I have read a lot of different ways to trim nails. Recently I haven't been able to get my 2 girls out as much as I would like with them. We still do treats every morning and some petting but I was on vacation last week and working straight through the week before.
So nails need a bad trimming! Last time, it was a fiasco, trying to hold them against my chest in fleece, screaming and squirming, one got loose and went jumping around my bathroom to freedom, and neither would come as close the next 2 days during bonding time. I've read a bunch on here about ways, but does anyone have any good ideas? And new methods they've discovered? It's painful for me to hear them crying, you would think I was the worst dad in the world. Between their nails and my hedgehogs it's like pulling teeth. Thankfully the ferret gets a little snack and he's licking his tummy. He's Not the smartest bulb though.
Anyway, thoughts to make it through?

Alan

Alan,

I understand about work and time with your gliders. Mine pout sometimes, or rather ignore me.

But nails have to be done. I will say mine pout for about a day and a half after nails are clipped too. But too bad. It has to be done. We do share pouch time right after clipping. Whether it helps them, I'm not sure but makes me feel better. I don't get bit, so I feel it's a win.

I find rhe best time of day to clip nails is in the middle of their sleep time. Which is 1-2pm.

sounds like you are doing the burrito method, which is what I do with Fiona. I use a sleeping pouch with Dot. She usually prefers this method.

Someone on here uses an old sleeping pouch, cuts a hole for leg to come out and finds this easier. I haven't tried it yet.

I have tried the trimming pouch which is made of pet screen, I them in, and clip what nail sticks out of screen. All mine did was pee and poo all over themselves and me. We both needed a bath after that. It does help to potty them before putting them in pouch. But then they are awake.

I hope this helps...

Alan hey!
Nail trimming sucks--I feel your pain. I'm terrified of it. (Don't spread that around--will deny it if confronted)

...So terrified of it that I have never done it.

I have sandpaper on my wheel 100 percent of the time. (100 grit from Home Depot)
Yes it's an extra thing to clean/change, but my gliders have never had a nail trim.
Going on a year and a half now--and so far so good.
Opinions will differ, but I have found it to be a safe and effective solution.

Like Dave, I use the sandpaper on wheel method. Works like a champ!!

I have some pieces of sandpaper on the wheel from attixworks I believe, but maybe it's time to change those out!! I'll grab some at the store tonight.
I think I'll put some new sandpaper on and give them a trim to get them back down, they aren't crazy long so I think the pieces were working but I find sometimes I still need the points clipped off and they hate me for it!

Crepe myrtle is safe I believe, I may try to get a branch/limb off one from my yard to try once again. The last time I had no luck with it, but thinking it was too thin, hopefully I'll get a thinker one next time.

I have had no lick with sandpaper in my glider's wheels. I may give them another try though.

I use the "wormy method" which is basically an "all you can eat buffet" of mealies. I use Camilies vita-mealies freeze dried. I used to offer these on every Wednesday for "Wormy Wednesday" but have discontinued due to the abundance they eat at nail trim time (every three weeks). This program works well with my girls, but Ollie remains a challenge and I'm lucky to get one or two feet done on a good session, less on occasions, but it's getting a little better. I usually resort to "pouch method" with him or baritto method. Sometimes I begin trying baritto if I'm wearing my large flannel shirt and if fail, resort to pouch, which I use the one I got from SpinZone Global nail trim kit.

I have tried the mesh pouch with Ollie, but had no success with that either.

To get my girls started on the Wormy Method, I set up my area with large piece of fleece laid down and all implements I could possibly need, in my case: slant tip nail clippers, small container of corn starch, nail trim pouch (all included in nail trim kit I purchased), I also include cuticle trimmers, small emery board (all of these impliments with exception of pouch ended up stored in the mesh pouch that didn't work for Ollie), my reading glasses, and of course bowl and container of freeze dried mealies are kept on there as well, oh and a few tissues to pick up poo and sop up pee.
1. After arranging everything in place I put my girls one at a time on top of the fleece with a small dish of mealies. At first I just let them eat and began touching their feet, once they stopped reacting to that, I began just holding a foot at a time in my fingers for a bit. I did this repeatedly with each foot, hoping they'd get used to my touch and holding. This worked for my girls.
2. When I got Ollie, he already had a "thing" about having his feet touched, so he was a challenge, also, in all due fairness to him, I didn't ease him as patiently into the program. That was a mistake on my part, although he is improving a little over time.

I haven't noticed any backlash after nail trims specifically, but my gliders already glare at me often anyway, lol.

These are all great ideas!!
Karen, space is a bit limited since I'm in an apartment and have filled my room with animals but I do have a branch in their cage. I think I'll try to replace it soon since I seem to never be able to get rid of the smell and I bet that's holding a lot of it. I'll see if maybe there is some safe wood limbs I can find for them. Besides for their nails they might enjoy playing on it!
Terry, mine still haven't taken to meal worms yet. I need to try squishing them and having them lick the pieces, because right now they just don't know or care. But I like your method, I might try it during a tent time session to see if it gets them used to it. They always glare at me a bit afterwards so I am worried about bonding more versus scaring them away.

I also got some sandpaper since it has helped me in the past. Hopefully between all these I can get those little feet trimmed up!!

You've already got a lot of great suggestions, so I'll just add my two cents. I've never trimmed my gliders' nails and they run on my bare skin without leaving scratches, so I think they're fine without trimming.

I have two wheels in my cage - one which has the nail trimming sandpaper, and one without. They happily run in both wheels every night. I also have three large eucalyptus branches as the foundation of my cage decor (eucproducts.com). They scurry up and down those branches all the time, which has to be helping.

And as an added bonus, the fresh eucalyptus branches came loaded with leaves! My gliders are still enjoying the abundance of dried leaves left over from my initial branch purchase.

Steph. Hmm, I tried Euc once before and my gliders didn't seem interested. But, then I had the small sticks and leaves, not large branches. I may have to look into trying a large branch of Euc. Thanks for adding your 2 cents, for everyone. I do trims every 3 weeks, but honestly before the third week they're starting with snagging. I added some natural wood elements to help, but so far not much luck, no improvement. What size euc branches do you use? How long do they last?

Alan, maybe you can try using a treat you know they do like and work on handling their feet while they eat their num mums.

Terry, I don't recall the exact specifications that I ordered from the euc options offered, but my branches were all in the 4'-5' range and .5" - 1.5" thick.

Once stripped of all leaves and trimmed, I have three long sticks that I can wedge from a bottom corner, diagonally up towards the top of the cage. I move them around each time I reset the cage. My gliders race up the sticks, and jump from one to another. They also love chewing on the tops.

The branches were green for only a week or two after they arrived, but they are just fine after drying naturally. Another great benefit is that eucalyptus doesn't seem to absorb the urine smell. I've had these branches for about 10 months and see no need to replace them yet.

Thank you Steph. Euc is a known for being natural deodorizer and air cleaner actually, so that is an added benefit.

I'm hoping over to the website now and take a look at options. Much thanks again.