Given that the degree of pressure can't be carefully controlled I
would worry about injury.

Due to her tripping me and causing me to fall backwards we years ago
had a ferret whose neck was slightly stepped on -- basically pinched
where a scruff would normally be done. The result was a hematoma and
she could never be scruffed after that.

I'd worry about the same possibility with a clip.

Here is a safer approach: just put a bit of Ferretone oil (or other oil
treat) on the ferret's belly. As the ferret licks it off you clip the
claws. DO put a towel under the ferret and know that some roll at first
till they realize what the oil is all about.

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 5838]