldn't it make more sense to move the pressure point to a place closer to the natural tip of o ferret's nail? I learned about the proper cutting angle from an article written by a ferret expert that was published in one of the national ferret magazines. It has since been corroborated many times by the owners of other large ferret shelters. Google: ferret "parallel to the floor" to see more sources.