Updated 5th February 2010

Pre Show clipping of sharp claw tips

Not only essential for purposes of entering your rat in Shows but it also makes it less likely that the rat will cause ' self - inflicted ' scratches on their backs & around their ears

First do not rush.  Keep calm & gentle but firm with your rat.

Spread it's digits and ONLY aim to cut 1 claw tip at a time.  On the rear claws only aim to square off the tip by trimming the sharp tip ( approx 1 m.m )

Be prepared to have to keep re-positioning him

as he / she will keep attempting to make a dash

up your front to ' safety ' [ your shoulder ].

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 paw 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 foot.

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 the toe steady and clip the claw's sharp tip off in one quick positive movement

Be sure to sit in  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 like arc about 1½ m.m long.  This often breaks in the rats struggles against wooly jumper fronts.

It is much better to trim those glass arcs off properly instead.