Rouge's first bath/nailclipping...

[CaptainWhitaker]

...This was a love/hate situation.

I saw her scratching a bit, although the vet told me she didn't have mites when I took her yesterday. I figured she might could use a bath, and maybe it'd help her relax.

She tried FRANTICALLY to get out of the sink, but never got aggressive or anything. The water wasn't too hot, wasn't too cold, so I know it HAD to have felt good to be washed off a little bit.

Thing is, when I tried to clip her nails, we did fine until we got to her back right foot (back left when you're looking at her). She kept kicking and squirming. Even though the nails were softened up due to the warm water, I still cut the quick a little too short. It led to some bleeding, but not too much. She doesn't act any different than she did before the bath. She isn't aggressive or anything. I snuggled her in a towel for about 30 minutes to get her warm and keep the chill off, and I offered her a mealie as a treat and to build a little more trust.

My question is, she won't like, hold a grudge because of the cut quick, will she? She didn't ACT any different, and I'm sure it's happened to some of you. I just wanted to make sure she wouldn't revert back to being scared, since she's made some progress in the four days that I've had her.

[groovychic]

Nailclipping is a big commotion at my house too. It is slowly getting better. And of course the first time is the worst. I also cut the quick on Herbie when I first gave him a bath and nailclipping. I felt so bad! I wanted to cry. Just a note for the future if it happens again, put some flour mixed with water on the nail that is cut too short (helps with clotting). I also took the wheel out of Herbie's cage when this happened (this also broke my heart cause Herbie loves to wheel...he just looked at me like "isn't this enough torture?"). I just wanted to be safe until it healed...I didn't want him to make it start bleeding again.

My two have lately figured out how to crawl over the middle of the sink to the other side...so now I really have to watch them. Crazy kids :p
Also remember to give lots of mealies after bathtime! Herbie loves to cuddle after bathtime though...I wrap him up and he just spreads out on my lap. Just give it time....Maybe with time Rouge will love bathtime! (we can only hope right?)

[CaptainWhitaker]

Nailclipping is a big commotion at my house too. It is slowly getting better. And of course the first time is the worst. I also cut the quick on Herbie when I first gave him a bath and nailclipping. I felt so bad! I wanted to cry. Just a note for the future if it happens again, put some flour mixed with water on the nail that is cut too short (helps with clotting). I also took the wheel out of Herbie's cage when this happened (this also broke my heart cause Herbie loves to wheel...he just looked at me like "isn't this enough torture?"). I just wanted to be safe until it healed...I didn't want him to make it start bleeding again.

My two have lately figured out how to crawl over the middle of the sink to the other side...so now I really have to watch them. Crazy kids :p
Also remember to give lots of mealies after bathtime! Herbie loves to cuddle after bathtime though...I wrap him up and he just spreads out on my lap. Just give it time....Maybe with time Rouge will love bathtime! (we can only hope right?)

Thanks so much for that input! It's really worried me, although she's acting fine. She still wanted to explore when I had her out, and it doesn't seem to affect her walking any. I think it just looks worse than it actually is. Everything went through my mind when I clipped it and saw the blood. I kept thinking "Oh God, I've cut into her toe by accident."...Which I guess if I did, she'd definitely let me know. I know I didn't, but I'm just really paranoid over my baby. I'm going to keep a watch on it just in case to make sure an infection doesn't set up or anything. To tell the truth, I think I'm more upset about it than she is. She's still eating and drinking comfortably (adores mealworms and Chicken Soup), and now she's resting inside of her little red castle.

Has anyone had a problem with a nail getting infected from it? I'm guessing that difficulty getting around would be a symptom. I'm sure she'll be fine and it'll heal nicely, but again...I'm paranoid over my girl.

[Ododad]

Dar clipped Marco's nail too short once. She used a syptic stick on it and it stopped bleeding quickly. Sure was a lot of blood though! It healed nicely with no aftereffects.
BTW, I REALLY like the name Rouge! :)

[Nancy]

Not to worry. It happens to everyone at one time or another. The first time I did it was with Peaches and I cried. It upset me far more than it did her.

I have a little container of flour in the hedgie room to be prepared. You can also use cornstarch. Styptic powder stings so I don't recommend it. :)

[CaptainWhitaker]

Dar clipped Marco's nail too short once. She used a syptic stick on it and it stopped bleeding quickly. Sure was a lot of blood though! It healed nicely with no aftereffects.
BTW, I REALLY like the name Rouge! :)

Glad you do! :)

She's becoming a little brat though! I kept trying to check her foot about 10 minutes ago and she insisted on not staying turned over. I got a bite out of it, but I don't think it was a bite. She bit down on the palm of my hand, but if that's a Hedgie bite, it didn't hurt. I didn't even feel teeth. It was more like a small tug or something. She stayed clamped for a second or two, then let go. She was getting huffy, but I finally established that I (hopefully) didn't cut into her toe or anything. Now she's in a little carrier in my lap. She's still scratching herself with that same foot, so :dunno: .

I guess I'm just being overprotective again! I just didn't want her to become afraid of me because of all the constant checking on her, and the bathing/clippings every once in a while.

[CaptainWhitaker]

Not to worry. It happens to everyone at one time or another. The first time I did it was with Peaches and I cried. It upset me far more than it did her.

I have a little container of flour in the hedgie room to be prepared. You can also use cornstarch. Styptic powder stings so I don't recommend it. :)

*nod* I really appreciate the info! I'm not as concerned about the cut quick as I am the fact that she bled, and the fact that I'm scared she might get nervous about me holding her. That, and I'm praying I didn't cut into anything OTHER than the quick. It sounds silly, I know, since she's getting around fine and exploring, but it's the father in me coming out. :tantrum:

[Ododad]

Dar used the syptic because it came in the Hedgehog First Aid kit that we got from the Hedgehog Welfare Soc.
http://www.hedgehogwelfare.org/default.htm

[Mouser'sMommie]

I use mealies to cut Stewie's nails. As long as he has a wormie in his mouth, he forgets what I'm doing to his feet. :p I'm sure Rouge wouldn't mind at all if you tried this method...hehehe.

As for cutting into the quick, I know how you feel. I did it once and was freaking out! Stewie was puffing, I'm balling my eyes out, carrying him into the kitchen with one hand and trying to pour out some corn starch onto a plate with the other (and not make a huge mess too!) I dipped his little bloody toe in it, but it honestly didn't seem to make a difference. It bled for a min or two and I could hear him licking at it when I wrapped him back up in his towel, but after that he was fine. I made sure to keep his wheel extra clean for the next week though b/c I didn't want him running through poopoo with any type of open skin or scab that could get infected (even if it is just a paw nail). :hearts:

[CaptainWhitaker]

It's most definitely a terrible feeling. She likes to scatter her Yesterday's News around (even if it isn't used), so I used a dustpan and scooped it all back into her bin so it wouldn't be all over her house for her to step on. I'll have to try the mealie thing. It seems to be a VERY popular solution. :rofl:

Aside from that, I used some Neosporin on her little foot just as a precaution, and coated it with Vaseline so she wouldn't lick at it. I think she's doing a lot better today, since she was wanting to get into everything as usual. Billy was right. Give them a treat, and all is forgotten!