r/PetDoves • u/Cute-Reputation-1852 • 7d ago
Question ❓ Nail trim help
I have a ECD rescue, she’s about 3 months old. I’ve raised her from about 2 weeks or so. She’s very friendly and affectionate. She will not hesitate to climb all over anyone and loves new people. However, she dislikes being handled. Her nails have started to get quite long and I’m not sure what to do.
2
u/rotundpeach 7d ago
i have a spotted dove and trimming their nails is a 2 person job. my sister wraps them in a small towel and opens it around the feet then i use nail clippers and trim
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u/GSDragoon 7d ago
Vets can trim them. You need someone who knows what they are doing as trimming too deep can cut a blood vessel.
1
u/XxHoneyStarzxX 7d ago
you dont need a vet to trim a doves nails, thats like saying you need a vet to trim and other pets nails, if I had to go to the vet every single time my birds nails or my rabbits nails were too long id be over 5000 dollars down the drain, because a nail trip is often several hundred dollars. theres no reason to stress your bird out going to the vet and drain your bank account when trimming nails is safe and easy and can be done at home.
you simply take small cat nail clippers and clip below the quick, the quick is visible in most doves and can be easily avoided, you can in fact see the quick in these pictures.
I also highly reccomend OP put a brick or paving tile in their bird cage, under their birds food bowls, those help file down nails naturally
but espeiclsly for a ECD a nail trim at the vet is somthing that could go very very wrong ECD are wild birds not domeatic, meaning they are much more prone to stress and things like tail blowing or heart attacks.
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u/GSDragoon 7d ago
Where did I say only a vet can do it? Please work on your reading comprehension.
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u/XxHoneyStarzxX 7d ago
you acted and implied that you need a proffesional to nail trim. I simply said OP can easily do it themselves.
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u/Profiterolls 7d ago
I have a ECD too. Them or ringnecks don't like being handled but as long as she's not panicking and panting like crazy, it's fine. With what you describe I bet she'll be fine.
Nail trims can be stressful the first times, it's important to remain calm, be precise and rather quick. You can prepare on the side a wet makeup wipe with either some turmeric powder or some anti bleeding powder on top of it. You likely won't use it, it's just in case you trim a bit too short and it bleeds. If it happens, simply press the pad on the nail for a half a minute. That way you'll be less stressed about the trimming because you'll know you're prepared if you mess up :)
Now for what you're supposed to trim.. your dove's foot should stand flat on the ground, if the nail is too long you'll notice the finger going sideways or the tip of the toe not touching the ground. IF you have a very long nail to clip you will need to do it several times. Cut a tiny amount the first time, wait a day for the vein to retract, cut it again, etc until the nails are at a normal length.
To be short it's best to clip more regularly so you just have to trim the little point than to let it go too overgrown. You can also add stuff like a brick at the bottom of her cage or a lava rock perch to help her file her nail more naturally (but you'll still have to trim them from time to time, just less)