Georgia said:
>Oooooooh, Robynn, I wish I could actually see a ferret dangling from
>someone's mouth while having their nail clipped.  Maybe it's my vision, or
>lack thereof, but I can't focus well enough to try and clip nails with a
>ferret that close to my face....
>Does anyone have a pic of doing this, on their webpage?  Maybe I'm not
>going about it the right way.
 
Actually..that's not a bad idea.  I'll manage to have someone take a
picture with our digital camera, granted I'm going to look silly..but if
the ferret can handle the shame of appearing in a photo dangling from my
mouth, then I'm sure I can handle it too!
 
The way I usually do it is after I have the scruff between my teeth (you
don't have to bite down very hard), I lean back wherever I'm sitting so
that the ferret rests against my body and isn't dangling.  I think this
makes them feel somewhat more secure.  I have two free hands and stretch
out one leg at a time, use one hand to hold the toe that I'm working on
out away from the rest and the other to use the clippers.
 
This goes very quickly and I can usually get all three weasels done in
about five minutes or so, without help.  Flake, my deaf blaze, doesn't like
having ANYTHING done to him including nails or ear cleaning.  He sometimes
will try and reach up to push my hands away, but if I hum a bit the
vibrations seem to calm him down and he'll just rest there until I finish.
 
I first tried the teeth scruffing per someone's suggestion here on the list
because Tish doesn't like any sort of treat, and other than having someone
hold her for me I couldn't clip her nails.  The teeth scruffing worked like
a charm for her, so since then that's the way I've done it for all the
weasels.
 
When I've got the picture up I'll let you know, and maybe it will help you
visualize.
 
Robynn and the toothsome threesome
[Posted in FML issue 2953]