Cut the quick on nails!

[Liljae9263]

Tried to cut Frankie’s nails for the first time tonight and the first foot was good but by the second he was squirming really bad. I thought I made a good cut but when I set him down a small bit of blood came out I haven’t seen more than that tho! Is he gonna be ok? Isn’t this an open wound for infection now ??? AAAAAA.

His nails had just gotten SO LONG and sharp and the rocks weren’t filing them down just sharper. UGH. He’s really freaking out now. What do I do ???

 

[DoubleD1996!]

You could apply some cornstarch, but it's not tge end of the world if it's a little blood

 

[Liljae9263]

You could apply some cornstarch, but it's not tge end of the world if it's a little blood

I just cut his soak short and put him in his enclosure again with some yummies to try and say sorry I put my finger against the end of the nail and no more blood came out and I might be crazy but it looked like the quick scooted down a bit. Like it was at the V END of the quick so it couldn’t have been that bad. I will keep an eye on him and wait AWHILE b4 I try clipping his nails again. I feel SO BADDDDDD WAHHHH

 

[COmtnLady]

Don't cut soaks short. It is really healthy for a tortoise to soak a minimum of half an hour, and longer is better. It keeps them hydrated, plus most poop and pee in the water which gives you a chance to see how well they are processing their food and expelling urates. And they get exercise when the scramble around, which is essential for digestion.

The nail will heal up fairly quickly, though pay attention for a bit to make sure there isn't any infection. There's a low-ish chance of that, but pay attention to it for a week or more just in case. If broken-to-the-quick nails were a serious problem the species would have died out centuries ago.

It will be ok.

.

 

[Tom]

Tried to cut Frankie’s nails for the first time tonight and the first foot was good but by the second he was squirming really bad. I thought I made a good cut but when I set him down a small bit of blood came out I haven’t seen more than that tho! Is he gonna be ok? Isn’t this an open wound for infection now ??? AAAAAA.

His nails had just gotten SO LONG and sharp and the rocks weren’t filing them down just sharper. UGH. He’s really freaking out now. What do I do ???

Tortoise nails don't usually need trimming. Do you have pictures showing the nails before cutting?

 

[Liljae9263]

Don't cut soaks short. It is really healthy for a tortoise to soak a minimum of half an hour, and longer is better. It keeps them hydrated, plus most poop and pee in the water which gives you a chance to see how well they are processing their food and expelling urates. And they get exercise when the scramble around, which is essential for digestion.

The nail will heal up fairly quickly, though pay attention for a bit to make sure there isn't any infection. There's a low-ish chance of that, but pay attention to it for a week or more just in case. If broken-to-the-quick nails were a serious problem the species would have died out centuries ago.

It will be ok.

.

I cut it short bc he was scrabbling really frantically more so than normal and I felt like he was getting too stressed. That and I felt AWFUL after having hurt him and watching him panic made me feel worse. He was already around the 30 min mark when I took him out and he did already go potty so I wasn’t too worried about cutting it short then. Plus his humidity stays high and he gets soaked p much every other day for 45 min most soaks. I’m confident he stays decently hydrated.

What exactly should I be on the look out for when it comes to a nail infection? Idk what the signs r. And if he does end up with one what should I do? I want to be prepared if I have to be!

 

[Liljae9263]

Tortoise nails don't usually need trimming. Do you have pictures showing the nails before cutting?

I tried to get some pics this morning of his nails but he hid from me . Ig I really freaked him out last night. </3

I just got a new phone and all my Franklin pics were deleted so these r the best I can offer rn. U can kinda see how long they have gotten. When I pick him up to move him to a soak he tries to grip onto my hand (which is fair.) but his nails r so sharp it hurts so bad. And they’re so long I was getting scared they would get caught on something in his enclosure and hurt him worse. He loves to climb anything and everything in there. I didn’t know if they curled as well like with rodents (I’ve had guinea pigs in the past.)

I have a slate stone and multiple smaller stones in there plus terracotta bowls. Nothing really “files” his nails down. they just get longer and sharper. That’s y I was trying to cut just a small section off the tip of his nails to dull them and cut them back by a little bit. It was suggested on here actually that’s y I did it. It’s just he squirmed last min and I cut too far back. I already cut the nails one foot and it went well! After that little mess up I stopped completely so he has 3 other feet minus one toe that’s still long .

 

[Tom]

I tried to get some pics this morning of his nails but he hid from me . Ig I really freaked him out last night. </3

I just got a new phone and all my Franklin pics were deleted so these r the best I can offer rn. U can kinda see how long they have gotten. When I pick him up to move him to a soak he tries to grip onto my hand (which is fair.) but his nails r so sharp it hurts so bad. And they’re so long I was getting scared they would get caught on something in his enclosure and hurt him worse. He loves to climb anything and everything in there. I didn’t know if they curled as well like with rodents (I’ve had guinea pigs in the past.)

I have a slate stone and multiple smaller stones in there plus terracotta bowls. Nothing really “files” his nails down. they just get longer and sharper. That’s y I was trying to cut just a small section off the tip of his nails to dull them and cut them back by a little bit. It was suggested on here actually that’s y I did it. It’s just he squirmed last min and I cut too far back. I already cut the nails one foot and it went well! After that little mess up I stopped completely so he has 3 other feet minus one toe that’s still long .
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Those nails don't look too bad. I wouldn't cut them at that length. Overgrown nails and beaks often indicate a bigger problem. Check your UV levels, diet and calcium supplementation routine. He's also pyramiding a bit. Check your basking temperature directly under the lamp at tortoise shell height by leaving a digital thermometer on its back and letting it cook there for an hour or more. Adjust the bulb height or wattage as needed.

It's also time for this guy to be living outside in warmer weather. Time to make a large safe outdoor enclosure.