How to Trim a Ferret's Nails

Ahh, ferrets - they are really a special kind of animal. And as anyone who owns one can tell you, it takes a special kind of person to care for one. I've had two myself, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time with them, but I know first hand how difficult it can sometimes be to take care of them.

One particular obstacle with ferret care is the dreaded trimming of their nails. There are alot of reasons for trimming a ferret's nails, which include: avoidance of them scratching you or furniture, avoidance of them scratching each other or other animals during play, & avoidance of getting the nails caught on carpets or hammocks (which can be very painful to the ferret). But with a little bribery, confidence, and practice, trimming nails can become a really easy and quick task.

First off, you should probably be trimming a ferret's nails at least once every couple of weeks. I can't stress how important it is to keep up on this, as I've unfortunately seen one of my girls snag a nail on a hammock before and go into a panic and hurt herself. With a ferret, it's best to gather the materials you need beforehand, and in my experience, the best 'kit' would be a pet nail trimmer (one made specially for small animals would be ideal), a small washcloth in which to catch the clippings, and a tube of FerretVite. When you've made yourself comfortable, gather up your little friend and place their bottom on your lap so that their backside is on you with their tail facing away from you. Then squeeze a bit of FerretVite onto their tummy, and let them have at it. In my experiences with many ferrets I've tried this with, they will often 'fold in half' and concentrate just on the treat, leaving you free to cut their nails with no resistance or struggling, which makes it easier for you and safer for them. I've found that most ferrets just can't resist the FerretVite, not to mention it's good for them once in awhile anyway. And now you'll be their new best friend -- everyone wins!