Trimming nails?

[Reesy]

Hey ya'll, quick question, should we trim or beardies toenails? They seem like they are getting really long.

[BMorrison]

I've never trimmed mine. It's good to have something rough like a piece of slate or cement block in their tank. They will grind them down naturally. A cement block also works amazing as a basking spot! Hope this helps!

[Reesy]

I'd also like to add that her front legs are deformed due to her previous non-owner neglecting her and she suffered from metabolic bone disease. She actually walks on her front elbows because of this. We rescued her from an abandoned house. She went seven weeks without food, water, or electricity(i.e. No heat). Since she doesn't walk on her front feet, I was asking should we trim her nails for her?

[BMorrison]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, should have included that in the original post.

I don't see why you couldn't. Just be careful not to cut them very short and hit the quick, she'll still feel that for sure!

[DZ Reptiles]

If you see that they are bothering her then I would. If their not, then there's no need to.

[BPelizabeth]

cut her nails in the sun...this way you can see through the actual nail as to where the "digit" is. The longer the nails are left to get without anything to grind them on ...or the ability the longer the digit gets. Also you can have some flour on hand...this way if you do nick the digit you can dip it in flour and that will help to stop the bleeding. Just be very careful that you see the digit before you cut.

[Reesy]

Thanks for all the input on this. Here are some pics so you all can see what I'm talking about.

[maverickgtr]

Those look like Isis's nails whens he was on sand. If they bother her trim them, but be very careful about not hitting the quick as beardies can bleed a lot if it gets nicked. If you're taking her back to the vet soon for a check up since the rescue ask if they can do it for you. If not do what BPEliz says. Cut them in the sun or a bright light and have a little thing of flour on hand in case she starts to bleed.

[BPelizabeth]

awwww poor baby. Make sure you have good light on her and when it is warmer be sure to take her out in the sun as much as you can. I read somewhere that 1 hour of sunlight is worth about a week of enclosure light. That will be really good for her. Lots of good solid dark greens....collards are best! Stay away from bananas and any type of the cabbage family for now as you want to really get the calcium in her.

Just makes me so sad!!!!!!

[hongkongluna]

Look at the nail closely and you'll see it really has two parts. The long large part that grows from the digit, and the almost needle-like part at the end. Just cut the end part. The long large part will bleed if you cut it.

Hope that clears things up. That's why everyone is suggesting cutting in the sun, you can really see the difference, and what needs cutting.

I cut my boy's nails at first but since I added one large piece of tile as a roof to a hide, he crawls around that enough that it wears them down naturally. I still have to occasionally trim one or two, but not all of them like i used to.