As a veterinary assistant, I have a lot of experience trimming nails.  One
of the first things to know is that a "quicked" nail bleeds a great deal.
With a little styptic powder, the bleeding can usually be stopped very
quickly.  If you do not have styptic powder, the bleeding may take awhile
to subside.  It takes practice to be able to trim nails properly.  One
mistake is no reason to throw in the towel.  Heck, even the Dr.s will trim
a nail too short once in a while.  (although they are mostly the solid
black nails that are trimmed too short.)  Anyway ferrets are usually quick
to forgive, just be a little more careful next time.  If your worried, get
your vet to show you how to do it properly.
 
Tim, I don't think that any of the posts here (about you) were very awful.
Your post probably made the person who quicked her ferret feel really bad.
I am not xenophobic and I don't really care where you are from.  We are
just here to help each other, not to make someone feel bad when they ask
for help.  She did the right thing, coming here.  Your comments would make
most people hesitate to even tell us their problem for fear we would tell
them that they were bad owners and did not deserve to have a ferret.
 
Thanks for letting me voice my opinion,
Erka and Fitz
[Posted in FML issue 3432]